Little League World Series: Texas Outlasts Fairfield American

FAIRFIELD, CT — Fairfield American, the New England Regional and Connecticut state champions, battled Lufkin, Texas (the Southeast Regional champions) Sunday morning/early afternoon in a back-and-forth game in which both teams traded leads and mounted comebacks.

But in the end it was Texas outlasting Fairfield 6-3 and Fairfield will play Monday and the team needs to win in order to keep advancing in the tournament.

Texas started the scoring in the first and led 1-0, and that was quickly erased by Fairfield’s Aldan Rivera who hit a home run leading off the second inning. Fairfield then took a 3-1 lead and that was wiped away almost immediately by a Texas two-run home run. Texas went on to take a 5-3 lead in the fourth inning. Texas added a run in the fifth inning advancing its lead to 6-3, which ended up being the final score.

Fairfield, who won its first game Thursday, (19-0) staved off a furious comeback attempt by New Jersey in the seventh inning of that game. Trailing 7-2 heading into the bottom of the seventh, New Jersey rallied for four runs — highlighted by a mammoth two-run home run by Chris Cartnick — before Tyler Bauer came on to record the final out on a grounder to shortstop and Fairfield held on for a 7-6 victory. (Read a recap of Thursday’s win here).

See also:

• Little League World Series: Meet The New England Champions
• Fairfield American Gears Up For Little League World Series
• Holbrook's Little League World Series Trip 5 Years In The Making (Video)
• Fairfield American Reaches Little League World Series With Historic Win

The players of the Fairfield American Little League team are:

#4 Owen Kalagher /Positions: 2B, OF

#5 Aidan Rivera / Positions: C, 2B, OF

#6 Anthony Pollack / Position: OF

#9 Sean O'Neil / Positions: 2B, 3B, SS

#12 Troy Ashkinos / Positions: P, OF

#13 Ethan Righter / Positions: P, 2B, SS

#14 Griffin Dodder / Positions: P, 2B, OF

#15 Andrew Cutler /Positions: P, OF

#17 Matthew Vivona / Positions: P, 1B, 2B

#18 Leo Randazzo /Position: 3B

#19 Christian Smith / Positions: C, OF

#22 Anthony Falletta / Position: OF

#23 Tyler Bauer /Positions: P, 1B

#24 Michael Iannazzo / Positions: P, SS

For more information on the players, including videos, visit the Little League World Series website here.
Photos courtesy of Little League World Series/ Baseball cards designed by Kristin Borden