Connecticut earned a spot in Monday’s winner’s bracket semifinals against South Dakota and handed Honolulu just its second loss in 17 Little League World Series games since 2018. D’Amura, playing first base at the time, and Taxilardidis, after they switched positions, both threw out runners and Connecticut did all the little things right to earn a huge win.

“We knew who they were. They’re a well-coached, well-oiled machine,” Connecticut manager Brian Palazzolo said. We’re ecstatic to take them down because we’re laying on Monday and it’s a really good feeling right now.”

Palazzolo’s son Brian Jr. drew a bases-loaded walk after falling behind 1-2 to tie the game. Following a two-run error, Luca Pellegrini delivered the game’s biggest hit, smashing a two-strike, two-run single to right field and making it, 5-1.

Taxilardidis allowed just two hits in three innings and struck out five before D’Amura threw three scoreless innings and closed the win out by stranding two runners. Hawaii took a 1-0 lead in the third inning when Josh Tanaka hit an RBI double but two spectacular relay throws in consecutive innings prevented Hawaii from extending that lead. The West champions will play in an elimination game Sunday against the winner of Saturday’s Pennsylvania-Illinois game.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Metro short stop Luca Pellegrini backhands a line drive before throwing to first base for an out in the fourth inning.

“We try and tell the kids that we lost one game. It’s not the end of the world,” Hawaii manager Gerald Oda said after losing his first Series games in 12 career games here. “We’re trying to teach the kids to put it in perspective. The fact that we’re here in (South) Williamsport is a great thing.”

NEVADA 5, WASHINGTON 3

Washington put up a fight on Friday at Lamade Stadium. Unfortunately, it came up just shy in the end.

Las Vegas, Nevada used a three-run sixth inning to pull ahead of Bonney Lake, Washington and prevented the Northwest Regional champions from tying the game in a 5-3 victory at Lamade Stadium.

Washington added two runs in the bottom of the sixth to cut the deficit to 5-3 after trailing 5-1 entering the bottom, but couldn’t quite rally.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Metro short stop Luca Pellegrini celebrates as second base umpire Ricci Hall calls the final out of the game after Pellegrini turned two for the final two outs of the game against West in the Little League World Series Friday.

Washington had its No. 3 hitter Andrew Madsen at the plate with a runner on third base, but Ethan Robertson of Nevada came up with a key strikeout to end the game and secure the victory.

“(I was thinking) don’t let the crowd get to you, Obviously, it’s kind of scary being out there but just focus on the hitter and know that I have my defense behind me,” Robertson said.

Nevada out-hit Washington, 9-7. Cache Malan went 2 for 3 with a double, home run, two RBIs and scored twice to help spark the Mountain Regional champions offense at the plate. Brooks Fecsher (1 for 3, two runs), Garrett Gallegos (1 for 3, RBI, run), Grayson Miranda (1 for 2, RBI, walk), Mason Schutte (1 for 3, RBI) and Jayden Lee (1 for 2) all collected singles.

Washington was led by Fin Harrington, who went 1 for 3 with an RBI and a double, and Connor Smith, who finished the game 1 for 2 with an RBI and a triple. They had Washington’s only extra-base hits on the day.

In addition, the Northwest Regional champions saw players Cole Sehlin (1 for 1, walk, run), Atley Eager (1 for 2, run), Landon Teafoe (1 for 2, run), Gavin Heacox (1 for 2) and Colton Audette (1 for 2) all reach base thanks to hitting singles.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Metro short stop Luca Pellegrini turns two after a force on West's Hulili Kauahikaua for the final two outs of the game on Metro's win over West in the Little League World Series Friday.

Washington will face either Texas or Massachusetts on Sunday at 9 a.m. Nevada advances in the winners’ bracket and plays South Carolina on Monday afternoon.

ARUBA 8, PANAMA 2

Diliano Raven had two hits to lead Santa Cruz, Aruba to an 8-2 in over Arraijan, Panama to win their opener at the Little League World Series.

Arnold Gismar Martha threw 5 1/3 innings for Aruba, throwing 76 pitches and striking out eight with just four hits allowed and two earned runs. Anthony Santos relieved him in the sixth and closed the game out with the final two-thirds of an inning, needing just three pitches to do so.

“The game plan was Arnold to 50 pitches so we can have him just in case against Taiwan, but the runs, I didn’t feel comfortable at 4-0 or 4-1,” Aruba manager Max Arendsz said. “SO then we went to the next step, take them out with three games of rest.”

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Metro's Boden Dunlap (19) and Joe Sorrehtino (8) celebrate after scoring on a Charlie McCullough single in the fifth inning.

Anthony Santos (1 for 1, RBI, two runs), Isaac Arendsz (1 for 2, two RBIs), Emerson Mercado (1 for 3, RBI), Prinze Kingsale (1 for 2), Liam Pena Caraballo (1 for 2) and Josiah Koolman (1 for 2, RBI) led Aruba.

Panama was led by Josmar Planes (1 for 1, run), Alvis Arauz (1 for 2, run), Anthoni Castillo (1 for 2) and Emanuel Flores (1 for 2, RBI).

“I did really, really good,” Aruba’s Josiah Koolman said on his performance at the plate.

Arauz and Flores both had extra-base hits for Panama.

The loss drops Panama to 1-1 and puts Panama into the elimination bracket while Aruba is 1-0.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Metro center fielder Dante Matera fields a fly ball for an out in the sixth inning.

VENEZUELA 4, CANADA 0

The last three innings of the game, Canada’s defense and pitching were superb. But, it was too little, too late for the Canada Regional champions. A three-run second inning was the story of the game as Venezuela defeated Canada, 4-0, on Friday afternoon at Volunteer Stadium.

“I told them we were still in it and have to chip away and get back in it. They played really well, but we just couldn’t get our bats going,” Canada manager Llory Yip said. “If we had a couple hits here or there, made a couple plays, it could have been a different outcome, a closer game and maybe we work through it a little better. But it just wasn’t meant to be.”

After leading just 1-0, it was the econd inning in which a double and walk put two runners on. After Canada forced two outs, a single drove in Santiago Martinez before a wild pitch alowed Alam Parra to cross home for a 3-0 lead.

Andres Reyes Querales, who had the RBI single, later scored as well on a passed ball for a 4-0 lead.

“They were good because it built the trust and the team was more focused on the game and knew they had the advantage,” Venezuela manager Luis Bermuda said. “It gave us confidence.”

Venezuela limited Canada to just one single as Tyson Grimsrud-Ronse went 1 for 2. Andres Reyes Querales threw five innings wtihs even strikeouts for Venezuela.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Metro's Dante Madera (7) beats the tag from West third baseman Bronson Fermahin (19) on a Metro Boden Dunlap double in the fourth inning.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Metro catcher Jimmy Taxitardis holds up the ball after tagging out West's Kuana Payanal on a double in the third inning.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent West's Kuana Payanal (21) safely steals third base as Metro third baseman Brian Palazzolo fields the throw on a passed pitch in the third inning.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent West's Logan Brokaw celebrates after hitting a double in the first inning.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent West's Mason Mitani tries to focus before going to bat during their game against Metro Friday night.