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Hawaii rides six-run frame to earn 8-3 win over Michigan in LLWS

Honolulu, Hawaii's Taylin Oana, center, gets his toe on home plate before the diving tag attempted by Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan's Jarren Purify (6), top center, after being caught in a rundown between third and home during the second inning of a baseball game against Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan in United States pool play at the Little League World Series tournament in South Williamsport, Pa., Sunday, Aug. 19, 2018. Hawaii won 8-3. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

WILLIAMSPORT — Great Lakes fired up the offense in the first inning, when Preston Barr singled on a 3-1 count, scoring one run.

West pulled away for good with six runs in the second inning. In the second Ryan Knaebel threw a wild pitch allowing one run across the plate for West.

West scored on a stolen base during Jace Souza’s at bat. Then Jace singled , driving in one, Aukai Kea doubled on the first pitch of the at bat, scoring one run, and Jarren Purify induced Hunter Nishina to hit into a fielder’s choice, but one run scored.

Ka’olu Holt was the winning pitcher for West. He went three and a third innings, allowing one run on two hits and striking out four. John De La Cruz, Kory Chu, and Sean Yamaguchi all put in work in relief out of the bullpen, steering their team towards the victory.

Ryan took the loss for Great Lakes. He allowed two hits and five runs over one and one-third innings, striking out one.

Aukai went 2-for-4 at the plate to lead West in hits.

Great Lakes racked up five hits in the game. Jarren and Preston each collected multiple hits for Great Lakes.

PLAY OF THE GAME: Ka’olu Holt ending Michigan’s first-inning rally-Michigan already had taken a 1-0 lead and was poised to do more damage, loading the bases with two outs. A big hit could have put Hawaii in early peril but Holt stayed calm and induced an inning-ending pop out. One inning later, Hawaii took control.

HAWAII PLAYER OF THE GAME: Hunter Nishina-Showcasing the team’s depth, Nishina delivered a strong performance off the bench. Nishina went 1 for 2 with two RBIs and delivered a third-inning RBI single that gave Hawaii an 8-1 lead.

MICHIGAN PLAYER OF THE GAME: Jarren Purify-The talented third baseman/pitcher keeps displaying his all-around skills and played another strong game Sunday, going 2 for 3 with two runs. Purify makes things happen on the bases and his speed helped give Michigan its two runs. He edges out Preston Barr who put on a defensive clinic at shortstop and also went 2 for 3 with an RBI.

BIG INNING: Hawaii second-Everything changed in the second as Hawaii scored six runs and turned a one-run deficit into a 6-1 lead. Hawaii did not mash the baseball, but delivered two timely hits, took advantage of five wild pitches, drew two walks and was hit by three pitches. Jace Souza’s RBI single made it 3-1 and Aukai Kea slammed an RBI double that made it, 4-1.

BEST EFFORT: Holt and John De la Cruz’s pitching-Holt and John De la Cruz were outstanding, combining on a 2-hitter in their five innings. Holt and De la Cruz retired the last 13 batters they faced and combined for six strikeouts. De la Cruz threw 1 2/3 innings of perfect relief and Hawaii has every pitcher available for Wednesday’s game.

FLASHING LEATHER: Michigan left fielder Brennan Hill immediately showed off his defensive range when he tracked down Mana Lau Kong’s deep drive. Hill covered a lot of ground, reached his glove up and caught the ball in stride. Just a batter later, Michigan was at it again. Barr went into the hole, stopped an Aukai Kea grounder from going into center field and made a snap throw to first for the second out. Hawaii left fielder Caleb Okada did a nice job tracking a Ryan Henderson flyball hit near the wall. He stayed with it off the bat, knew where the wall was and made a good running catch.

WHAT THE ADULTS SAY: “There was a lot of excitement with all the Major League players over there and all the festivities, but nonetheless, it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to spend time on a baseball field and see a Major League Baseball player come walking across and shake his hand,” Hawaii manager Gerald Oda said. “For our kids from Hawaii it’s going to be something they remember for the rest of their lives.”

WHAT THE KIDS SAY: “It was nervewracking because you don’t want to mess up in front of them (Major Leaguers),” Holt said.” You want them to like you.”

WHAT IT MEANS: Hawaii moves to Wednesday’s winners’s bracket final and plays Staten Island, New York. The West champions are within a victory of reaching the U.S. Championship. Michigan remains alive at the Series and plays an elimination game Monday against Des Moines, Iowa. The winner of that game reaches the U.S. Final 4.

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