SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — Mill Creek, Wash., always prefers batting first, hoping it can build an early lead.

Washington received its wish when Waipi'o chose home and the U.S. Northwest champions responded by building a 2-0 lead in their first at-bat. But it didn't matter.

Turns out Waipi'o, the U.S. West champion, enjoys coming back as much as Washington enjoys hitting first.

Tanner Tokunaga and Iolana Akau each hit two-run, first-inning home runs and Waipi'o built a two-run advantage it never relinquished as it defeated Washington, 9-4, in the Little League Majors (ages 11-12) U.S. semifinal at Lamade Stadium.

Waipi'o (4-0), which also received two home runs from Pikai Winchester, posted its third someback in four games at the World Series and advanced to the U.S. final.

"The next time we take the field there's only two U.S. teams left playing," Waipi'o manager Timo Donahue said. "That says a lot."

Waipi'o also trailed 2-0 in the first inning of a pool play game against Florida when it was held scoreless until the third inning. Unlike that game, this time it wasted no time mounting a comeback.

After Christian Donahue reached on an error, Tokunaga crushed an 0-1 pitch onto the hill beyond center field, tying the game 2-2. Moments later. Winchester reached on an error before Akau batted for the first time since being hit by a pitch in Waipi'o's first Series game. Akau, who suffered a hairline fracture on his left arm, lined a two-run home run over the center-field wall, putting Waipi'o ahead to stay, 4-2.

"When I was up I was nervous because I got beaned the last time," said Akau, who had ice on his left arm following the game. "I just tried to get a base hit and came through."