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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Monday, August 6, 2007

Waipi'o rallies for 14-11 win

By George Alfano
Special to The Advertiser

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Timo Donahue

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SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. — Waipi'o Little League coach Timo Donahue says one of the best qualities his team possesses is resiliency. The group provided plenty of that yesterday's Little League (ages 11-12) West Regional game against Moreland, the Northern California representative from San Jose.

Waipi'o blew a four-run lead in the bottom of the sixth, but scored four runs in the top of the seventh to gain a 14-11 extra-inning victory. Westin Fabro, who hit a three-run homer in the third inning, broke the 10-10 tie with a single to right. Jordan Stevens followed with a three-run homer, his second homer of the day.

"The pitch was in the middle and high," said Stevens, who played on last year's Waipi'o team, which also reached regional play.

Waipi'o (1-1) plays Nevada this afternoon. The top four teams in the six-team region advance to the semifinal round on Thursday. Waipi'o's road to the semifinals is a little more difficult because it does not play Utah, which has yielded 31 runs in its first two games. Northern California (0-2) is tied with Utah for the two bottom positions.

"These kids have a never-give-up attitude," said Donahue, whose son Christian is the team's shortstop and leadoff hitter. "I think they got a lot of the nervousness out of their systems because they had so many at-bats in this game."

Waipi'o broke a 6-6 tie in the fifth inning. Fabro singled and stole second. Stevens singled to left, but Fabro was thrown out at the plate when Moreland made two perfect throws to get the call at home. Stevens moved to third on Iolana Akau's single to right and scored on a wild pitch. Keelen Obedoza's single drove in Stevens.

Khade Parris singled home a run in the top of the sixth, and scored on a fielder's choice when he narrowly beat the throw home on Akau's squeeze bunt to give Waipi'o a 10-6 lead.

Moreland rallied in the bottom of the sixth to send the game into extra innings. John Bognanno led off with a walk and Sean Downey followed with a two-run homer to center. Obedoza replaced Troy Vicari on the mound and gave up two singles and a walk, but Tanner Tokunaga fielded Jordan Gojenola's single cleanly and threw to Obedoza, who caught Jake Whipple between third and home. He threw to Vicari at third, and Vicari tagged Gojenola when he tried to return to third.

Obedoza then struck out Steven Wright, who had hit a three-run homer earlier in the game. Spencer Deale singled to load the bases, and Donahue replaced Obedoza when he ran the count to 2-2 on Ben Frieden.

"I didn't want Obedoza to throw more than 20 pitches because I want him to start on Monday," said Donahue, who called upon Chad Uyehara to get the final out. Uyehara threw a wild pitch to allow one run to score, walked Frieden, and then threw a wild pitch that scored the tying run. Uyehara finally ended the rally when he got Bognanno to bounce out to third for the final out of the inning.

"If you want to go to Williamsport, you have to beat the toughest teams so we have been tested by playing the California teams back to back," said Donahue, referring to Friday's 3-2 loss to Solana Beach, the Southern California representative.

LITTLE LEAGUE

PEARL CITY TOPS IN POOL

Kahana Neal had three hits and two RBIs as Pearl City defeated Arizona, 9-6, yesterday at the Little League Junior (ages 13-14) West Regional in Beaverton, Ore.

Sumi Pruett and Kainalu Chmolock each had two hits and Pruett added two RBIs for Pearl City (4-0), which finished first in its pool and advanced to tomorrow's quarterfinal round.

P.O.N.Y.

WINDWARD ROLLS, 18-1

Kila Zuttermeister had three hits and two RBIs, and Aalona Amimoto had two hits and three RBIs as Windward eliminated Fullerton, Calif., 18-1, yesterday at the P.O.N.Y. Pony (ages 13-14) West Zone Tournament in Fullerton, Calif.

Ryan McMonigle and Michael Thomas teamed on a two-hitter for Windward (1-1), which plays Quartz Hill today in the double-elimination tournament.

BABE RUTH

PUNAHOU PLAYS FOR TITLE

Michael Suiter had two hits, including a two-run homer, and Alakai Aglipay batted 2 for 3 as Punahou defeated Central California, 8-5, yesterday in the Babe Ruth (ages 13-15) Pacific Southwest Regional at Handford, Calif.

Punahou advanced to tomorrow's championship game.

USABF

WEST O'AHU UNBEATEN

Steven Dannaway and Darren Baccay had two hits apiece and Ande Kuakini drove in two runs as West O'ahu defeated Santa Rosa, 3-2, yesterday in the United States Amateur Baseball Federation World Series (ages 18-under) at San Diego.

Winning pitcher Waylen Sing Chow struck out five in four innings for West O'ahu (3-0-1), which continues pool play today.

Earlier yesterday, West O'ahu and The Show played to a 4-4 tie in a game that was called after the two-hour time limit. Chris Pacual struck out seven in five innings, and Chad Takabuki and Bucky Aona each had two hits and an RBI for West O'ahu.

On Saturday, Dannaway drove in three runs as West O'ahu beat Encinitas (San Diego), 11-3.

ASA SOFTBALL

NO FEAR FINISHES FOURTH

Washington Angels defeated No Fear (Mililani), 11-3, yesterday in the ASA Western A Nationals (10-under) at Beaverton, Ore.

No Fear finished fourth out of 15 teams.

ISLAND LADIES PLACE FIFTH

Central California Dirt Dogs defeated Island Ladies (Mililani), 3-0, yesterday in the ASA Western A Nationals (12-under) at Portland, Ore.

Island Ladies finished fifth.

Earlier in the day, Mysha Statraka had three hits, including a three-run homer, and winning pitcher Keiki Carlos drove in three runs as Island Ladies beat Explosion (Calif.), 12-4.

On Saturday, Santee Heat beat Island Ladies, 5-0, and Island Ladies scored three runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to edge Firecrackers (Calif.), 6-5. Amanda McCeaskill had three hits and Carlos added three RBIs for Island Ladies.