SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — The West O'ahu hitting machine claimed another victim yesterday at Lamade Stadium.

The Northwest champions clinched the Pool A championship, pounding out nine hits and two home runs while receiving four-hit pitching from Alaka'i Aglipay in a 10-0 Little League Major (ages 11-12) World Series win over Maitland, Fla.

West O'ahu finished pool play 3-0, outscoring its three opponents, 24-4, while hitting eight home runs. It will now play Thursday in the U.S. semifinals against the loser of tonight's California-Louisiana game.

"We always play hard and every chance we get to score we just go hard," West O'ahu manager Layton Aliviado said. "We try to pound on it."

Florida, which lost for the first time in three pool play games, already had clinched a semifinal spot before yesterday's game and will play the winner of the Louisiana-California game tomorrow night.

"We never told the kids that we were in regardless, but that stuff in this environment gets around," Florida manager Sid Cash said. "I think we played like a team that thought we were in which was not very well."

West O'ahu scored early for a third straight game. And once again it used the long ball as its best weapon.

Sheyne Baniaga broke out of a mini-slump in the top of the first inning, launching a two-out, first-pitch home run to center field. Baniaga hit five home runs at the Northwest Regional but had just one hit in his first two World Series games.

"I felt a little nervous the first time I came up to bat," Baniaga said. "I was nervous because the last two games I was striking out."

West O'ahu has scored eight runs combined in the first inning of its three games. Those quick starts have seemed to take something out of the opposition as nobody has pulled closer than three runs in any game.

"If we can jump on the opponent we feel more comfortable because we have the lead," Aliviado said. "That way we can be more relaxed and more focused. If you trail there's always pressure to try and come back."

West O'ahu put more pressure on Florida in the third inning, scoring four runs with two outs and extending the lead to 6-0. Catcher Michael Memea provided the big blow, hitting a two-out, three-run home run to left field.

Memea's high fly looked like it might be caught when it left the bat, but left fielder Eddie Abramson ran out of room at the wall and the ball flew past his outreached glove. Memea also doubled and finished with four RBIs.

"This is the first time I had four RBIs," Memea said. "I thought it (the home run) was going to get caught."

Florida opted to not start Dante Bichette Jr. on the mound, choosing to save him for the single-elimination round. Bichette and Skip Kovar have been the team's top pitchers throughout the All-Star season and both will now be available for the semifinals.

Bichette and Kovar were part of a third-inning rally, following Max Moroff's single with two of their own. Aglipay and his defense, though, stymied the rally with Aglipay coaxing Michael Tomlinson into an inning-ending double play.

That was the start of an impressive defensive display. West O'ahu added two more double plays in the last three innings off groundballs to stifle any hopes of a Florida comeback.

"We hit the ball hard," Cash said. "We just hit it at people and they ended up with three double plays so we could never get anything going."

Aglipay, who struck out seven, has not allowed a run in eight innings this tournament.

WEST O'AHU 204 031 — 10 9 1

MAITLAND, FLA. 000 000 — 0 4 2

Alaka'i Aglipay and Michael Memea. Mike Tomlinson, Max Moroff (5), Tanner Stanley (6) and Kyle Hamner. W—Aglipay. L—Tomlinson.

West O'ahu leading hitters: Memea 2-4, double, HR, 4 RBIs, 2 runs; Sheyne Baniaga HR, 2 RBIs; Quentin Guevara 2-3, RBI; Aglipay double, RBI, 2 runs; Vonn Fe'ao double, 2 runs; Ty Tirpak 1-2, RBI. Layson Aliviado 2 runs.

LITTLE LEAGUE (11-12)

At Williamsport, Pa.

Team: West O'ahu

Manager: Layton Aliviado

Web site: http://www.littleleague.org/series/2005divi sions/llbbseries.htm

WEST O'AHU'S SCHEDULE HAWAI'I TIMES

Aug. 19—Newtown, Pa., W 7-1

Aug. 21—Davenport, Iowa, W 7-3

Aug. 22—Maitland, Fla. W 10-0

Thursday—U.S. semifinals, 1:30 p.m.

Saturday—U.S. championship

Sunday—Championship

FINAL ROUND OF POOL PLAY

TODAY, HAWAI'I TIMES

Russia vs. British Columbia, 5 a.m.

Saudi Arabia vs. Venezuela, 7 a.m.

Owensboro, Ky. vs. Westbrook, Maine, 9 a.m.

Guam vs. Seguro Social, 11:30 a.m.

Rancho Bueno Vista vs. Lafayette, La., 1:30 p.m.

SEMIFINALS

TOMORROW

AT LAMADE STADIUM

INTERNATIONAL

Pool D No. 1 vs. Pool C No. 2, 9 a.m.

UNITED STATES

Pool B No. 1 vs. Pool A No. 2, 1:30 p.m.

THURSDAY

INTERNATIONAL

Pool C No. 1 vs. Pool D No. 2, 9 a.m.

UNITED STATES

West O'ahu vs. Pool B No. 2, 1:30 p.m.

FRIDAY

RAIN DAY, NO GAME SCHEDULED

SATURDAY

U.S. championship, 9:30 a.m.

International championship, 1:30 p.m.

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

SUNDAY

THIRD PLACE

U.S. runner-up vs. International runner-up, 6 a.m.

CHAMPIONSHIP

International champion vs. U.S. champion, 9:30 a.m.