"Poor Payton," the 12-year-old Carriker said, shaking his head. His eyes nearly welled up with tears from laughing after he and Purvis helped Warner Robins, Ga., beat Walpole, Mass., 8-1, today at the Little League World Series.

Georgia (2-1) clinched a berth in the U.S. semifinals and learned later Wednesday that its opponent would be Chandler, Ariz., which defeated Coon Rapids, 9-2.

The other U.S. semifinal will feature unbeaten Lubbock, Texas, against Lake Oswego, Ore.

In the international bracket Wednesday, Taichung, Taiwan, beat Mexicali, Mexico, 4-2; and Willemstad, Curacao, defeated White Rock, British Columbia, 6-2. The semifinal matchups were still to be determined.

Purvis, who drove in two runs with a single, said the team's accomplishments haven't sunk in yet.

"It will really settle in when the whole tourney is over and you realize you are one of the four best teams in the country," the 12-year-old outfielder said.

That's when Carriker and teammate Micah Wells burst into laughter, burying their faces in their hands. Purvis stared at them and feigned a punch at Wells, sitting next to him.

"Stop laughing," Purvis said. "You're making me laugh!"

Carriker was the star with a three-run home run in the second that landed far beyond the 225-foot sign down the right-field line at Volunteer Stadium, bouncing in front of a driveway.

Carriker also struck out seven in four-plus innings, finishing a game that had been suspended in the top of the second inning Tuesday night because of rain.

The youngster spent a restless Tuesday night in his dorm room after manager Mickey Lay told him before their 11:30 p.m. bedtime that he would take over in relief when the game resumed.

"I couldn't sleep," he said. "I was ready to throw."

Walpole mounted a brief threat in the third after Patrick Hayes Jr. doubled, hustled to third on a sacrifice fly and scored on a double by Matthew Bender to cut the lead to 6-1.

But Carriker got the next hitter, John Adams, to ground out to end the inning. Walpole (1-2) was eliminated.

"Even though we lost, I think the 13 kids fulfilled their dream by making the Little League World Series," Walpole manager Brian Oberacker said.

Rain wreaked havoc on the entire first-round schedule, especially for Mexico, which was forced to play two games Wednesday.

Mexico (1-1) was scheduled to return to Volunteer Stadium to play Venezuela Wednesday evening after losing in the afternoon to Taiwan (2-1).

"You have to mentally prepare yourself and be tough about it, and make the adjustment," Mexico manager Andres Martinez said through interpreter Sergio Guzman.

Little League president Stephen Keener said it was the first time he could remember that a squad had to play a doubleheader in the series.

Kai-Ying Chen hit a home run on the second pitch of the game and Jen-Cheih Liu also homered for Taiwan.

Curacao 6, Canada 2

Three pitchers combined on a four-hitter and Juremi Profar hit a two-run homer for Curacao (2-1). Kirvin Moesquit added two hits for Curacao, the Carribean region champs. Canada (1-2) was eliminated.

Chandler, Ariz. 9, Coon Rapids, Minn. 2

Kyle Pechloff and Connor Woods had clutch hits in a seven-run fifth inning to lead Chandler (2-1). The Arizona team sent 11 batters to the plate in the top of the fifth, breaking open a 2-2 game.

Seth Fretheim went 2-for-3 and drove in four runs. Tanner Lowe was 2-for-3 and drove in a run for Coon Rapids (1-2), which was eliminated.