Fairfield, Connecticut ends the summer with the recognition of being the third-best team in the world in Little League Baseball. Following a tough loss to Las Vegas, Nevada on Saturday afternoon in the United States championship game, the Metro Regional champions bounced back to earn a 4-2 win against Santa Cruz, Aruba in the Little League World Series consolation game at Lamade Stadium on Sunday morning.

For Aruba, it’s their second consecutive loss following an outstanding run through the elimination bracket to reach Saturday’s International final. Aruba made history this summer by winning the most games in a single LLWS tournament in Aruba history (four) and reaching the International championship game for the first time ever.

Connecticut jumped out to a 2-0 lead when SJ Taxiltardis doubles to left on a ground ball that brought in Logan Gryga and Luca Pellegrini. With two outs, Taxiltardis scored on a wild pitch before a fly out to Prinze Kingsale in right field ended the third inning.

Aruba battled right back in the bottom of the third inning. A huge triple by Cayden Fraser to centerfield drove in Kingsale and cut the deficit to 3-1. With two outs, Josiah Koolman grounded out, but brought in Fraser in the process, to make it a 3-2 deficit.

However that was the closest Aruba came to tying the game.

After three scoreless innings, Connecticut added one more run in the top of the sixth inning.

With one, Jimmy Taxiltardis grounded out to shortstop Diliano Raven, but the grounder allowed SJ Taxiltardis to head home and give the Metro Regional champions a 4-2 lead.

Down two runs, Aruba attempted to battle, but just couldn’t rally. Connecticut pitcher Tommy D’Amura struck out Cayden Fraser and Jay-Sell Giron on back-to-back batters for two quick outs and then induced a groundout to first base by Koolman for the game’s final out.

Aruba was limited to five singles by Liam Pena Carabeallo (1 for 1, walk), Kingsale (1 for 2, run), Fraser (1 for 2, RBI, run), Rylan Quandt (1 for 1) and Jayderick Wederfoor (1 for 1).

Connecticut out-hit Aruba, 6-5. Connecticut was led by Pellegrini (1 for 3, run), SJ Taxiltardis (1 for 1, two RBIs, walk, two runs), D’Amura (1 for 2), Dante MAdera (1 for 2, walk), Joe Sorrentino (1 for 2) and Logan Gryga (1 for 2, run).

Anthony Santos threw 5 1/3 innings for Aruba, scattering five hits with two walks and six strikeouts before Isaac Arendsz closed the game out with the final two thirds.

Connecticut threw three pitchers with Charlie McCullough, Brian Palazzolo and D’Amura combining on the mound. Palazzolo earned the win. The trio combined for seven strikeouts.