SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — Matthew Campos gave Hawaii’s offense one big punch, and one inning of wildness on the mound cost Ohio a chance to move on at the Little League World Series.
Called on to pinch hit, Campos had Waipahu’s only hit with a game-tying three-run homer in the fourth inning in the West Region champions’ 6-4 victory Wednesday.
“I hadn’t hit one of those in a while, so when it came, it just felt awesome,” Campos said.
Two runs later scored on a hit batter and a wild pitch.
“I still can’t believe it,” Hawaii manager Brian Yoshii said with a laugh when asked if he thought before the game he could win despite being outhit 7-1. “Somehow, we got lucky because that was a great team. They deserved to win every other aspect but the score.”
Also Wednesday, Auburn, Wash., beat Pearland, Texas, 7-4 to avoid elimination and set up a rematch today, with the winner getting the other spot in the U.S. final.
A four-run fifth lifted Kaoshiung, Taiwan, past Chitre, Panama, 5-1 to clinch a berth in Saturday’s international final against Japan.
The Associated Press
