Recapping: Massachusetts (Canton) vs. Maine (Gray) Little League in New England Finals

What a ride it's been this summer for the Canton Little League baseball team.

It's not over yet.

And it could go from really memorable to really, really, really memorable with a win on Thursday.

Canton, A.K.A. Team Massachusetts, will meet Maine (Gray) in the New England Championship at 7 p.m. tonight in Bristol, Connecticut. The winner advances to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

More: Seven fun facts about the Canton Little League team bound for the New England Regionals

There's several different ways to follow the game. You can find the best coverage right here (OK, maybe we're biased but hear us out), as we'll be updating this story live through the final (see our coverage for Canton's other games against Vermont, Maine and New Hampshire). We also had coverage of Canton's sectional and state championship wins.

There's other ways to follow the game as well. ESPN will broadcast the final at 7 p.m. You can also download the Gamechanger app and search for 'Massachusetts' to follow the box score.

FINAL: Maine 2, Canton 1.

Maine advances to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Canton Little League's run ends in the New England Regionals in Bristol, Connecticut.

Canton scored one run on six hits and committed one error. Maine scored two runs on four hits and committed zero errors.

Top of the sixth inning: Maine 2, Canton 1.

Canton strands two runners in scoring position as Maine's Caleb Barker strikes out the final two batters to send Maine to the Little League World Series.

Mikey Zollo hit a base hit to center to move the potential tying run to second base. A wild pitch moves both runners up a base: Ryan is at third, Zollo is at second with one out.

Canton brought the tying runner, Brendan Ryan, aboard on a single with zero outs. Maine ace Kayden Oliver is relieved due to pitch count. He went 5 ⅓ innings, allowing one earned run, one walk, five hits and collecting 10 strikeouts in the maximum 85 pitches. Caleb Barker is in to pitch for Maine.

Heading to the sixth inning: Maine 2, Canton 1.

Maine's Caleb Barker hit a lead-off double to right field, then stole third with one out. A Maine fly-out to center wasn't quite deep enough for Barker to tag up and head home. Chabot ends the inning with a strikeout, his eighth, and Barker is stranded in scoring position.

The Canton order goes down 1-2-3 as Maine ace Kayden Oliver retires two more batters via strikeout. He has nine tonight, as he clings on to a one-run lead.

Heading to the fifth inning: Maine 2, Canton 1.

No. 13 batter Cam Lyons reached on a swinging bunt to the left side, Canton's fourth hit of the night, but he is left at first base as the Maine order steps to bat.

Maine picked up a hit in the fourth inning, but the Canton defense stood tall with two outs and a runner on.

Heading to the fourth inning: Maine 2, Canton 1.

Chabot picks up his fifth and sixth strikeouts as the Maine lineup goes down in order. Canton sliced the two-run deficit in half in the top of the inning (see below).

Middle of the third inning: Maine 2, Canton 1.

Declan Kelliher drove in Canton's first run on a base hit up the middle with two outs, scoring Michael Zollo, who reached on a bloop single, from second base.

Canton recorded its first hit of the night courtesy of a pop-up from Brendan Ryan that dropped along the foul line in shallow right field.

Heading to the third inning: Maine 2, Canton 0.

Maine's Grant Brann hit a line drive to right, then came around to score after an error and an off-line throw from the cut-off to third base. Chabot has struck out four through 40 pitches.

The Canton lineup went down in order. Maine pitcher Kayden Oliver has picked up four strikeouts through two innings and 26 pitches.

Heading to the second inning: Maine 1, Canton 0.

Maine's Caleb Barker hit a base hit up the middle to drive in a run, but a pair of strikeouts from Canton ace Nathan Chabot strand two Maine runners in scoring position. In the top half of the first, the Canton lineup went down 1-2-3.

Play ball!

Canton and Maine are on the field and the game is about to get underway. Stick here for updates throughout the game.

8:15 first pitch

After an hour-long rain delay, Canton vs. Maine is slated to start at 8:15 p.m.

Lineups

Reminder: Everyone on the team bats in Little League.

Canton (Visitor)

9 Patrick Furbush Extra Hitter

22 Sam Archibald Shortstop

99 Andrew Sullivan Extra Hitter

15 Nathan Chabot Pitcher

4 Owen Collins Right Field

5 Will Casey Catcher

97 Brendan Ryan Left Field

27 Miles Mettlach First Base

19 Mikey Zollo Second Base

11 Ryan Roberts Extra Hitter

12 Declan Kelliher Extra Hitter

10 Michael Camerano Third Base

18 Cam Lyons Center Field

Maine (Home)

10 Gage Rioux Shortstop

50 Zac Feehan Jr. Extra Hitter

88 Mason Amergian Catcher

34 Caleb Barker Third Base

28 Kayden Oliver Pitcher

19 Anthony Piccone Center Field

14 Nathan Shelley Left Field

12 Grant Brann Right Field

33 Ben Gilmore Second Base

41 Alex Hanlon Extra Hitter

5 Ivan Deemer Extra Hitter

32 Mason Westcott First Base

11 Charlie Pacanza Extra Hitter

99 Cam Beckwith Extra Hitter

Rain delay

Weather is not cooperating, so the 7 p.m. scheduled start won't happen. We'll keep you updated with what's going on.

Keep an eye on the weather

Canton has been no stranger to weather issues this tournament. Monday's game (which was also against Maine) was scheduled to start, but ultimately was delayed until 4 p.m.

The forecast could present issues tonight.

This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Recapping: Canton vs. Maine Little League New England championship