El Segundo beats Texas to win US bracket in Little League World Series, advances to championship

Needville's quest to become the third Texas team this century to advance to the Little League World Series title game came up short on Saturday.

The Texas Little Leaguers fell 6-1 to the West Region champions from El Segundo, California in the U.S. final, with California advancing to face Curaçao in Sunday's LLWS championship game.

– Jay-Dlynn Wiel and Nasir El-Ossais got back-to-back singles and later scored, leading Curacao to a 2-0 victory over Taiwan on Saturday in the semifinals of the Little League World Series.

Texas and California previously met during the double-elimination portion of the tournament, with Needville pulling out a 3-1 victory earlier this week. Dating back to the Southwest regional, Texas was 8-0 prior to Saturday and 4-0 at the Little League World Series.

Ultimately, California's bats and a standout pitching performance from Louis Lappe were too much to overcome. Lappe allowed just three hits and a walk while giving up one unearned run, as he struck out 10 batters in 5 1/3 innings of work.

He also added a three-run home run in the bottom of the fifth that broke open what was a two-run game at the time, bringing his RBI total for the game to five. Brody Brooks also had a solo home run for California to lead off the bottom of the first.

Texas had just one hit after the first inning, as DJ Jablonski doubled and reached third base on an error in the top of the fifth. Jablonski, who had six strikeouts with six hits and four runs allowed in 4 1/3 innings, scored Needville's only run on a wild pitch during the next at-bat.

Texas will face Chinese Taipei on Sunday in the LLWS consolation game, which is set to begin at 10 a.m. CT on ESPN.

Chasin' History at LLWS

Only two Texas Little League teams—Lufkin in 2017 and Bellaire in 2000—have won the U.S. championship since the turn of the century, with both falling in the LLWS title game. The Lone Star State has produced two Little League World Series champions, with Houston-based teams winning it all in 1950 and 1966.

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