LLWS 2016: Hawaii and So. Cal flash on day two of the West Regionals

Apr 6, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Detailed view of a baseball bat laying on the field during the Arizona Diamondbacks game against the San Francisco Giants during opening day at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 6, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Detailed view of a baseball bat laying on the field during the Arizona Diamondbacks game against the San Francisco Giants during opening day at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

Hawaii and SoCal impress once again in day two of the LLWS 2016.

Hawaii jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning, thanks to the miscues on the defensive side of the ball for Utah.

Utah tied the game in the top of the third off an RBI single from Luke Iverson, and a passed ball that brought in Logan Mendenhall.

The game wouldn’t be tied for long, as Hawaii responded in the same inning with a single from Evan Wellerstein that allowed for Keoni Painter to score, and regain a 3-2 lead for Hawaii.

Utah was unfortunately not able to come back from giving up the lead in the bottom of the third; being limited to only three base-runners to get on base in the last three innings of the game.

Hawaii added two more runs in the bottom of the fifth with a 2-run homer from Wehiwa Aloy, and ended up taking a 5-2 victory.

Game two consisted of Arizona in their first game of the West Regionals, and the favorite of the tournament-So. Cal.

I didn’t take long for Arizona, and their highlighter colored uniforms to put the pressure on So. Cal early.

By getting out to a 2-run lead in the very first inning, with two wild pitches that brought in Luke Newman who leadoff the inning with a single, and Jayden Bahoura that followed with a double.

SoCal then returned the favor with back to back singles to lead-off the bottom of the second, which brought two runs across home plate, and tied the game at two.

Arizona responded with three doubles to regain a 4-2 lead in the top of the third.

The Arizona lead was then shortened in the bottom of the third inning, as Adriel Colmenero was able to reach base on an error from Luke Newman.

Which turned out to be costly, since Adriel Colmenero was able to cross home plate for So. Cal, and cut the Arizona deficit in half.

With the scoreboard at a 4-3 stand still since the third inning. So. Cal started brewing a rally in the bottom of the fifth with three back to back lead-off singles to load the bases with no outs.

Arizona’s Landen Argabright was able to bounce back, and strikeout the next two batters, but still gave up a 2 RBI single to Ali Camarillo, and 2 RBI single to Lucas Marrujo to give So. Cal a 7-4 lead.

The 4-inning rally for So. Cal would end up being too much to over come for Arizona.

As Arizona came short of a comeback in the top of the sixth, leaving two base-runners stranded on first and second.

Hawaii and So. Cal will now have a two-day rest period before playing the last game of the winning bracket on Thursday.

Arizona and Utah will enter the losing bracket of the tournament, and start play Tuesday with hopes of continuing their stay in California.

Arizona will face off against Nevada in the morning game of the losing bracket, and Utah will challenge No. Cal in the night game.

Next: LLWS 2016: Hawaii, SoCal win on first day

The losers of each game of the losing bracket will be sent home, and the winners will continue to fight, and stay in the tournament.