Waipio captured the 2016 Hawaii Little League 9-10 District 7 Championship Crown after defeating Pearl City 7-6 on Wednesday, June 14 at Central Oahu Regional Park (CORP) in Waipio. It was another classic duel between two talented ball clubs. Mark Mulgrew picked up the championship win for Waipio. Logan Honma got his second start in a row for Pearl City.
Pearl City jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Logan Honma scored on a one-out RBI single by Makana Love-Tabion. Bishop Foumai made it 2-0 after scoring on a pass ball at the plate. Love-Tabion scored the third run of the inning on a throwing error at first base. Waipio scored a run in the bottom of the inning the first inning on a RBI double by Noah Kubo that scored Chase Vaughn to close within two runs at 3-1. Pearl City picked up a single run in the top of the second inning to go up 4-1.
Waipio pounded their way into the lead in the bottom of the third run scoring five runs on five hits to take a 6-4 lead. Chase Vaughn drilled a one-out single down the left field line to get on base. Noah Kubo stroked a two-out double to put runners on second and third. Next batter Mark Mulgrew hit a 2 RBI double scoring Vaughn and Kubo to close to within one run at 4-3. Jared Vierra hit a grounder off Pearl City shortstop Bishop Foumai to reach first base safely. Noah Paiva walked scoring Mulgrew from third base on the play that tied the game at 4-4. Next batter Jordan Vierra got hit by a pitch. Shane Pinho drove in Jared Vierra and Noah Paiva with a 2 RBI single that lifted Waipio into the lead at 6-4.
Waipio added a single run in bottom of the fourth inning to take a 7-4 lead. Pearl City responded in the top of the fifth inning with a two-run run rally that closed within one run of the lead at 7-6. Bishop Foumai led off the inning with a single. Waipio made a pitching change bringing in Jared Vierra in relief of starter Mark Mulgrew. Foumai advanced to second base on a pass ball at the plate. Makana Makana Love-Tabion drove in Foumai with a RBI single. Love-Tabion advanced to second base in scoring position on a pass ball at the plate. Love-Tabion advanced to third on a sac-grounder by Kenta Kanasaki. Zachary Omonara drove in Love-Tabion with a RBI single down down the left field line. Pearl City trailed 7-6 heading to the bottom of the fifth inning.
Pearl City shut down Waipio in the bottom of the fifth inning behind relief pitcher Trevor Roberts. Pearl City made things interesting with an opportunity to tie the game in the top of the sixth inning after Jesse Villaron hit a two out single that opened the door for Pearl City slugger Bishop Foumai to step up to the plate with the tieing run on first base. Foumai hit a high pop up to shallow right field that was caught for the final run of the ball game.
Waipio finished the double elimination formatted championship tournament at a perfect 4-0 while Pearl City finished at 3-2 with both loses to Waipio 7-2, 7-6.
Waipio moves on to the state championship tournament on Maui from June 24-28.
Congratulations Waipio! Good Luck in the state championship tournament!
Congratulations to the amazing Pearl City players, coaches and all their supporters for a great championship tournament! Our Pearl Community is very proud of you!
@ CORP
1 2 3 4 5 6 R H
Pearl City (3-2) 3 1 0 0 2 0 6 7
Waipio (3-0) 1 0 5 2 0 X 7 8
WAIPIO LITTLE LEAGUE
2016 HAWAII LITTLE LEAGUE 9-10 DISTRICT 7 CHAMPIONS
CONGRATULATIONS!
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
PEARL CITY LITTLE LEAGUE
2016 HAWAII LITTLE LEAGUE 9-10 DISTRICT 7 RUNNER-UP
CONGRATULATIONS!
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
GREAT GAME & SPORTSMANSHIP!
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]