Cooper Hastings provided four innings of scoreless relief as Boerne, Texas, held off Henderson, Nev., for a 5-2 victory on Wednesday afternoon to reach the United States final at the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa.
Texas completed a successful run through the winners’ bracket and will play Nevada or Lake Mary, Fla., in the U.S. championship game on Saturday. Nevada dropped into the elimination bracket and will square off with Florida on Thursday.
Nevada drew even at 2-2 in the second when Liam Sparks walked with the bases loaded and Gunner Beranek smacked a run-scoring single.
But Texas responded with a three-run third, and Hastings took care of business the rest of the way. The right-hander allowed just one hit out of the bullpen, walking one and striking out two.
Hastings also had two RBIs in the win. Julian Hurst went 2-for-2 with two runs for Texas.
Florida 4, Hawaii 3
Garrett Rohozen homered and reliever Luis Calo threw 2 2/3 scoreless innings to lead Lake Mary, Fla., past Wailuku, Hawaii, and into the U.S. consolation-bracket final.
Florida will oppose Henderson, Nev., on Thursday for a berth in the U.S. championship game — one of the tournament’s overall semifinals — on Saturday.
Calo yielded just one hit and one walk while striking out four. Lathan Norton and Hunter Alexander each had an RBI for Florida.
Gauge Pacheco singled, doubled and drove in a run for Hawaii, which had three pitchers walk a combined nine batters.
Taiwan 3, Japan 1
Yu Chia-Jui cracked a two-run double in the first to provide Taoyuan, Taiwan, with all the offense it would need to top Tokyo in an International semifinal.
Taiwan will play in the International final on Saturday. Ciou Zhi-Kai didn’t allow a hit in three innings of shutout relief, walking three and fanning five for Taiwan.
Japan didn’t score until the sixth, when Tsuyoshi Ito doubled home a run. The Japanese could collide with Taiwan once again if they win their elimination game on Thursday.
Venezuela 11, Mexico 3
Willian’s Mora had three hits, including two doubles, while also driving in a run and scoring three times to lead Barquisimeto, Venezuela, to a rout of Tamaulipas, Mexico, in International elimination-bracket action.
Venezuela will take on Japan for a spot in the International championship game. Abraham Lucena complemented Mora with a double and a single for Venezuela, which got 2 2/3 innings of one-run ball out of starter Luis Yepez.
Mexico starter Raul Hernandez Jr. got just outs, yielding three runs and four hits. Santiago Sotelo then took over and was tagged for seven runs (six earned) in 4 1/3 innings. At the plate, Sotelo doubled.