SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — Juan Reyes has thrown two complete-game shutouts for Venezuela. Nevada’s Garrett Gallegos has yet to let an opponent score. Liu Wei-Heng struck out the side in back-to-back innings for Taiwan. Tommy D’Amura generated a hitting frenzy that kept Connecticut’s run alive.
Star players are powering the four unbeaten teams at the Little League World Series, who meet in games Wednesday with a spot in the weekend semifinals at stake.
Venezuela's Juan Reyes celebrates a win against Puerto Rico following a baseball game at the Little League World Series Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025, in South Williamsport, Pa. (AP Photo/Jared Freed)
Juan and his curveball
Juan struck out nine in each of his shutouts, a dominant start to Venezuela’s run in Williamsport.
Through his translator, Juan said “he’s happy with the results he’s been getting.” And with a little bit of a smirk, he mentioned that he would like to try for a third straight shutout.
Juan threw 77 pitches, which means he is ineligible to pitch in Venezuela’s international bracket game against Taiwan. He is expected to be back for the game after that, which could be to determine the international bracket winner.
The rest of Venezuela’s pitching staff has been dominant, too. In its second game, Andres Reyes Querales pitched five innings and fanned seven batters, helping Venezuela become the first team since 2021 to blank its first three opponents.
“We know we’re going to have tough games, but we have the confidence to go ahead and face every challenge,” manager Luis Bermudez said.
Las Vegas, Nev.'s Garrett Gallegos pitches against Irmo, S.C., during the second inning of a baseball game at the Little League World Series, Monday, Aug. 18, 2025, in South Williamsport, Pa. (AP Photo/Caleb Craig)
Garrett and his lucky necklace
Garrett received an unusual package from another Nevada Little League team a few days before an outing against South Carolina — a red, white and blue studded necklace meant to spread good luck.
It’s worked for him so far: He struck out 12 against South Carolina, the most by a Nevada pitcher ever in Williamsport.
“My arm was feeling amazing today,” Garrett said. “When I was warming up, I just thought to myself, there’s no way I’m going to give up any runs today.”
And he succeeded. He only gave up five hits.
When Garrett reached the 85-pitch maximum and moved to third base, the Lamade Stadium crowd gave the 12 year old a standing ovation. It was a pitching duel with Joe Giulietti throwing six no-hit innings, which fueled Garrett’s motivation.
“I love tension,” Garrett said.
South Carolina couldn’t get anyone past second and Nevada ultimately won in extra innings after Cutter Ricafort hit the winning single.
“We don’t play against time, we play against outs and for the ability to hang in there mentally, keep it strong pitch by pitch, maintaining focus and discipline,” Nevada’s manager TJ Fechser said.
Taiwan's Liu Wei-Heng pitches against Aruba during the third inning of a baseball game at the Little League World Series, Monday, Aug. 18, 2025, in South Williamsport, Pa. (AP Photo/Jared Freed)
Liu’s ability to focus
Taiwan manager Lai Min-Nan thought Liu matched up well against Monday’s foe, Aruba. That strategy worked out.
In 4 2/3 innings, he struck out 11 batters and gave up just three hits. Only three batters on Aruba reached in the first four innings. Liu struck out the side in both the second and third innings.
“I want to maximize each player, either the curveball or the fastball,” Min-Nan said. “I allocate different pitchers depending on the opponent.”
Liu isn’t even the team’s fastest pitcher. Lin Chin Tse, who pitched in Taiwan’s 3-0 win over Mexico, can throw 80 mph.
He faced one batter in Monday’s game and struck him out — with bases loaded.
“I’ve been very satisfied with our pitching staff,” Min-Nan said. “This is probably the most complete pitching staff I’ve had.”
Tommy kickstarts offense
Connecticut is the first team from the Metro region to win three games since the area was added as part of a LLWS expansion to 20 teams in 2022. The most recent victory was a 13-1 romp over South Dakota on Monday.
Fairfield National Little League trailed before Tommy rocketed Connecticut’s first hit: an RBI triple to center field.
“I felt that was the moment we knew we were back in the game, and we just had so much momentum that I knew we were going to just keep on scoring and Luca (Pellegrini) was going to pound the zone,” Tommy said.
The team’s bats came alive in the sixth, when 12 straight batters reached safely, tying a LLWS record. Ten runs scored, and Tommy nearly hit the ball out of the park. It bounced just before the right-field wall. As the third man in the lineup, his three RBIs led the team.
“I always told the guys, first practice, we have a target on our back,” manager Brian Palazzolo said. “The teams, at least in Connecticut, knew who we were. We got to play the best baseball we could possibly play day in and day out. So if we could play that way, if we could play that way here, we’ll be okay.”
The new playbook: Why personalized coaching is taking over youth sports
The new playbook: Why personalized coaching is taking over youth sports
Updated
In the past, finding a private sports coach often meant word-of-mouth referrals, expensive training facilities, and time-consuming scheduling. But as technology continues to reshape the way we work, learn, and connect, the world of youth sports training is getting its own upgrade.
Just as Airbnb revolutionized travel and Uber reimagined transportation, new digital platforms are now decentralizing the $20 billion youth sports industry, giving families more direct access to qualified coaches—and providing former athletes with flexible, gig-style income opportunities after their playing careers end. It's the era of on-demand coaching.
Training on Your Terms
Updated
This model, often referred to as the "platformization" of sports training, is catching on fast. Rather than committing to year-round training fees or expensive academies, families can now access high-quality coaching one session at a time—often from athletes who've competed at the highest levels. Proprietary data from Athletes Untapped, an on-demand coaching platform, shows a threefold increase in the number of youth training sessions booked online between 2018 and 2024. The spike reflects a growing comfort with using digital tools to find and schedule specialized coaching, echoing consumer trends seen in fitness, tutoring, and other service sectors.
Much of this growth has been driven by parents seeking personalized, flexible training options that fit into increasingly busy family schedules. Rather than enrolling in seasonal or year-round programs, families are opting to book single sessions based on their child's needs and availability—often working directly with former collegiate or professional athletes in their local area.
A Win-Win Era for Sports
Updated
Former athletes get a meaningful, flexible path forward. And the game itself? It gets to live on in new and evolving forms.
Further analysis of platform data reveals which sports are driving the most interest in private coaching. Basketball, soccer, baseball, and volleyball rank as the most-booked disciplines on Athletes Untapped, consistent with broader youth sports participation trends in the U.S.
That data shows some of the most popular sports for youth training—including basketball, soccer, and baseball. But the bigger takeaway? The way we think about skill-building is changing. Kids want coaches they connect with. Parents want transparency and trust. And both want access—without the red tape.
Whether you're a parent looking for flexible training options or an ex-athlete figuring out your next chapter, the message is clear: Coaching, like almost everything else, is going on-demand.
This story was produced by Athletes Untapped and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
