Fairfield National Clinches Berth In U.S. Championship Game In Little League World Series

FAIRFIELD, CT — Fairfield National Little League won again on Wednesday at the Little League World Series, giving the team a berth in the United States Championship game on Saturday in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

Fairfield's magical run at the Little League Classic continued, with a 7-3 victory over the Mountain Region representative, Summerlin South Little League from Las Vegas, Nevada.

A watch party at Fairfield's Elicit Brewing Company was packed on Wednesday to cheer the team.

Fairfield loaded the bases in the top of the first inning against Nevada, after a pair of hits and a walk, but failed to score.

SJ Taxiltaridis, who was pitching to his brother, Jimmy, gave up a three-run homer in the bottom of the frame to give the Las Vegas team a 3-0 lead.

Fairfield failed to score in their half of the second inning, but so did Nevada, the Mountain Region representative, to keep the score at 3-0.

In the third, Brian Palazzolo reached second base with a bunt and a throwing error. A walk put runners on first and second, and Luca Pellegrini then drove in Fairfield's first run with a double.

SJ Taxiltaridis then hit a single to drive in Fairfield's next two runs to tie the score.

— Fans cheer during the watch party at Fairfield's Elicit Brewing Company as the Fairfield National Little League team defeats Las Vegas, Nevada, to reach the U.S. Championship game on Saturday at the Little League World Series in Williamsport, PA. Photo credit: Alfred Branch/Patch

In the bottom of the third, centerfielder Dante Madera turned in one of the highlight catches of the tournament, and right fielder Ben Herbst threw out a Nevada runner at the plate to keep the score tied.

Colin Curley led off the fourth with a double, but the team failed to score.

Las Vegas loaded the bases in the bottom of the fourth, but they also failed to score.

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Luca Pellegrini delievered again in the top of the fifth with a double that drove in Brian Palazzolo for the go-ahead run to make the score 4-3.

Fairfield's Tommy D'Amura smacked a clutch homer to right-center in the top of the sixth, pushing the score to 5-3.

Colin Curley then drove in another run, bringing the score to 6-3, and a wild pitch plated another run to put the score at 7-3, which is how it ended.

Next up for Fairfield, which is representing the Metro Region, is a 3:30 p.m. on Saturday in the U.S. Championship game.

The Connecticut team's opponent is yet to be determined, but if Fairfield wins, it will play the winner of the International bracket for all the marbles.

For more information on the Little League World Series, click here.