Connecticut’s Fairfield National’s Little League World Series title hopes came to an end.
The team was eliminated in the U.S. title game by Summerlin South Little League from Las Vegas on Saturday, losing 8-2 in Williamsport, Pa.
Vegas jumped ahead right off the bat in the top of the first inning and never looked back, dropping three runs on a wild pitch and a two-run single from Grayson Miranda.
Fairfield bounced back a half-inning later, scoring on an infield hit from Jimmy Taxiltaridis, but Vegas starter Garrett Gallegos stranded runners on second and third to end the threat.
Nevada extended its lead in the fourth inning with a deep home run off the bat of Gallegos.
Fairfield scraped for another run in the bottom of the fourth, but a slick play from Vegas shortstop Ethan Robertson to tag out a runner heading back to second base ended the inning.
Vegas nearly blew the lead in the bottom of the fifth inning after Gallegos walked a pair of batters.
The pitcher got into a rundown with Fairfield’s Ben Herbst and tagged him out at third base after a pickle between home and third.
The right-hander then struck out the next batter, keeping the score at 4-2.
Nevada added some insurance runs in the top of the sixth thanks to a double from Cache Malan that brought in Dustin Greusel and a bases-loaded hit by pitch from Banks Mossle.
Later that inning, Cutter Ricafort blew the game wide open, driving in two more runs with a bases-loaded single to center field to make the game 8-2.
Fairfield starter Luca Pellegrini went 5 ¹/₃ innings, giving up five runs on eight hits and a walk while striking out three.
Gallegos was just a bit better, tossing five innings with just two runs (one earned) on five hits with two walks.
He struck out eight Fairfield batters as well.
In the final frame, Luke D’Ambrosio relieved Gallegos and pitched a perfect final inning, securing the U.S. title and ending Fairfield’s long Little League World Series run.
Vegas got the biggest contribution from its 3-4 hitters, Malan and Gallegos, who combined for four hits, four runs and two RBIs.
“The energy of the crowd just made me feel so great today,” Gallegos said in the postgame interview. “I was feeling so pumped to play today. It was just so amazing, the feeling was amazing.”
Fairfield’s loss comes two days after it beat Vegas, 7-3, on Wednesday to earn a spot in the U.S. title game.
Vegas made the title game with a 5-3 come-from-behind victory over South Carolina on Thursday.
They will take on Chinese Taipei in the title game Sunday at 3 p.m.
“It’s going to be a tough game, they got some really good hitters and really good pitchers,” Gallegos said.
Chinese Taipei beat Aruba 1-0 in the international title game Saturday.
Vegas is looking to be the first team from Nevada to win the Little League World Series.
