Wailuku Central Maui Little League ended its West Region tournament with a flair, exploding for five runs in the top of the sixth inning to defeat Red Bluff Little League.
Along with getting the win, Hawaii (1-3) made history, as it employed the first girl-girl battery in Western Regional history. Nawai Kaupe threw 5 2/3 innings of one-run, four-hit ball with six strikeouts to get the win while Lohealani Kamau caught Kaupe for four innings.
Kao Mindoro led the way for the Hawaii lineup, going 3-for-3 with an RBI double that paced a four-run fourth inning that put it up to stay. Nor Cal (2-2) had already clinched a playoff spot and used the game as a way to keep pitchers fresh.
Nor Cal, which will be the No. 3 seed in Friday’s semifinals and play at 2 p.m., scored three runs in the first inning without a hit. Nick Rodriguez had two hits for Nor Cal.
