Hawaii has finally got its offense on track and powered its way to a 9-4 victory over Washington in the semifinals of the United States division of the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa.
The Little League team from Waipio is now one win away from earning a trip to the Little League World series championship on Sunday. Hawaii will play Thursday's winner of Louisiana and Florida semifinal on Saturday.
The winner of that game will play either Japan, Mexico or Venezuela in the championship. Japan defeated Curacao on Wednesday to advance to the International championship game on Saturday.
Hawaii's latest victory, its fourth in a row at the Little League World Series, displayed its resurgent offense against a Washignton team that had been an offensive power throughout all-star play since last month. However, Hawaii hit four home runs against Washington including two from Pikai Winchester, who hit two runs in the West Regional title in San Bernardino.
After hitting .197 in the West Regional, where it was no-hit in a victory over Northern California, Hawaii is hitting better than .300 in the Little League World Series. That also speaks to the power of the Western Regional pitching staffs. In two games against Nevada, Hawaii struck out 30 times.
This was the first time since the Northwest and West regional were split in 2001 that a Northwest and West have met in the semis. In 2005, the Northwest and West met in the U.S. finals, which was won by West Oahu, Hawaii, then playing in the Northwest regional. That Hawaii team won the Little League World Series.
The Little League team from Waipio is now one win away from earning a trip to the Little League World series championship on Sunday. Hawaii will play Thursday's winner of Louisiana and Florida semifinal on Saturday.
The winner of that game will play either Japan, Mexico or Venezuela in the championship. Japan defeated Curacao on Wednesday to advance to the International championship game on Saturday.
Hawaii's latest victory, its fourth in a row at the Little League World Series, displayed its resurgent offense against a Washignton team that had been an offensive power throughout all-star play since last month. However, Hawaii hit four home runs against Washington including two from Pikai Winchester, who hit two runs in the West Regional title in San Bernardino.
After hitting .197 in the West Regional, where it was no-hit in a victory over Northern California, Hawaii is hitting better than .300 in the Little League World Series. That also speaks to the power of the Western Regional pitching staffs. In two games against Nevada, Hawaii struck out 30 times.
This was the first time since the Northwest and West regional were split in 2001 that a Northwest and West have met in the semis. In 2005, the Northwest and West met in the U.S. finals, which was won by West Oahu, Hawaii, then playing in the Northwest regional. That Hawaii team won the Little League World Series.
Hawaii has a 2-1 lead over Shelton, Conn. in the first game of the Little League World Series being played in Williamsport, Pa. The game is in a rain delay. Caleb Duhay, who was dominant in San Bernardino at the Western Regional, was pitching for Hawaii.
The teams will play three games of pool play before advancing.
It has taken me several days to decompress from 11 consecutive days of nearly non-stop Little League Western Regional coverage, but I wanted to share my final thoughts from the tourney.
BEST COMEBACK
Hawaii's Tanner Tokunaga was asked to come in and relieve starter Khade Paris in the West Regional final and the first thing he did was give up back-to-back home runs to Nevada that tied the game at 3-3. However, Tokunaga bounced back, started getting outs and was dominating in his final effort, including striking out Nevada stud Michael Blasko.
WEST MVP
Hawaii's Khade Paris was clutch, but how about Pikai Winchester for his two home runs against the tournament's most dominating pithcer? That's exactly what Winchester did in the championship game against Nevada's Blasko, who struck out 29 Hawaii batters in two games.
ANOTHER REMARKABLE RUN
After last season's championship run by Lake Osweego, Ore. we've learned that you can never take any team in the tournament for granted, and that's what Hawaii proved, once again, with its title effort. Hawaii hit about .200 for the tournament, but it got hits when it mattered most and wasn't afraid of Blasko.
GOOD CHOICE TO WIN IT ALL
While you've got to love Hawaii's tenacity, you've got to respect Mill Creek, Washington's lineup as it heads to the Little League World Series. Mill Creek has got great power, size and pitching. That's a heady trio of skills going to Williamsport. It's hard to imagine another U.S. team with as much size, talent and depth as what Mill Creek displayed in San Bernardino.
MOST FEARSOME PLAYER EVER?
There's one thing that can be said about Nevada's Michael Blasko -- ferocious. Blasko is the best player we've seen in round-the-clock coverage of the Western Regional. He played with such fervor that it was hard not to be interested when he took the field. He's a terrfic shortstop, dominating pitcher and his coaches say his best position may be catcher. While he slumped in his last two games offensively, he was dynamite on the mound, especially against Hawaii.
PLAYER WHO WE WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED TO SEE AGAIN
While Blasko and a host of others were outstanding, the player that seems to have the most athletic upside is Washignton's Jason Todd, who at 6-1 has the body and talent to play a wide range of sports. Even though he was the biggest player in the tournament, Todd has great speed and range at shortstop, which indicates that he may be special in other sports as well. That should be fun to see.
MOST IMPROVED TEAM
Wyoming gets the nod here after going 3-2 in the Northwest Regional. Since 2002, Wyoming posted a 2-18 record in regional play it was 1997 when the state had an above .500 finish. Wyoming did it with power and pitching. One of the most memorable moments was shortstop Dylan McWhorter hitting three consecutive home runs during a game.
HEARTFELT MOMENT
Aliso Viejo manager Dave Cole wasn't afraid to show his emotions after his team was eliminated from tournament play by Arizona's stunning walkoff home run in the final day of pool play. Cole handled himself with class and composure, despite his tearful eyes, during the postgame interviews. He was positive, complimentary and appreciative of his opponents and of the experience. You got to like that.
CLASS ACTS
No doubt this was a positive tournament judging by the quality and class of the managers who came by to talk to us. The ones that will certainly remember will be Montana manger Mike Follett , Arizona manager Jim Harte, Southern California manager Dave Cole, Hawaii manager Timo Donahue, Washington manager Scott Mahlum and Nevada manager Mike Kelly. Everyone was great but those guys stood out from the time spent dealing with us and for the work on the field.
Hawaii got a stunning pitching performance from Tanner Tokunaga in relief and two home runs from Pikai Winchester as Hawaii defeated Nevada 4-3 in the Little League Western Regional championship Sunday night at Al Houghton Stadium.
Hawaii will now advance to the Little League World Series starting Friday in Williamsport, Penn. Hawaii is making its tenth appearance in the World Series since 1958 and first appearance since 2005.
Winchester hit a two-run homer off Nevada starter Michael Blasko in the first inning to give Hawaii a 3-0 lead.
Nevada answered in the top of the third when James Anderson hit a two-run home run of Tokunaga and was followed by Griffin Kelly's solo shot to tie the game at three.
In the fourth, Winchester stepped up and hit a lead off home run against the powerful Blasko, who had 14 strikeouts against Hawaii.
Tokunaga settled down and began to get outs for Hawaii, but he was bolstered by stout defense. Second baseman Caleb Duhay, filling in for Tokunaga, made an unbelievable backhanded grab to save two runs for Hawaii in the fourth.
Tokunaga retired the side in the order in the sixth, including striking out Blasko, to end the game.
Hawaii will now advance to the Little League World Series starting Friday in Williamsport, Penn. Hawaii is making its tenth appearance in the World Series since 1958 and first appearance since 2005.
Winchester hit a two-run homer off Nevada starter Michael Blasko in the first inning to give Hawaii a 3-0 lead.
Nevada answered in the top of the third when James Anderson hit a two-run home run of Tokunaga and was followed by Griffin Kelly's solo shot to tie the game at three.
In the fourth, Winchester stepped up and hit a lead off home run against the powerful Blasko, who had 14 strikeouts against Hawaii.
Tokunaga settled down and began to get outs for Hawaii, but he was bolstered by stout defense. Second baseman Caleb Duhay, filling in for Tokunaga, made an unbelievable backhanded grab to save two runs for Hawaii in the fourth.
Tokunaga retired the side in the order in the sixth, including striking out Blasko, to end the game.
We've talked a little bit about Nevada's pursuit of reaching the Little League World Series for the first time, but this game is significant because of who is not in it.
For the first time since 1988, no team from California will play in the Western Regional final. That's right -- 20 years. In 1988, Pearl City, Hawaii defeated East Boise, Idaho for a right to move on to Williamsport, PA.
According to Unpage.org, California teams have only missed the West Finals twice before this season. The other time was in 1986.
For the first time since 1988, no team from California will play in the Western Regional final. That's right -- 20 years. In 1988, Pearl City, Hawaii defeated East Boise, Idaho for a right to move on to Williamsport, PA.
According to Unpage.org, California teams have only missed the West Finals twice before this season. The other time was in 1986.
By John Murphy
After covering the Western Regional for eight years, here are my ideas on what's a hit and what needs the heave-ho at the regional and in Little League baseball.
Without further ado, seven up and seven down about the show at Al Houghton Stadium and beyond:
THUMBS UP
VOLUNTEERS: They make the regional go. The umps, the grounds crew, the press box denizens and all of the others deserve our sincere admiration. Sometimes I wonder why they do it, but it's apparent they have tremendous camaraderie and love to help youngsters.
CHALLENGER GAMES: Incredible. One only needs to see the smiles on the faces of these mentally or physically disabled players to realize the worth of this program.
SPORTSMANSHIP: When you see a third baseman shake the hand of an opponent who has just hit a home run, you realize it's not life and death to these kids - at least not yet.
PIN-TRADING: It's the current version of collecting pogs, only with something cooler and more unique to attain.
TEAM 14 HOSTS: Should be considered for saint-hood. Most humorous statement came from Montana host Ray Imbriani: "Guys, go in the barracks and I'll pretend like I'm watching you."
INTERVIEW ROOM: It's air-conditioned at that's not bad. Eliminates the conflicts between the media and security.
ICE CREAM GUYS: Funny costumes, inexpensive confections. What's not to like?
THUMBS DOWN
PRE-GAME CEREMONIES: Tedious, seemingly endless.
Dump the players' pledge and all the other pledges. Stop introducing everyone in the ballpark. Ground rules would suffice.
ROSTERS: Each team should be required to have 14 players, not a "maximum" of 14. If this is such a worthwhile experience, allow the greatest amount of youngsters to enjoy it. Don't allow some teams to gain a competitive advantage by only carrying 12 players.
PLAYER PARTICIPATION: Get rid of the courtesy runners, except when running for the catcher. Constant substituting slows the game. Each player should get two innings in the field and one at-bat.
PITCH COUNT: Keep the 85-pitch count rule. Re-think the concept of being eligible to pitch the next game if you throw fewer than 20 pitches. This also slows the game and sometimes puts wild, dangerous pitchers on the mound - just ask the kid who had his arm broken by a pitch in an earlier area tournament.
REFRESHMENTS: No more food stands with $6.50 cheeseburgers and $4 hot dogs. Please. Even the Western Regional volunteers are complaining.
MUSIC: Nothing by Queen or Neil Diamond. More Beach Boys.
Harris Lyons and Degan Harte had run-scoring singles for Arizona in the sixth inning, but Nevada held on for a 14-8 victory.
It's Hawaii vs. Nevada in the finale at 7 p.m. Sunday, live on ESPN2.
Nevada scored two in the fifth and now leads 12-6 with Arizona batting in the bottom of the fifth. Jesse Keiser hit his second home run for Nevada.
Nevada scored five runs in the fourth and leads 10-6. Michael Blasko hit a double and there were lots of wild pitches.
We're in the bottom of the fourth now, one out and one on for 'zona.
It is 6-5 Arizona in the bottom of the third with Arizona coming to bat. This has been a wild game and I won't try to re-cap it all now. Lots of hits, walks, wild pitches and an error, too.
Jesse Keiser hit a home run for Nevada on the first pitch of the game. Nevada led 2-0 in the middle of the first inning, but manager Jim Kelly pulled fireballing Michael Blasko before he reached 20 pitches and then Arizona's offense came alive.
e tor
Hawaii wins 8-0 as Caleb Duhay allows one hit in 5 2/3 innings, exiting because of pitch count. Jedd Andrade hits two doubles for Hawaii and Tanner Tokunaga hits a two-run homer.
Hawaii has advanced to the West Regional final with an impressive 8-0 victory over Northern California in Thursday's semifinal. Hawaii will play the winner of the Arizona-Nevada game.
Caleb Duhay got the win, going 5 2/3 inning with nine strike outs. He allowed just one hit and Tanner Tokunaga got the save by retiring the final batter on a ground out.
Hawaii pads its lead to 8-0 with a three-run sixth inning. Northern California coming up next.
It was a masterful inning for Caleb Duhay who struck out the side of Northern California's order in the fifth inning. Duhay is heading toward his second complete game and he's got seven strike outs.
Jedd Andrade hit another double to drive in two runs and Hawaii leads 5-0. T.J. Friedl now pitching for NorCal. Bottom of fifth and Hawaii up 5-0.
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The definitive blog on the Little League Western Regional Tournament.
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