SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — Waipahu, Hawaii, rallied from four runs down against Columbus, Ga., and scored all its runs in the final three innings in a wild 12-5 victory Friday at the Little League World Series.
The semifinals are finally set after rain earlier in the week forced the schedule to be pushed back. Hawaii will play Pearland, Texas, in the U.S. championship game today, and Japan and Taiwan will meet for the international crown. The winners play Sunday for the World Series title.
If they make it that far, it would be five games in five days for the Hawaiians, a tiring schedule more appropriate for major- leaguers than Little Leaguers.
Noah Shackles doesn’t mind.
“I’m pumped,” the 13-year- old third baseman said.
His two-run triple in the third inning following a hit batter and two walks helped Hawaii tie the score after Georgia had taken a 4-0 lead in the top of the inning.
Hawaii took the lead on Ty DeSa’s RBI double to left-center in the fourth. Two runs scored later in the inning after Shiloh Baniaga’s smash got past drawn-in shortstop Brandon Pugh. Hawaii tacked on five runs in the fifth to put the game out of reach.
“They didn’t give up, and they’ll do whatever it takes to win,” Hawaii manager Brian Yoshii said.
Georgia ace Jacob Pate, who held Hawaii to two runs and one hit in a 6-2 win in the teams’ opener last week, allowed seven runs, four hits and three walks.
“It was a little easier because we had seen him before and had hit him a little bit,” DeSa said. “We knew his pitches. We were ready for him.”
