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 last night 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, came back to win for the third time at the World Series and advanced to Saturday's U.S. final where it will play either Tampa, Fla. or Lake Charles, La.

"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. The home run energized Waipi'o as Christian Donahue threw his arms up in celebration and Tokunaga's teammates poured out of the dugout to greet him at home.

A similar scene unfolded 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 Friday. Akau, who suffered a hairline fracture in his left elbow, 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 elbow following the game, but added that he felt good. "I just tried to get a base hit and came through."

Washington pulled within 4-3 in the second on KJ Neaville's homer but that momentum was short-lived as Winchester hit the third inning's first pitch down the left-field line for a home run. Kainoa Fong then capped the three-run rally, hitting a two-run double to make it 7-3.

Waipi'o's ability to hit well with runners on base was in stark contrast to Washington. The Northwest champions had seven hits but stranded 11 baserunners, including two in each of the last five innings.

Christian Donahue ended Washington's season, striking out the side and stranding runners at first and second in the sixth.

Trailing 7-3 in the fourth inning, Washington loaded the bases with two outs but scored only on a passed ball before Tokunaga, pitching in relief, ended the threat with a strikeout. Washington also had runners on second and third with one out and the heart of its order coming up in the second inning, but was unable to score following Neaville's homer.

"One of those big hits could change the game," Washington manager Scott Mahlum said. "I felt like we had a chance to get more runs in the first inning and break it open, but Hawai'i just hit a couple more out of the ball park than we did."

Washington (2-2) finished its summer-long run at 16-2.

"I just told the guys to be proud," Mahlum said. "We're the first team from Mill Creek to ever get here. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and a great experience."

Waipi'o starter Caleb Duhay pitched out of trouble all night and was at his best under pressure. The right-hander struck out eight before reaching the 85-pitch limit in the fourth inning.

Washington's comeback hopes took a severe hit in the bottom of the fourth when Winchester hit a two-run home run almost to the same spot he had hit one an inning earlier and extended the lead to 9-4.

"I just go up there and clutch up and hit the ball," said Winchester, who has three home runs in four Series games. "We're just having fun."

Washington rallied from an 0-1 start in pool play to reach the U.S. semifinals and seemed determined to advance deeper when it built its 2-0 lead. Alex Jondal, who had the game-winning RBI in Washington's previous win over Indiana, put Washington ahead, lacing a two-out, two-strike single into left field.

Waipi'o is trying to capture Hawai'i's second Majors world championship in four years after West O'ahu won the title in 2005.