California vs. Connecticut: Little League World Series U.S. Championship Preview

The highly talented California and Connecticut teams will meet in the Little League World Series for the second time in less than a week, but now the stakes will be even higher as the United States Championship is on the line. 

California booked its spot in the championship game by defeating Connecticut, 6-3, in their first encounter. 

Of course, that game was much closer than the three-run margin of victory might indicate. The Chula Vista kids needed extra innings to pick up the win after Grant Holman belted a three-run homer to give his team the final lead. 

Here's a look at the rematch that will send one of these teams to the Little League World Series championship. All statistics used via littleleague.org unless otherwise noted.

When: Saturday, Aug. 24 at 3:30 p.m. ET

Where: Howard J. Lamade Stadium, South Williamsport, Pa. 

Watch: ESPN

Connecticut Player to Watch: Ricky Offenberg, SS

Connecticut must string together some big innings offensively if the team is going to beat undefeated California in the rematch. That means they'll need big at-bats from their best hitters in the lineup. 

Shortstop Ricky Offenberg is having the kind of tournament that would indicate he could be the difference maker for them. He leads the team in average (.462), slugging (1.154) and home runs with two. 

He wasn't much of a factor against California, held to a single in four at-bats. His team will need every batter in the lineup to have a strong day at the plate to book their ticket to the final. 

California Player to Watch: Nick Mora, P/IF

Grant Holman has been the story of the tournament with his no-hitter on the mound and game-winning heroics at the plate. Chula Vista, however, will need a lights-out performance from Nick Mora to advance to the championship. 

Having thrown 66 pitches in his last start, Holman won't be eligible to pitch on just two calendar days of rest, per little league rules. 

That means Mora will most likely have to put in a strong effort on the mound. He has the second-most innings pitched in the tournament with his four-inning performance against Delaware. In that game he registered six strikeouts and just three hits with one earned run. 

If he can put together a line like that again Connecticut is going to find it difficult to prevail. 

Prediction: California 4, Connecticut 2

You have to give Connecticut credit for the incredible amount of resiliency they showed in getting to this point. After losing to California, they had to take on Washington in an elimination game and came through in extra innings after facing a 5-2 deficit in the fourth inning. 

California has been just as difficult to defeat. They have been clutch throughout the tournament and hold the advantage of already beating this team once.