Connecticut’s Fairfield National is one step closer to a Little League World Series title.

The team advanced to the U.S. title game with a 7-3 win over the Summerlin South Little League team from Las Vegas on Wednesday, riding strong defense, clutch hitting and a gutsy pitching performance.

Fairfield fell behind early when Vegas second baseman Cache Malan slugged a three-run home run in the first inning off Fairfield pitcher SJ Taxiltaridis. 5

But Fairfield stormed back two innings later, tying the game in the third inning when Taxiltaridis hit a two-run single to left field after shortstop Luca Pellegrini brought home the first run with an RBI single.

From there, they held Vegas at bay with a series of big defensive plays starting in the bottom of the third.

In that inning, cent

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