Posted at 2:39 p.m., Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Pearl City LL (ages 13-14) advances to U.S. title game
By James Briggs
Special to The Advertiser
Pearl City today shut out previously unbeaten Texas, 3-0, to become the only unbeaten United States team and earn a spot in Friday's U.S. championship game.
The winner of Friday's U.S. championship will play the winner of the International championship Saturday for the overall title.
Pitcher Kahana Neal struck out the first two batters he faced and allowed just one hit through the first five innings. Neal struck out five batters in six innings before being pulled in the seventh because of a high pitch count. Texas failed to get a baserunner past second base.
"He's our big-game pitcher," Pearl City Manager Mitchell Yamato said. "I expect nothing less of him."
Pearl City scored what turned out to be the game-winning run in the first inning. Chace Numata singled and scored on a sacrifice fly by Brennan Doane-Alcos.
Pearl City nearly broke open the game in the second inning. Neal came to bat with the bases loaded and drove a ball deep to centerfield that appeared to be a home run. But Texas centerfielder Roberto Aguero jumped and reached over the fence to haul the ball back in, drawing applause even from the Pearl City crowd.
