Hawaii came from behind with a four-run fourth inning and held on to beat Chandler (Ariz.), 5-2, in a survival game of the Little League Major Division (ages 9-12) West Region tournament in San Bernardino, Calif., on Wednesday.
Hawaii — represented by state champion Kawaihau Little League of Kapaa, Kauai — advances to the region championship game against Bonita (Southern California representative) on Friday at 3 p.m. HST. The winner of that ESPN-televised game moves on to the Little League World Series in South Williamsport, Pa.
Daeshaan “Bubba” Kuhaulua had a key run-scoring hit in the fourth, in which Hawaii also benefited from walks and a hit batsman.
Hawaii had cut Arizona’s 2-0 lead in half when Ka‘ano‘i Rita doubled to left, scoring Gavin Ho in the third inning.
Kuhaulua allowed Arizona’s two runs in the first inning. Shane Schoettler relieved, and struck out six with a walk and two hits allowd in 5 1/3 shutout innings. Schoettler worked out of a jam in the bottom of the sixth. With runners on first and third and one out, the right-hander struck the next batter for the second out, then got the final out on a fly down the right field line that was hauled in.
Kuhaulua and Nahoa Carvalho Brede each had two of Hawaii’s seven hits against three Arizona pitchers.
Southern California beat Hawaii, 6-0, on Tuesday.
Pearl City seeks help
Pearl City Senior Little League (ages 13-16), which beat Curacao to capture the World Series last Saturday in Easley, S.C., has set up a gofundme page for help defray its travel costs. Go to:
Pearl City won the West Region in Oakland, Calif., by winning six elimination games in a row after an opening-game loss. The tournament included 12 teams.
The team then to the World Series, where it had to win five elimination games after an opening-game defeat. Pearl City beat Newark, Del., 12-0 to capture the U.S. title, then Curacao 5-0 for the World Series title.