SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — Powerful Petaluma, Calif., can pitch, too.
Hance Smith’s three-run homer in the third broke open a tight game, and Quinton Gago struck out seven over 5 1/3 innings in a 5-0 win last night over Fairfield, Conn., in the Little League World Series.
California moves on to the U.S. semifinals tomorrow night. Connecticut was eliminated.
Manager Bill Meury gathered a Fairfield all-star team that has played together for three summers for one final meeting in left field.
“You guys are like brothers. The [coaches] love you guys, and we’ve had a great three years together,” Meury said in recounting the meeting. “You should walk off this field with your head held high because you gave Fairfield one of the best summers they’ve had in a little while.”
Fairfield was stifled by Gago, a 12-year-old left-hander.
Connecticut’s best chance came in the second when Michael Ghiorzi led off with a single, and an error made it runners on first and second with nobody out.
But third baseman Cole Tomei charged a bunt and started a 5-6-4 double play, and Gago got a strikeout to end the threat.