Hawaii 4, Nevada 3 FINAL
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.
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The definitive blog on the Little League Western Regional Tournament.
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