So close: Late homer ends Irmo SC run at Little League World Series
The Irmo Little League All-Stars’ memorable summer came to an end with one swing of the bat Thursday night.
Garrett Gallegos’ three-run homer in the top of the sixth helped Nevada past Irmo, 5-3, in the United States bracket semifinals at the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
Nevada will face Connecticut in the United States bracket championship. The loss ends Irmo’s postseason after a thrilling ride to the program’s first Little League World Series appearance, and just the fourth South Carolina team to ever make it to Williamsport.
Irmo won three games at the LLWS, becoming the winningest team from South Carolina in the series.
“I told them in the first parent meeting after we named the team that this group could be special,” Irmo manager David Bogan said. “They went well beyond my expecations of what special means. The heart, the grit that this group showed is going to be legendary in Irmo for sure. ... I couldn’t be prouder.”
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Both of Irmo’s losses came against Nevada, which won 1-0 on Monday.
But it looked like Irmo would get its revenge Thursday as it rallied like it has on several occasions in the postseason.
With the score 2-2 in the bottom of the fifth, Irmo loaded the bases and Sutton Gravelle’s walk scored Brody Miller to make it 3-2. Irmo ended up stranding the bases loaded in the inning.
In the top of the sixth, Brooks Fechser walked with one out and Cache Malan singled. Then, Gallegos drilled a 2-2 pitch over the right-field wall to make it 5-3.
“My mindset was to just do my job and and to find a way to get that run in. But it ended up being a big hit that led us to a win,” Gallegos said.
Irmo got a runner on in the bottom of the sixth but was picked off.
Miller and Joe Giulietti each hit solo homers for Irmo. Miller’s homer tied it at 1-1 in the second and Giulietti’s tied it at 2-2 in fourth. It was his second homer of the LLWS.
Giulietti and the rest of the Irmo players became some of the stars of the LLWS as those from the Midlands and outside of SC rallied behind the squad.
South Carolina women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley sent a message to the team before Monday’s game and football coach Shane Beamer mentioned the squad at the beginning of his press conference Tuesday. US Sen. Tim Scott posted a message about the team on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday.
A couple of times during the playoff run, Irmo was one of the lead stories on ESPN SportsCenter, including when it rallied from 6-1 down to defeat South Dakota, 7-6 on Wednesday night.
Bogan was asked about what he will remember the most about the summer’s journey, which took them to the LLWS for the first time. He paused and talked about the outpouring of support the team received.
Bogan also talked about the ability to share these moments with his son Andrew, the team’s starting catcher who had the game-winning hit against South Dakota and started on the mound on Tuesday.
“I’m speechless when it comes to that,” Dave Bogan said. “I’m proud of him as a father. As a group, I told them their baseball journey isn’t over. ... They got high school baseball and travel baseball coming. There are a lot of great things coming for these kids. They should cherish every moment of this but don’t dwell on it. But use it to grow and work hard. I hope they do that.”
This story was originally published August 21, 2025 at 9:49 PM.
