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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, July 26, 2007

Waipi'o powers past Kane'ohe in LL final, 8-2

Photo galleryPhoto gallery: Little League Majors State Tournament final
Video: Waipio wins Little League state title

By Kyle Sakamoto
Advertiser Staff Writer

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Waipi'o celebrates its victory over Kane'ohe in the Little League Majors State Tournament final.

DEBORAH BOOKER | The Honolulu Advertiser

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It came down to power yesterday for Waipi'o in the Little League Majors State Tournament championship game.

Power hitting and the power pitching of left-hander Khade Paris.

Waipi'o belted five homers and Paris struck out 11 over 5 1/3 innings in an 8-2 victory over Kane'ohe National at Pride Field in Barbers Point.

It was Waipi'o's second consecutive state title, and the team will travel to San Bernardino, Calif., for the West Regional. The tournament is Aug. 3 to 12.

The regional winner advances to Williamsport, Pa., for the World Series, Aug. 17 to 26.

The Majors (ages 11-12) is the oldest Little League division, starting in 1939 with its first World Series in 1947. In 2005, West O'ahu became the first team from Hawai'i to win the World Series.

Westin Fabro hit solo homers in the third and fifth innings yesterday. Paris hit a two-run homer, and Iolana Akau and Ulumano Farm had solo shots.

"Seeing these kids swing the bat, with the wind and the fence (205 feet) being so close ... on our team we have about eight guys (who can hit homer runs)," Waipi'o coach Timo Donahue said.

Paris struck out the side in the first and fifth innings, and allowed two singles — both in the second.

"No doubt, he was the best pitcher our team faced this year," Kane'ohe National coach Jeff Akamine said.

Paris' homer in the first inning, which plated Christian Donahue, nearly cleared a pair of pine trees beyond the right-center field wall.

"First pitch, it was a fastball down the middle, and I just swung my best and I hit the ball," Paris said.

Kane'ohe National tied it at 2 on an RBI groundout by Micah Camara in the second, and a double steal with runners at the corners in the third. On the play, Eric Akamine broke for second and got caught in a rundown long enough for Kamana Pimental to score.

Fabro's shot to right-center in the bottom of the third put Waipi'o up for good at 3-2. Farm, who was hitting for Jordan Stevens, homered to left in the fourth.

Waipi'o put things away with a four-run fifth inning. Fabro and Akau went back-to-back with one out, and Jarvis Castro-Lonzaga doubled in two runs.

"It just feels good that I got the two homers and my team won," Fabro said.

Paris departed after throwing 86 pitches (51 strikes). Chad Uyehara got the final two outs.

"Khade sucked it up. We asked him to come in today and throw a big game," Timo Donahue said.

Kane'ohe National needed to beat Waipi'o twice yesterday to win the double-elimination tournament. Waipi'o (4-0 in the tournament) beat Kane'ohe National (3-2) on Sunday, 5-4.

"The unfortunate part was today our team did not play up to their potential," Jeff Akamine said. "It's too bad we didn't have our A-game to compete with the state champions from Waipi'o."

Fabro, Stevens, Troy Vicari Jr. and Uyehara were on last year's Waipi'o Majors state championship team. Waipi'o made it to the regional semifinals.

"Being there once already it gave us an outlook on what it's like to be out there; living conditions and so forth, what to expect," Timo Donahue said.

KANE'OHE NATIONAL 011 000—2 4 1

WAIPI'O 201 14X—8 10 0

Kamana Pimental, Eric Akamine (5) and Michael Pang. Khade Paris, Chad Uyehara (6) and Iolana Akau. W—Paris. L—Pimental.

Leading hitters: Kane'ohe National—Pang 2-3. Waipi'o—Paris two-run homer; Westin Fabro 3-3, two solo homers; Akau solo homer; Ulumano Farm solo homer; Keelen Obedoza double; Troy Vicari Jr. 2-2, double, 2 RBIs.

Reach Kyle Sakamoto at ksakamoto@honoluluadvertiser.com.