Rhode Island LLWS News: Smithfield wins the opener behind Connor Curtis's 16 strikeouts.

According to Nick Coit, Sports Director of ABC6, Smithfield just became the first Rhode Island team to win a Little League World Series Home Opener since 2004, when Lincoln accomplished the feat in Williamsport.

The underdog Rhode Island team has had quite the journey, especially since claiming the Metro Region in a thrilling upset last week, but this team from the smallest state has a lot of fight in them.

On the day of the opening round, Smithfield took down Henderson, Nevada. It was a 3-1 win, and you can credit the W to the Rhode Island pitcher, Connor Curtis.

The future Hedge Fund Manager is slowly becoming one of the most dominant pitchers in the tournament. Today, he was lights out, pitching 5.1 innings and striking out a whopping 16 batters. The left-hander started the game by retiring the first nine batters, eight of them by strikeout.

Up next, Smithfield will be back at Lamade Stadium Friday at 3 p.m. against Southeast Region champion Nolensville, Tenn. You can watch the game on ESPN.