-----------------------------
ABC13 reporter Jeff Ehling is in Williamsport so be sure to tune in to Eyewitness News at 6pm and 10pm for a complete recap, highlights and post-game reaction.Pearland to face Hawaii in LLWS
SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, PA
Keep this up through the weekend and they threaten to kick the Pearland All-Stars our of the competition and return home with
a World Series title.
The West region champs rallied from four runs down against
Columbus, Ga., and scored all its runs over the final three innings
in a wild 12-5 win Friday.
The Little League final four is finally set after rain earlier
in the week forced the schedule to be pushed back. Hawaii will play
Pearland, Texas, in the U.S. championship game Saturday, while
Japan and Taiwan will meet for the international crown.
The winners play Sunday for the World Series title.
If they make it that far, it would be five games in five days
for Hawaii, a tiring schedule more appropriate for major leaguers
than Little Leaguers.
Noah Shackles doesn't mind.
"I'm pumped," the 13-year-old third baseman said.
His two-run triple in the third inning following a hit batter
and two walks helped Hawaii tie the score after Georgia had taken a
4-0 lead in the top of the inning.
Hawaii took the lead on Ty DeSa's RBI double to left center in
the fourth. Two runs scored later in the inning after Shiloh
Baniaga's smash got past drawn-in shortstop Brandon Pugh.
Hawaii tacked on five runs in the fifth to put the game out of
reach.
"They didn't give up, and they'll do whatever it takes to
win," Hawaii manager Brian Yoshii said.
Georgia ace Jacob Pate held Hawaii last week to two runs and one
hit in a 6-2 win in last week's tournament opener for both teams.
On Friday, Pate allowed seven runs, four hits and three walks.
"It was a little easier because we had seen him before and had
hit him a little bit," DeSa said. "We knew his pitches. We were
ready for him."
Hawaii won its second straight game over Georgia in a matchup of
local leagues going for a second Little League crown -- Georgia won
in 2006, and Hawaii two years later.
"I felt pretty confident with a 4-0 lead and Jacob on the
mound, but give them credit. They really shortened their swings and
put that ball in play," said manager Randy Morris, who also guided
the 2006 club.
After Kahoea Akau caught the last out on a popup, the 4-foot-11
second baseman threw the ball down hard to the turf and joined his
teammates to exchange handshakes with the Southeast champs.
Hawaii's families and friends in the stands cheered as some waved
tea leaves they had been carrying for good luck.
Leadoff hitter Akau and DeSa, a 5-9 first baseman, formed quite
the duo at the top of the order, reaching base seven out of their
combined eight plate appearances. Akau dragged a textbook bunt
single down the third-base line to help extend the fourth-inning
rally before DeSa doubled.
Things didn't look good early for the Hawaiians after Pugh
doubled home two runs and then scored on the same play following a
throwing error to help Georgia take a 4-0 lead in the top of the
third.
"Kids are kids. You aren't going to able to tell which team won
this game and which team lost in 10 minutes," Morris said.
