TAYLOR, Mich. — Trailing 4-1 in the seventh inning, Pearl City was one out away from elimination in the Junior League World Series (ages 13-14).

Pearl City had lost its opener and needed a win against North Cumberland, N.J., to remain in contention for a title. The task seemed daunting, considering Pearl City had managed only one run in the first 13 innings of the World Series.

But just when Pearl City manager Mitchell Yamato thought his players might be finished, they delivered four runs in the seventh for a 5-4 come-from-behind win.

"That was incredible," Yamato said. "I don't know how they did it, but they pulled it out. The ball just fell in the right places, where the defensive guys weren't playing."

Justin Protacio drove in one run, and Kahana Neal hit a three-run double in the seventh, giving Pearl City the 5-4 win. Prior to the seventh, Pearl City had scored once — on a squeeze — and only had five hits.

But the team's bats came to life at just the right time.

"I just wanted to get the ball in play, hit a line drive," said Neal, who admitted he was nervous. "I was breathing kinda hard."

Pearl City hopes its offense can remain hot today against Alexandria, Va., at 2 p.m., Hawai'i time. The struggles at the plate haven't happened because of a lack of talent or effort, Neal said.

"I think people are trying to do too much," he said.

But a four-run inning should relax everyone, Yamato said.

"As far as confidence-building, that was just huge," he said. "From the first game to (the sixth inning against New Jersey), we weren't really hitting the ball.