Hilo stays unbeaten at Cal Ripken Series
| • | Pearl City Seniors win, 7-3 |
| • | Pearl City Juniors stay alive |
By Carlin Cook
Special to The Advertiser
ABERDEEN, Md. — Hilo is settling in at the Cal Ripken World Series for 12-year-olds.
Kawika Pruett went 3 for 3, falling a home run short of the cycle, and drove in a run and scored twice as the Hawai'i champions rolled to a 12-0 win over St. Mary's County (Md.) yesterday in a game called after four innings because of the 10-run rule.
"Looks like the kids are rested," Hilo coach Kaha Wong said after his team improved to 3-0 in the tournament. "They are confident and relaxed."
Hilo is in first place in its pool. The top two teams from each pool advance to the semifinals on Friday.
Pruett received the Ron Tellefsen Player of the Game award for the second time this week.
"We have a lot of good guys on this team," Pruett said. "I was lucky to get two of these."
Pruett provided Hilo with its first run with an RBI double in the bottom of the first inning. Hilo added two runs in the second and erupted for nine runs in the third.
Ekolu Martins started and got the win for Hilo and drove in three runs. Martins combined with Ridge Ho'opi'i-Haslem and Ryan Malakaua to hold St. Mary's County to two hits. The trio combined to strike out 10.
Chayce Kaaua drove in three runs for Hilo, which will play Bryant, Ark., (1-1) today at 7:30 a.m., Hawai'i time.
"We're just ready to go," Wong said.
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CAL RIPKEN (12-under) Till Aug. 20 At Aberdeen, Md. Hawai‘i representative: Hilo (Hawai‘i champion, Pacific Southwest Regional champ) Manager: Kaha Wong Teams National Division: Kennewick, Wash. International Division: Roster: Hilo schedule Hawai‘i times (subject to change) Pool play Sunday—defeated Kennewick, Wash., 2-0 Monday—defeated Newton, Conn., 10-3 Tuesday—defeated St. Mary’s County, Md., 12-0 Wednesday—Bryant, Ark., 7:30 a.m. Thursday—Bye Friday—International, U.S. semifinals, 6 a.m., 8:30 a.m., 11 a.m., 2:30 p.m. Saturday—International, American championships, 10 a.m., 12:30 p.m. Aug. 20—World Series Championship, 11 a.m. TV: OLN (all games live on Aug. 18, 19, 20) Online: worldseries.ripkenbaseball.com Till Aug. 19 At Taylor, Mich. Hawai‘i representative: Pearl City (Hawai‘i champion, West Regional champ) Coach: Mitch Yamato Teams: How they got here: Pearl City arrives in Taylor with a 12-1 record. The Hawaii state champions went 5-1 in the USA West region played in Pearl City. The hosts defeated the state champions of Washington (10-0), Utah (11-1), Idaho (4-0), Alaska (14-2) and Arizona (8-3) and split with Nevada (losing 10-3 and winning 13-0). History: Pearl City is making its third straight appearance in the Junior League World Series. The team was runner-up in the USA Pool in 2004 and 2005. Four players from last year’s team – Arlie Johnson, Edwin Izumigawa, Kala Neal and Robert Brown – have returned. This will be the fifth time a Pearl City team has played in Taylor. In 1984, Pearl City won the world championship. In 1989, the team went 3-2. Teams from Hawaii have represented the USA West region 10 times in the World Series. ‘Aiea is the only team to win back-to-back world championships (2000 and 2001) and also played in Taylor in 1990 and 1996. Pearl City Roster: 1 Micah Turell Pearl City schedule Hawai‘i times (subject to change) Pool play Sunday—lost to El Campo, Texas, 9-0 Monday—Bye Tuesday—defeated North Cumberland, 5-4. Wednesday—Woodlawn, 2 p.m. Thursday—South Bend, 8 a.m. Friday—International, U.S. championships, 11 a.m., 2 p.m. Saturday—World Series Championship, 11 a.m. TV: ESPN (Championship game, delayed at 7:30 a.m. Aug. 30) Online: littleleague.org/series/2006divisions/jlbb/series.htm www.cityoftaylor.com/worldseries Today to Aug. 19 At Bangor, Maine Hawai‘i representative: Pearl City (Hawai‘i champion, West Regional champ) Coach: Gary Nakamoto Teams Pool A: Pool B: How they got there: Pearl City successfully defended its U.S. West title with a 2-0 win over Mount View Little League of Scottsdale, Ariz., on Aug. 8. Pearl City was last year's World Series runner-up. Hawaii was 4-0 in pool play in the West regional and 6-0 overall while outscoring opponents 80-9. Uniform colors: Yellow and navy blue Pearl City schedule Hawai‘i times (subject to change) Pool play Sunday—defeated Illam Central (Makati City, Philippines), 21-4 Monday—defeated Yorktown, Va., 8-2 Tuesday—defeated Regina National, 7-3 Wednesday—Bye Thursday—Bangor Westside/East, 11 a.m. Friday—Semifinals, 5:30 a.m., 8:30 a.m. Saturday—World Series Championship, 8:30 a.m. TV: None scheduled Online: littleleague.org/series/2006divisions/slbb/series.htm |
