Pearl City advanced to the Hawaii State 10-11 Little League Championship game after defeating Kaneohe 21-11 on Tuesday at Aikahi Elementary School (Norman Aweau Field) in Kailua. The game ended after four complete innings due to the 10-run rule.
Keaolani Takemura earned the win for Pearl City. Alijah Bala and Pinemua Epenesa pitched in relief of Takemura in the top bottom of the fourth inning.
Brada Clemente got the start for Kaneohe. Avery Takahata, Ian Ishibashi, and Cole Ewalt pitched in relief of Clemente.
Pearl City (3-1) will play Waipio (3-0) this afternoon for the tournament championship with first pitch scheduled for 4:00pm. If Waipio wins they will be crowned state champions. If Pearl City wins, the two teams will return to Norman Aweau Field on Thursday at 4:00pm to play a winner-take-all game for the championship title.
Yesterday's match-up between Pearl City and Kaneohe started out as low scoring game with Pearl City taking an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Kaneohe came back to tie the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the second inning. Pearl City regained the lead in the top of the third inning with a single run to go back in front 2-1.
In the fourth inning, both teams exploded for a combined for 29 runs. Pearl City scored 19 runs in the top of the inning to take a 21-1 lead. Kaneohe rallied for 10 runs in the bottom of the inning but came up short at 21-11 which enforced the 10-run rule that ended the game. Kanoehe sent three pitchers to the mound in relief of starting pitcher Brada Clemente in the top of the fourth inning.
@ Norman Aweau Field in Kailua
1 2 3 4 5 6 R
Pearl City (3-1) 1 0 1 19 x x 21
Kaneohe (3-2) 0 1 0 10 x x 11
Photo by Barry Villamil | barry@mypearlcity
Pearl City's Brayden Bustamante-Kahale is pictured hitting a RBI single to right field
that scored Trevor Yoneyama from third base in the top of the fourth inning.
Photo by Barry Villamil | barry@mypearlcity
Pearl City's Justin Mamuad strokes a two-RBI single to center field scoring
Alijah Bali and Brayden Bustamante-Kahale in the top of the fourth inning.
Photo by Barry Villamil | barry@mypearlcity
Kaneohe's Cole Ewalt drives in a couple runs in the bottom of the fourth inning.
.Photo by Barry Villamil | barry@mypearlcity
Kela Harbottle scores a run from third base during Kaneohe's 10-run rally in the bottom of fourth inning.
.Photo by Barry Villamil | barry@mypearlcity