Fairfield American's Little League World Series Dream Ends

After creating so many wonderful memories during an unforgettable summer, Fairfield American's run ended Tuesday night in Williamsport.

Isaiah Hatch and Casey Manning each had four hits, as  Auburn, Washington  eliminated Fairfield American from the Little League World Series with a 9-5 victory at Lamade Stadium.

Connecticut had beaten Auburn, 3-1, in the first game of the series on Friday, but then lost to Pearland, Texas, 14-1, on Sunday night to fall into the losers' bracket.

Auburn, with one loss, will play undefeated Pearland tonight at 8 in the pool B finals, but must beat the Texans twice to reach Saturday's semifinals.

"It's an end to a great ride," said Fairfield American manager Chris Daley, who reminded his players after the game they were one of the last six U.S. teams still playing baseball. "It was a great summer. It was a magical ride."

Fairfield American became the first team from the town to play in Williamsport in the 64-year-old history of the LLWS. It won 21 of 24 postseason games while capturing district, sectional, state and New England titles and making Fairfielders proud.

The difference on Tuesday came down to Fairfield American's inability to contain the middle of Auburn's lineup. The Nos. 3-5 hitters - Hatch, Dillon O'Grady and Manning - were a combined 11-for-12 with eight RBI.

"(They were) extremely good hitters," Daley said. "The bats won tonight."

The game started much like Sunday's contest, as Auburn grabbed a 2-0 lead before Fairfield American came to bat.  Manning, Auburn's starting pitcher who was 4-for-4 with five runs batted in, opened the scoring with an RBI single. The second run in the inning came home on a wild pitch by Jack Quinn.

Fairfield American appeared ready to at least tie the game in the bottom of the frame after Tom Ryan, who had .625 series average, led off with a single.

Ryan was forced at second,  but Nick Nardone, who got Fairfield American back into the game with a three-run homer in the fourth,  followed with a single. Quinn then walked to load the bases, only to have  Connor Daley hit into an inning-ending double play.

Auburn switched pitchers to start the second and reliever Hudson Byorick promptly plunked Nate Klein. He left the game for a special pinch runner who was erased on the front end of Auburn's  second double play. Klein returned to right field when Fairfield took the field in the third.

Auburn added to its lead in the third when O'Grady singled in Hatch, who had doubled. Hatch stole second and came home on Manning's two-bagger to make it 4-0.

Fairfield American came alive in the third, as Ryan and Chris Howell scored on Nardone's blast that pulled the locals within 4-3.

However, the third double play started by shortstop Hatch ended Connecticut's threat in the fourth. With one out,  Liam Wurzel singled and pinch-hitter Eddie Magi walked. Ryan hit a pop just over the pitcher's mound that Hatch grabbed to double special pinch runner Patrick O'Leary off second.

Manning gave Auburn a little breathing room in the fifth when he belted a two-run homer with one out to make it 6-3.

Fairfield battled back again in the bottom half, pulling within 6-5 on Daley's RBI single and a run-scoring wild pitch.

With runners on second on third, Auburn brought Hatch into pitch, and he got two quick outs to keep his team ahead. He then iced the game in the top of the sixth with a two-run blast over the center-field fence.

After the game, the Fairfield youngsters came back on the field to tip their hats to their parents and fans.

"It was the experience of a lifetime for (the coaches) and the kids," Daley added. "Obviously,  (we're) a little disappointed now…but I think looking back on it tomorrow morning, it's going to be all smiles."