It was a phenomenal pitching duel between Pellegrini and Texas starter Shane Grawe who allowed just two hits in five innings, while striking out 11. So good were both Pellegrini and Grawe that both took no-hitters into the fourth inning.

Pellegrini pounded mostly fastballs by Texas hitters and closed the game with his 11th strikeout, leaving runners on the corners. He threw 58 of his 80 pitches for strikes, retiring the first nine batters he faced before Lucas Sontag hit a fourth-inning lead-off double. From there, Pellegrini struck out the side to strand Sontag there.

“This kid (Pellegrini) is a gamer,” Connecticut coach Brian Palazzolo said. “He always wants the ball.”

Jimmy Taxiltardis ignited Connecticut’s fourth inning rally, hitting a lead-off double for the game’s first hit. He took third on a wild pitch but a fabulous throw by Texas first baseman Brayden Carlisle cut him down after he rounded third a bit too far. Unfazed, Dante Madera went to second on the walk and throw to third. Herbst then laced a single into center field and Madera hustled home for the game’s lone run.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Metro manager cheers on his team at the beginning of a Little League World Series game against Southwest at Lamade Stadium on Wednesday.

With the win, Connecticut advances to Friday’s winner’s bracket quarterfinals and will play Hawaii. Texas will play an elimination game Saturday against the loser of Friday’s Nevada-Washington game.

VENEZUELA 5, PUERTO RICO 0

It only took two innings for Barquisimeto, Venezuela’s offense to put runs on the board, but once the Latin American Regional champions scored, they never looked back.

Venezuela scored three runs in the bottom of the second inning and the pitching and defense prevented Puerto Rico from scoring en route to a 5-0 win at Volunteer Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.

Venezuela led 3-0 after that second inning and Puerto Rico tried battling from the deficit from there.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Shane Grawe throws for Southwest during a Little League World Series game against Metro at Lamade Stadium on Wednesday.

“It was early. We had to play three more innings (after that),” Puerto Rico manager Leonardo Ortiz Torres said. “It was early in the game at that time.”

Juan Reyes struck out nine batters and threw all six innings, giving up just three hits — all singles — as his defense played well backing him up.

Venezuela tacked onto its lead in the bottom of the fifth inning. A leadoff single by Santiago Martinez was followed up with a walk and a fielder’s choice by Francisco Rivero and Alam Parra, respectively. It was them Samuel Castillo who hit a two-run double into left field to bring in two runs and extend Venezuela’s lead to 5-0 and put Puerto Rico into an early hole.

“They took that lead and, especially since it was the bottom part of the lineup, who did their job,” Venezuela manager Luis Bermudez said.

Venezuela out-hit Puerto Rico, 5-3. Castillo led Venezuela with a 2 for 2 day at the plate with four RBIs. He also had the lone extra-base hit. Francisco Riverz, Santiago Martinez and Abraham Rodriguez all had singles.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Luca Pellegrini throws for Metro during a Little League World Series game against Southwest at Lamade Stadium on Wednesday.

Puerto Rico was led by Sebastian Casanova Diaz was 1 for 2, Jozen Ortiz Adorno was 1 for 2 and Yabdiel Laboy Velazquez went 1 for 2 to lead Puerto Rico.

NEVADA 16, ILLINOIS 1

Talk about an offensive burst.

Las Vegas, Nevada displayed its talented offense against Clarendon Hills, Illinois at Lamade Stadium in the first United States game of the tournament en route to a 16-1 rout over the Great Lakes Regional champions.

Nevada collected 18 hits in the victory as Luke D’Ambrosio went 3 for 3 with a double, RBI and run scored and Banks Mossler was 3 for 3 with a double, RBI and two runs scored. Nevada also saw Grayson Miranda (1 for 3, RBI, run), Mason Schutte (1 for 4, RBI, two runs) and Ethan Robertson (2 for 3, three RBIs, run) all collect a double.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Tommy D’Amura makes the play at first for Southwest during a Little League World Series game against Metro at Lamade Stadium on Wednesday.

Garrett Galegos (1 for 4), Brooks Fenchser (2 for 3, RBI, two runs), Griffin Vargas (2 for 3, RBI, two runs), Jayden Lee (1 for 1, two RBIs, two runs) and Dustin Gruesel (2 for 3, two RBIs, run) helped power Nevada’s offense against Illinois.

Nevada scored 11 runs in the sixth inning to break the game open.

“We have to maintain our focus in the moment and keep our attention on the field,” Nevada manager TJ Fechser said. “It’s not different than any other game. We are going t compete. I’m proud of them. The Great Lakes team is a bunch of competitors and we could see them again. It’s just one game and we have to be ready for the next.”

Illinois was limited to five singles and Liam Harrigan was the only Illinois batter with multiple hits (2 for 2). Brody Herold (1 for 2, run), Connor Lazar (1 for 2) and Jack Kaczmarski (1 for 3) all had singles.

Gallegos secured the win on the mound after throwing five solid innings with six strikeouts. D’Ambrosio relieved him in the sixth and closed the game out with two strikeouts.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Southwest fans react during a Little League World Series game against Metro at Lamade Stadium on Wednesday.

Illinois went through five pitchers in the loss as the loss went to Luke Schaller (1 2/3 innings). Of the five pitchers who threw, three threw 35 or more pitches.

PANAMA 7, AUSTRALIA 2

With one out and a runner on, Panama’s Anthoni Castillo got a hold of a pitch and crushed it over the right-field fence for a two-run lead. It was early in the game, but it helped set the tone in Panama’s 7-2 win against Australia at Volunteer Stadium on Wednesday.

“Home runs, you don’t just stand there and want to hit home runs,” Castillo said. “I was looking for a hit, got a good pitch and hit the home run.”

It was the fourth inning where Panama opened the scoring and took advantage. Australia had cut the deficit to just 2-1 going into the fourth inning, but Panama would extend the lead with five runs.

Two wild pitches and a walk helped contribute to the scoring as Australia struggled with six errors. But Australia manager Keith Land was optimistic and told his team to shake the loss off.

“One bad inning is where we made a couple of errors and wild pitches. The game gets away from you pretty quickly and that’s what happened,” Land said. “We scored another run, had a chance at the end, but didn’t quite execute. You learn from your mistakes and move on. I think we’ll be better our next game.”

Panama only had one more hit than Australia (5-4). Eugenio Barrios, Arath Zeballos both had singles and Dylan Aguilera went 2 for 2.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Metro players return to the dugout during a Little League World Series game against Southwest at Lamade Stadium on Wednesday.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Southwest third baseman Holden Disselkoen attempts a tag on Metro's Jimmy Taxiltaridis during a Little League World Series game at Lamade Stadium on Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025. Metro won 1-0.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Metro's Brian Palazzolo reaches for a bunt during a Little League World Series game against Southwest at Lamade Stadium on Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025. Metro won 1-0.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Metro players celebrate a win over Southwest at the end of a Little League World Series game at Lamade Stadium on Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025. Metro won 1-0.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Metro players congratulate pitcher Luca Pelligrini after defeating Southwest a Little League World Series game at Lamade Stadium on Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025. Metro won 1-0.