'Aiea on top of World again

By Steve Jackson
Special to The Advertiser

TAYLOR, Mich. — Kepa Wong battled back from two early errors and became the hero for his Junior League baseball team.

'Aiea's Kepa Wong rounds the bases after hitting his game-winning home run in the bottom of the eighth inning. Marjorie Marshall • Special to The Advertiser

Entering the seventh inning down three runs, things were not looking good for the home team.

But with two outs in the bottom of the seventh and two strikes, pinch-hitter Shane Koga launched a long two-run shot to left field to tie the game at 5-5.

Then Wong led off in the eighth with a solo home run to put the exclamation mark on a legendary Little League game.

"I didn't make the team last year, so this was my big opportunity," Wong said. "I worked hard to get here, and this feels great."

Wong's efforts helped to secure the latest and greatest of the 'Aiea comebacks.

"We are a comeback team," manager Ron Yonesaki said. "These boys never quit."

This was the fourth time in five games that his boys came from behind by scoring several runs in the sixth and seventh innings.

Several 'Aiea parents in attendance said they felt as much pressure as the players.

Chris Johnson watched his son drive in a run and score another late in the game.

"I needed to grab a couple extra aspirin," the elder Johnson said.

The 'Aiea pitching staff has grown accustomed to this sort of late recovery.

"I was a little worried," ace pitcher Blaze Moleta said after earning his second World Series win. "But they do that to me all the time. I wasn't that surprised when they came all the way back."

'Aiea dug an early hole for itself by allowing three unearned runs in the first.

Kyson Morikuni answered in the second with an RBI single to left, but that would be the only scoring the American representatives would see until the fifth.

Venezuela added a run each in the fifth and sixth innings on RBI singles by Luis Nu–ez and Victor Galue, respectively.

With his team down 5-1, third base coach Junior Maldonado instructed Kyle Sakamoto to tag up and score from third on a pop-up to the first baseman.

The risk paid off for Maldonado, but the inning ended when Venezuela caught Ian Mopas between first and second after the run scored.

Koga and Wong would carry the team the rest of the way, but neither claimed to be swinging for the fences.

"I wasn't trying to hit a homer there," Wong said. "I just wanted to get on base and let my teammates bring me home. They told me that they would get us the win."

This mammoth comeback enlisted help from a number of sources.

Before the game, the players' mothers tied ti leaves around the dugout for good luck.

Yonesaki also gathered the team together for its ritual pre-game prayer.

"We pray for both teams that no one gets hurt," Yonesaki said. "But if we could get any help, then that would be great too."

Finally, the "Comeback Kids" received tremendous support from all the American fans in attendance — including the Lake Charles, La., fans, who were on the losing end of the 'Aiea comeback the night before.

"They are just such a likeable group of guys," one Lake Charles parent said. "That was the best baseball game I have ever seen."

VENEZUELA 300 011 00—5 12 1
'AIEA 010 001 31—6 10 3

Victor Galue, Renzo Urdaneta (3), Roberto Andrade (8) and Roward Prado; Blaze Moleta and Kyle Sakamoto.

Leading hitters—Venezuela: Galue 3-4, 2 RBIs; Andrade 2-3; Luis Nu–ez 2-4, double; Carlos Salazar 2-4, 2 runs. 'Aiea: Kyle Kiyonaga 2-4, RBI, double; Kepa Wong 2-3, 2 runs, home run; Shane Koga 2-run homer.