Clarendon Hills Little League opened its run in the 2025 Little League World Series with a 16-1 loss to the hard-hitting team from Las Vegas, Nevada, and pitcher Garrett Gallegos.
Gallegos allowed just four hits and struck out six in five innings. The Nevada offense backed him up with 18 hits and 16 runs — keeping their offense rolling from the regional, where the Las Vegas Little League team outscored three opponents 45-15.
Six Nevada batters had two or more hits. Banks Mossler and Luke D’Ambrosio each were 3-for-3, while Ethan Robertson led the Mountain team with three RBIs.
Las Vegas advances to play 2 p.m. Friday against the Northwest region winner from Bonney Lake, Washington. Illinois will play 6 p.m. Saturday in an elimination game vs. the loser of the Thursday game between South Dakota and Pennsylvania.
The LLWS runs through Aug. 24, when the winners from the U.S. and international brackets face off in the championship game.
The Illinois team represents the Great Lakes region in the U.S. bracket. Illinois defeated Ohio in the championship game to advance. The Nevada team, meanwhile, dominated the Mountain region tournament.
Below is a recap of the Nevada victory over Illinois in the 2025 Little League World Series:
Watch Illinois in the 2025 LLWS live on Fubo (free trial)
Illinois vs Nevada in 2025 LLWS: Recap and highlights
FINAL: Nevada 16, Illinois 1
Illinois got on the board with two outs in the sixth when Brody Herold scored on a wild pitch — but the boys from Clarendon Hills will drop to the consolation bracket with the loss to the hard-hitting Mountain region winners.
Top 6th: Nevada just keeps scoring
Brooks Fechser greets new pitcher Christian Gernot with an RBI single and Cache Malan walks to extend an already very long inning. Bases are loaded before a passed ball and wild pitch score two more and Grayson Miranda doubles to score another.
Illinois finally escapes the inning and has three outs to go.
Nevada 16, Illinois 0, middle 6th
Top 6th: Nevada pours it on
New pitcher Connor Lazar allowed an RBI double to Backs Mossler — Nevada’s third in a row — and the Las Vegas team is running away with it. Griffin Vergas followed with an RBI single, followed by run-scoring hits by Jayden Lee and Ethan Robertson to make it 12-0. Lazar is replaced at pitcher by Christian Gernot.
Nevada 12, Illinois 0, top 6th
Top 6th: Nevada adds to lead
Luke D’Ambrosio and Mason Schutte hit back-to-back RBI doubles as Nevada has added to its lead late against Illinois. The next batter is hit by a pitch and Illinois replaces pitcher Jack Kaczmarski with Connor Lazar.
The Mountain region champs are likely moving on.
Nevada 7, Illinois 0, middle 6th
Bottom 5th: Illinois comes up empty again
Garrett Gallegos continued to shut down Illinois, again allowing just one baserunner and keep alive his shutout. He’s allowed just four hits in five innings with six strikeouts. Illinois is down to its final three outs.
Nevada 5, Illinois 0, end 5th
Top 5th: Nevada threatens, but comes up empty
Nevada reached base with two walks, but both runners were stranded by new Illinois pitcher Jack Kaczmarski. Mountain region champs still lead late.
Nevada 5, Illinois 0, middle 5th
Top 5th: Illinois changes pitcher
Illinois’ Jack Kaczmarski moves from first base to pitcher replacing Brody Herold, who allowed four hits and walked one in 2.1 innings.
Bottom 4th: Illinois offense shut down again
Illinois’ Connor Lazar singled with two outs but was stranded again as pitcher Garrett Gallegos continued to shine. He’s allowed just three hits and walked two, striking out five in four innings. Nevada in control.
Nevada 5, Illinois 0, end 4th
Top 4th: Illinois pulls off nifty double play
Illinois pitcher Brody Herold got Griffin Vargas to ground into a double play and Illinois erased Nevada’s threat in the fourth. Shortstop Luca Striltschuk tossed to first baseman Jack Kaczmarski to end the inning.
Nevada 5, Illinois 0, middle 4th
Bottom 3rd: Illinois remains scoreless in LLWS vs Nevada
Pitcher Brody Herold reached on a walk, but Illinois can’t get anything else going against pitcher Garrett Gallegos — who has allowed just one baserunner in each of the last two innings.
Nevada 5, Illinois 0, end 3rd
What are the Little League rules?
Looking for some explainers about Little League baseball, like how many innings they play or what about pitch counts? The Patriot Ledger in Quincy, Massachusetts, wrote this great explainer. Give it a look here.
Top 3rd: Nevada strands pair of runners
Nevada pitcher Garrett Gallegos reached on a single and Luke D’Ambrosio walked, but both were stranded by pitcher Brody Herold, who worked out of the inning.
Nevada 5, Illinois 0, middle 3rd
Bottom 2nd: Quiet inning for Illinois vs Nevada
Illinois gets a one-out single from Liam Harrigan, but the next two batters go down by strikeout to Nevada starter Garret Gallegos.
Nevada 5, Illinois 0, end 2nd
Top 2nd: Nevada blows the game open
Nevada scored three runs on back to back hits, a two-run single by Dustin Greusel and an RBI hit from Ethan Robertson — both off new Illinois pitcher Brody Herold, who escapes the inning by getting a fly out.
Nevada 5, Illinois 0, middle 2nd
Top 2nd: Nevada extends the lead
Nevada loaded the bases with three singles before Jayden Lee walked to bring home Mason Schutte for a 2-0 lead. Illinois with a pitching change, as Luke Schaller is replaced by Brody Herold.
Bottom 1st: Illinois leaves bases loaded
Illinois loaded the bases on a single, hit by pitch and walk — before Nevada starter Garrett Gallegos struck out Illinois’ Nos. 4 and 5 hitters Connor Lazar and Sean Bolger to escape the jam.
Nevada 1, Illinois 0, end 1st
Top 1st: Nevada takes an early lead on Illinois
The prolific offense of the Las Vegas Little League team struck first, scoring once in the first off a wild pitch by starter Luke Schaller, who needed 21 pitches to get out of the inning.
Nevada 1, Illinois 0, middle 1st
Illinois starting lineup vs. Nevada
Has Illinois ever won Little League World Series?
No. The state has four United State champions, but none have won overall championship. Kankakee was U.S. champ in 1958 and 1962, while Chicago teams won in 1967 and 2014. The 2014 title won by Jackie Robinson West Little League of Chicago was eventually forfeited because of the use of an ineligible player.
Illinois Little League roster
The Clarendon Hills Little League has 12 players. Here is the roster:
LLWS games today
Williamsport weather update: Is it raining at LLWS?
There is some light rain expected late morning in Willamsport, Pennsylvania, home of the LLWS. Rain is also expected mid-afternoon. Temperatures will stay in the mid- to low 80s.
Illinois vs Nevada channel today in LLWS
Illinois game time today in 2025 Little League World Series
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(This story was updated to accurately reflect the most current information.)
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Illinois vs Nevada in Little League World Series 2025: Recap and highlights
Reporting by Wes Huett, Peoria Journal Star / Journal Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
