Little League World Series: Hawaii, SoCal showcase pitching dominance in West Regionals
The annual Little League West Regionals got underway Sunday at Al Houghton Stadium in San Bernardino.
The following teams make up the six regions:
Chandler National Little League – Arizona
Hilo Little League – Hawaii
Summerlin Little League – Nevada
Canyon Creek Little League – Northern California
Santa Margarita Little League – Southern California
Dixie Little League – Utah
Four of the six teams got the tournament underway, with Hawaii and SoCal taking the first games.
Hawaii snuck past Arizona with two late runs in the last inning of play, off a RBI single from Kyson Wada and a wild pitch that brought in Joshua Ward from third.
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Kaimana Kuamo’o of Hawaii was nothing but perfect after giving Arizona a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. Kuamo’o gave Hawaii four consecutive 1-2-3 innings and went the whole game giving up two hits and striking out 16.
Hawaii will continue play Monday against Utah in the winner bracket. As Arizona waits to see if they’ll be playing either SoCal or NorCal in the first game of the losing bracket.
The second game of the evening consisted of Nevada and the favorite of the tournament, SoCal.
SoCal was first on the scoreboard with a single from Drew Rutter that brought in Tyler Ankrum, who walked earlier in the inning. SoCal would give Bobby Gray some insurance with five runs in the bottom of the fifth, which was needed with Nevada adding two runs in the sixth.
Gray heading into the top of the sixth faced no more than three batters in an inning, allowing only one hit and striking out seven.
Gray would end the game one out away from a complete game allowing two runs, three hits and 10 strikeouts. Tommy Wood would pitch for the last out (5-3 ground out).
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SoCal will play NorCal in the California showdown Monday, with Nevada looking to stay alive as they await the loser of the Utah and Hawaii game on Tuesday.