HOUSTON — Louis Lappe homered, drove in five runs and gave up just three hits on the mound as California beat Texas 6-1 on Saturday to advance to the Little League World Series championship.
Brody Brody also hit a home run, a solo shot to center field on the third pitch he saw from Texas ace DJ Jablonski, stomping on home plate on his way to the dugout.
Louis, a 12-year-old who stands 6-foot-1, drove in two runs on a third-inning double and started for the team from El Segundo, striking out 10 in 5 1/3 innings. He sealed the win with a two-out, three-run homer to right field in the fifth inning.
Louis holds the tournament lead for home runs with four, one ahead of Brody.
California will play Curacao in the final on Sunday, marking the state’s first championship appearance since 2013 and El Segundo’s first ever. Curacao defeated Taiwan 2-0 earlier Saturday in the international semifinal.
El Segundo is the 24th team to represent California in the championship since the Little League World Series began in 1947. California leads all U.S. states with seven titles.
In a tournament that has lacked offensive firepower, California knocked out five multi-base hits and eight overall.
DJ doubled in the fifth inning, advanced to third on a throwing error and scored on a passed ball to give the team from Needville, Texas, its lone run.
Texas, representing the Southwest, beat West region team California 3-1 on Monday. DJ got the win that day and entered the rematch with 15 strikeouts and just two earned runs for the tournament. But on Saturday he took the loss.
Needville will go on to face Asia Pacific in the game to determine third place in the tournament.
Back at home, Needville had plenty of support as fans watched the game at The Pub 36.
"We've been here watching them and this place goes absolutely crazy," said Needville resident Lea Chapa. "These kids have worked so hard."
"They've been playing baseball since they can walk," said The Pub 36 owner Joe Moore. "That's what our town is about. We've always had great baseball."