SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — Hawaii’s offensive punch followed Japan’s stirring win in extra innings to create some high drama at the Little League World Series.
Now, the two teams will meet today for the title.
Ryo Motegi’s RBI grounder through the infield with two outs in the seventh inning gave Tokyo a 3-2 win over Kaohsiung, Taiwan, to claim the international title Saturday, before Noah Shackles’ two-run homer to center capped a four-run first for the boys from Waipahu, Hawaii, in a 10-0 win over Pearland, Texas, in the U.S. championship game.
Shackles finished 2-for-2 with three runs, and lefty Ezra Heleski allowed just two hits for the local Waipio Little League from Waipahu, trying to win its second tournament crown in three years. The game ended with one out in the fifth because of Little League’s 10-run rule.
After avoiding elimination four straight days, Hawaii has one more big game to go. Its blowout victory was in sharp contrast to Japan’s tight win. Japan beat one of the tournament’s most fearsome teams at the plate, after Taiwan had outscored opponents 46-1 over its first three games.
