Pearl City coach Mitch Yamato has tried to preach the following to his team at the Little League Juniors Division West Regional at Beaverton, Ore: "You guys are the defending champions; they have to take it away from you guys."

Two teams tried but failed to do so yesterday against Pearl City, which is advancing to the World Series for 13- and 14-year-olds in Taylor, Mich., for the third consecutive year.

In the championship game, Pearl City scored four runs in the first inning and three more in the second in an 8-3 win over Arizona.

Robert Brown, one of four returning players from last year's regional championship team, pitched a five-hitter with two walks and six strikeouts.

"Robert Brown, he's been in this situation before," Yamato said. "He went to Taylor, Mich., last year. We knew we could count on him to challenge everyone with his heart and fastball."

Kala Neal batted 3 for 4 and Chace Numata went 2 for 2 with two RBIs.

Yamato is in his first year coaching the team.

"The kids deserve it. They're the ones who play the game," he said.

In the semifinals, Pearl City routed Nevada, 13-0 in five innings, behind a three-hitter by Shayne Nakata. Pearl City sent 12 batters to the plate in a nine-run fourth inning.

Yamato said the quick first game was critical.

"The most important part was we had a 9 o'clock (local time) game," he said. "Our pitcher Shayne Nakata pitched a gem. We 10-run ruled them and were able to rest and get ready for championship game. The kids had time to rest; mentally they wanted to get to the final game."

Nakata walked none and struck out four in the game, which started at 4 p.m. (local time).

"His change-up was nasty," Yamato said. "The game before we played them they hit our pitcher. His change-up, they had no clue what was coming at them."

Neal hit a three-run homer, Brown batted 3 for 3 with two doubles and three RBIs, and Justin Protacio and Ed Izumigawa each went 2 for 2 with two RBIs.