Right-hander Shannon Liu pitched a two-hitter as Pearl City beat Southern California, 2-0, to capture the Little League Senior (ages 15-16) Western Regional title and earn a trip to the World Series.

The Pearl City High School senior struck out five and walked two in his complete-game seven-inning effort.

Liu was in trouble only in the fifth when Southern California put runners on first and second with two outs.

Kellen Ushijima had two hits and drove in both runs for Pearl City, which advances to the World Series in Bangor, Maine, starting Aug. 14.

"I was so happy," coach Gary Nakamoto said. "Last year, we lost in the championship."

He was especially happy for the six returnees who experienced last year's disappointment.

"The whole series, everybody did their job. It was a team effort that we won this thing," said Nakamoto, who added that the team also won the tournament's sportsmanship award.

Pearl City won all seven games in the regional played at Beaverton, Ore.

Liu, Jason Rasa and Scott Muraoka each won two games. Nainoa Tampos won one.

MORE YOUTH BASEBALL

PEARL CITY IN FINAL

David Lee pitched a three-hitter with seven strikeouts as Pearl City defeated Vancouver, Wash., 11-1, yesterday in the Little League Junior (ages 13-14) Western Regional at Forest Grove, Ore.

Carlton Tanabe had three hits, Alike Pruett added two and Edwin Izumigawa drove in two runs for Pearl City, which will play Mission Viejo, Calif. for the regional title today.

The winner earns a berth to the World Series, starting Sunday at Taylor, Mich.

'EWA BEACH MAJORS 3-0

Alakai Aglipay and Sheyne Baniaga each hit two home runs as 'Ewa Beach crushed Billings, Mont., 26-7, yesterday in the Little League Major (ages 11-12) Northwest Regional at San Bernardino, Calif.

Aglipay also doubled and drove in six runs, and Baniaga batted 4 for 4 with five RBIs for 'Ewa Beach (3-0) in a game shortened to four innings by the mercy rule.

Quentin Guevara and Vonn Feao also homered for Ewa Beach, with Guevara amassing five RBIs.

'Ewa Beach plays Anchorage, Alaska, today.

OHANA 3-2 IN SERIES

Jon Ide batted 4 for 4 as Ohana of O'ahu defeated Oregon Select, 15-7, yesterday in the California Competitive Youth Baseball World Series (ages 9-10) at Anaheim, Calif.

Ohana has a 3-2 record.

SWIMMING

SIMMS SETS ISLE MARK

Christel Simms finished fourth in the A-final of the 100-meter freestyle yesterday in the Speedo Junior Championships at Irvine, Calif.

Simms, who represented Hawai'i Swim Club, recorded a Hawaiian 13-14 age division record and the Hawaiian Open 100 freestyle long course record with a time of 57.59 seconds. Katherine Raatz won the race in 56.77.

VOLLEYBALL

ZODROW ON USA TEAM

Brian Zodrow, a 6-foot-3 opposite from Kane'ohe, will play with the USA Men's World University Games team. Zodrow, a 2001 St. Louis graduate, just finished his eligibility at Pacific.

The Games starts today and runs through Aug. 21 in Izmir, Turkey.

SOFTBALL

HPU TO HOLD CLINICS

Hawai'i Pacific coaches Howard Okita and Bryan Nakasone, along with Sea Warrior players, will conduct free clinics starting Saturday at the Sea Warrior Field on the HPU Windward campus.

The clinics, which will be held each Saturday from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. through Sept. 17, are open to girls ages 14 to 17. Enrollment at each clinic is limited to the first 20 to 25 participants who register by calling Okita at 261-6965 or emailing him at okitah002@hawaii.rr. com

Participants must bring their own shoes and glove.