SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT — His white pants covered in dirt, Josh Lester adjusted his slightly oversized helmet, and clapped his hands after reaching third base.

A well-deserved break for the 12-year-old from Columbus, Ga. He came up with two clutch extra-base hits Thursday night to send his team to the U.S. title game of the Little League World Series.

Lester hit a base-loaded triple in the second inning and doubled in two more runs in the fourth in Columbus' 8-0 win over Portsmouth, N.H. Both hits came after Portsmouth intentionally walked slugger Kyle Carter to get to Lester.

"It just motivates me when they walk him," Lester said, displaying a cheeky smile

Carter was pretty good himself on the mound, striking out eight and tossing a three-hitter for the Columbus Northern league team (3-1). They will face Beaverton, Ore., on Saturday, with the winner advancing to the World Series championship game Sunday.

The international title game Saturday is also set, after Kawaguchi City, Japan, defeated Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, 4-1 earlier Friday. Japan will play Mexico.