SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT — The number of teams in the running for the championship of Little League Baseball is down to four.
Taiwan and Fairfield, Connecticut, punched their tickets to the international and U.S. title games, respectively, with wins Wednesday. They are the only remaining undefeated teams in the world series in South Williamsport.
Coming out of the elimination bracket to face them will be Aruba and Las Vegas, both of whom won Thursday.
The international championship game will be played at 12:30 p.m. Saturday with the U.S. title game at 3:30 p.m. Both will be televised by ABC.
Aruba edged Venezuela, 3-1, and Las Vegas used a three-run homer by Garrett Gallegos in the top of the six to come from behind and defeat Irmo, South Carolina, 5-3.
This is the first time a team from Aruba has made it to the international championship game. It will be a rematch of Monday’s game that Taiwan won, 4-0.
“I think we will do a little better because the players will be more calm,” said manager Max Arendsz. “It’s going to be a good game. We learned a lot in the first game.”
Connecticut put Nevada into the elimination bracket Wednesday, 7-3. “We’ll be ready on Saturday,” Las Vegas manager TJ Fechser promised.
Aruba’s Liam Peńa Caraballo celebrates after catching the game winning out against Japan following a baseball game at the Little League World Series, Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025, in South Williamsport, Pa. (AP Photo/Caleb Craig)AP
After playing two games in as many days, Friday being an off day is appreciated, Fechser said.
The double elimination part of the tournament is over, so if Taiwan and Connecticut lose Saturday, they will be eliminated, even though it would be their first loss.
The two winners will place for the world championship at 3 p.m. Sunday.
While there are no games Friday, the annual Williamsport Welcomes the World block party will be held in downtown Williamsport from 5 to 9 p.m.
This year’s featured guest is former major league outfielder Johnny Damon who will be signing autographs between 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. at West Fourth and Pine streets.
Damon also will serve as a coach Saturday for the annual Little League Challenger Division game at Volunteer Stadium. The 10:30 a.m. contest is between teams from the Wyoming Valley Challenger League in Luzerne County and Woburn, Massachusetts.
Each league receives a $15,000 grant from Little League International that is matched by Eggland’s Best, a corporate sponsor, to help offset the costs of traveling to South Williamsport for the game.
The Challenger Division, established in 1989, is for youngsters ages 6 to 14 with physical or educational challenges.
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