Hickory's bid to return to the Cal Ripken World Series United States Championship was brought to a screeching halt Thursday afternoon at Cal Sr.'s Yard in Aberdeen.Honolulu, Hawaii batted 11 in the first inning, scoring eight times, en route to a 13-3, four-inning win. Hawaii will play Kennewick, Wash. for the U.S. Championship Friday at 5 p.m. Kennewick advanced with a win over New Milford, Conn. in the other semifinal.The International Championship will pit Japan against Puerto Rico at 7:30 p.m. Friday evening. Japan got past Republic of Korea and Puerto Rico ended Mexico's dominance in Aberdeen.Hickory got off to a fast start, scoring twice in its first at bat. Brendan Purtell and Cody Hurek both singled with two outs. A double steal allowed Purtell to score and Kurek came around to score when Parker McIlhenney reached on a dropped pop-up in the infield. Unfortunately, McIlhenney left the game a short time later, suffering from a pulled muscle in his back.Japan's Hirotaka Saitoh, left, and Shogo Yoshida celebrate a good play during Thursday's International semifinal game against Korea at Cal Sr.'s Yard.Hawaii's big inning overshadowed what Hickory was able to do. The first eight batters reached base and all scored. The game-defining inning was capped by a high, majestic three-run home run off the bat of Kamaehu Sanchez."It kind of got them back on their feet," Hawaii manager Al Carganilla said of the big inning. "We've been down before in our state and regional, we were down 4-0 and 2-0 same way, but when we got in, they knew they were gonna hit. They just had it in their eyes they were going to hit and they came back with that eight spot and it settled us down and we knew the game would slow down after that."Hickory starter Brendan Purtell pitched to the first five batters, but failed to get an out. Cody Kurek came on and following the Sanchez blast, retired the next three in order. Kurek pitched into the fourth, before giving way to Matt Archibald.Hawaii added a pair of runs in the third, capitalizing on two hit batters and a walk.The winners closed out the game with three runs in the fourth. Isaiah Omiat drove in two of the runs, drilling an opposite field, two-run shot inside the right field foul pole."We thought we still had a shot even after they put up eight in that first inning, they're a good hitting team," Hickory manager David Miller said. "We saw them hit a couple other games, not quite that well, but they really put a number up in the first inning there, eight runs, and it ended up too much to overcome."Matt Archibald homered for Hickory's final run, driving the ball out to center field leading off the fourth."I was just going out there thinking hard line drives, hard line drives," Archibald said. "I mean I guess I just got a hold of it and I got it, but even if I didn't get it, we still had a great team effort."Kurek finished with two hits to lead Hickory. Trayce Young and Kaden Stremick (RBI) both went 3-for-3 to lead Hawaii's 10-hit attack.Kurek Jameson Hussey pitched all four innings for Hawaii.Washington beats ConnecticutWashington's win came over New Milford, Conn., 5-2. Friday's title game will be a matchup of Pacific region champs. Hawaii from the Pacific Southwest and Washington from the Pacific Northwest.In the semifinal win, Washington wasn't able to find the big inning, but it did score in every inning but one and outhit their opponent, 11-5.Trevor Ridley doubled and scored in the first and was then hit by pitch with the bases loaded in the second to drive in one of two more runs. Simeon Howard (2-for-3) singled in the other run.Cash Hailey scored on a wild pitch in the third and in the fifth, Hailey doubled and scored when Gage Ackerman doubled.Ackerman and Myles Mayovsky had two hits apiece for the winners.Michael Muller went 2-for-2 to lead Connecticut and as catcher, threw out two base runners on steal attempts in the same inning.William Granata added one hit and scored both Connecticut runs. The runs came in the third and fifth innings.Mayovsky threw five innings for Washington in the win, scattering five hits, walking one and striking out six. Hailey threw an inning in relief, striking out two."I'm really happy, can't be happier," Washington manager Bryan Knapik said. "Proud of the boys, played well, been playing well, keep some momentum rolling, hopefully can come out on top tomorrow."Japan blanks KoreaKeito Matsuura tossed a two-hitter, striking out 11, to lead the 2-0 win. Japan, which had two hits as well, scored single runs in the first and third innings."I felt pretty good about my fastball in this game, so I used it a lot and I could strikeout a lot of players with that, so I'm pretty happy about it," Matsuura said with aid from translator Ty Date. "I'm pretty happy about being at the next level with my effort, so that's one thing I'm very happy about. I'm also happy about being at the next level with the whole team. It was a whole team effort."Hirotaka Saitoh singled in the leadoff spot for Japan and with two outs, Kairi Matsumura doubled to the wall in right-center field, scoring Saitoh.Shogo Yoshida scored the run in the third. Yoshida walked with two away, stole second and scored on a wild pitch from there when the ball caromed away from Korean catcher Junhul Lee. The ball rolled over to the front of Japan's dugout.Matsuura took care of the rest, allowing a single to Minsung Cho in the second and another single to Byeongheon Lee in the third.It was Byeongheon Lee, who pitched a strong game for Korea. Lee allowed just the two first inning hits and walk, while striking out four."Quite honestly I'm pretty happy about being in the championship once again," Japan manager Katsumi Sekiguchi said. "We look forward to playing against Mexico or Puerto Rico. Excited for tonight's game, we really look forward to it."Puerto Rico stuns MexicoPuerto Rico stunned perennial International power Mexico in the day's last semifinal. Puerto Rico pounded Mexico pitching for nine hits, including three home runs to win, 7-5.Lucas Torres put Puerto Rico ahead in the top of the second. Torres hit a no-doubter way up the hill in center for the 1-0 lead.Renzo Gonzalez added a three-run bomb in the third, after his teammates had used small ball to get aboard.Peter Vazquez added a two-run shot in the fourth and appeared to have another home run in the sixth, but he was tagged out near third as it was ruled the ball never left the ballpark.Mexico hit a couple of home runs as well. Pitcher David Guevara atoned for giving up the Torres blast with a shot of his own in the bottom of the second.Emmanuel Alvarado was aboard with a single and Guevara hit a high ball that just got over the wall some 265 feet away.Emmanuel Alvarado added a solo shot as well for Mexico.