Fairfield National Little League Prepares to Face Hawaii in LLWS

The Fairfield National Little League team burst onto the national stage with a nail-biting 1-0 win over Texas champion Lamar Little League in their Little League World Series (LLWS) debut. Baseball fans across Connecticut—and honestly, way beyond—were glued to every pitch.

This game was all about clutch pitching, a few timely hits, and the kind of grit you see in kids from towns like Westport, Stamford, Bridgeport, Norwalk, Danbury, New Haven, Waterbury, and Hartford. Fairfield wasn’t just playing for themselves; they carried the pride of Connecticut’s youth baseball tradition.

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Fairfield’s Historic LLWS Debut

This summer, Fairfield National finally made it to the LLWS for the first time ever. It’s a huge deal for the town, especially since Connecticut teams have now reached the tournament 22 times—pretty wild when you think about it.

People from all over the region tuned in, hoping Fairfield would make a splash. Luca Pellegrini made sure they did.

Pellegrini’s One-Hit Gem

Luca Pellegrini just took over on the mound. He threw a complete-game one-hit shutout and struck out 11 batters—yeah, 11.

Texas came in with a reputation for big bats, but Luca mixed his pitches, hit his spots, and honestly looked like a pro out there. The defense backed him up, keeping things tight until Fairfield finally broke through at the plate.

The Game-Winning Moment

The only run of the game came when Ben Herbst knocked in Dante Madera with a sharp RBI single in the third inning. Madera slid home, barely beating the tag—one of those plays you watch in slow motion and still can’t believe he made it.

The team celebrated with pizza and cheeseburgers after the game. But the party vibe didn’t last long—they all knew what was coming next.

Preparing for the Honolulu Challenge

Fairfield now has to face Honolulu Little League from Hawaii, a team that’s no stranger to LLWS glory. They won it all in 2018 and 2022, and grabbed third place in 2021. That’s a lot of hardware.

Honolulu’s coaches are experienced, and their pitching rotation is deep. They cruised through the West Region, even knocking off two strong California teams.

Hawaii’s Pitching Power

Fairfield coach Brian Palazzolo expects to see Hawaii’s ace, Bronson Fermahin, on the mound. Fermahin was lights-out in regionals—17 strikeouts, no earned runs, and just 8.2 innings pitched.

Hawaii’s got more arms, too. Mason Mitani and Logan Brokaw helped rack up 36 strikeouts in just three games. Fairfield’s hitters have their work cut out for them this time.

Balancing Focus and Fun

After the big win, Fairfield didn’t waste any time. They got up early Thursday for practice, working on the basics and keeping things sharp.

Later, the kids hung out with their parents and host families. They’re soaking up every minute of this—how many times do you get to represent all of Connecticut on a stage like this?

The Road Ahead in the LLWS

If Fairfield pulls off the upset against Honolulu, they’ll move on to face the winner of the Mid-Atlantic vs. Midwest game on Monday. If not, they get another shot Sunday against a team from Saturday’s elimination round.

Either way, it’s clear Fairfield belongs with the best at this year’s LLWS. Not bad for their first time here, right?

Connecticut’s Pride on Display

The Fairfield National Little League’s success means a lot to Fairfield and to baseball communities all over Connecticut. Towns like Westport, Stamford, Bridgeport, and New Haven are all cheering for their Connecticut representatives.

Everyone’s eager to see how far this determined group of kids can go. Win or lose, the team’s grit and sportsmanship are inspiring young athletes from Hartford to Waterbury.

As the lights shine in Williamsport, Fairfield’s young stars get a shot at adding to Connecticut’s Little League legacy. Whether they’re up against powerhouse Hawaii or scrapping through the elimination bracket, you can feel the heart and belief in this team—and honestly, the whole state’s behind them.

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Here is the source article for this story: Fairfield National Little League prepares for Little League World Series powerhouse Hawaii

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