TAYLOR, Mich. — Since allowing seven runs in the Little League Junior (ages 13-14) World Series opener, Pearl City has clamped down on pitching and defense.

Pearl City shut out Laredo, Texas, 3-0, yesterday to become the only unbeaten United States team and earn a spot in tomorrow's U.S. championship game.

The winner of tomorrow's U.S. championship will play the International champion Saturday for the World Series title.

Pearl City's Kahana Neal struck out the first two batters he faced and allowed just one hit through the first five innings. Neal struck out five in six innings before being pulled in the seventh because of a high pitch count. Texas failed to get a baserunner past second base.

"He's our big-game pitcher," Pearl City manager Mitchell Yamato said. "I expect nothing less of him."

Pearl City (3-0) took a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Chace Numata singled and eventually came around to score on a sacrifice fly by Brennan Doane-Alcos.

Pearl City nearly broke open the game in the second inning. Neal came to bat with the bases loaded and drove a ball deep to center field that appeared to be a home run. But Texas center fielder Roberto Aguero jumped and reached over the fence to haul the ball back in, drawing applause even from the Pearl City crowd.

"I thought it was gone," Neal said. "I thought it was gonna go because of the way (Aguero) was standing there. I was kinda bummed out."

Though Neal said it was tough to go back to the mound and pitch after having a grand slam taken away, he responded by holding Texas without a hit until the sixth inning.

Meanwhile, Pearl City scored a couple insurance runs. Mikey Uehara came off the bench and reached on a catcher's interference call in the fourth. He scored on a sacrifice fly by Christian Perkins.

In the sixth, Kainalu Chmolack singled and later scored when Perkins walked with the bases loaded to make it 3-0.

Sumi Pruett came in to pitch the seventh, getting a pop out and two strikeouts.

"Defense and pitching win," Yamato said. "That's held true for us from districts to the World Series."

Pearl City plays Glendale, Wisc. (1-2) today and could play Texas (2-1) again tomorrow for the U.S. championship.

CORRECTION

Hilo did not play yesterday in the Little League Senior (ages 14-16) World Series, but that doesn't mean there was no news to report.

Yesterday's story about Hilo's victory said that the Big Island team never trailed in a postseason game while going 14-0.

In fact, Hilo trailed in state tournament games.

Hilo (3-0) will play its final pool-play game today at 11 a.m. (Hawai'i time) against host Brewer and Orrington, Maine (0-3). Having clinched the top spot in Pool A, Hilo will play in a semifinal game tomorrow at 5:30 a.m.