Tanner Tokunaga drove home two runs with a bases-loaded, two-out double to cap a dramatic six-run sixth inning that gave Hawaii a come-from-behind 7-5 win over Louisiana on Saturday to advance to the Little League World Series title game.
Waipahu, Hawaii’s opponent today will be Matamoros, Mexico, which defeated Tokyo 5-4 earlier Saturday for the international title.
Lake Charles, La., looked to be a lock to represent the United States when it entered the top of the sixth with a 5-1 lead.
But Hawaii didn’t quit.
“They’ve just always had this never give up attitude,” manager Timo Dohahue said.
Tokunaga started the rally off reliever Gunner Leger with a single, and Pikai Winchester followed with a ground-rule double to put runners on second and third. Iolana Akau’s single drove in Hawaii’s first run of the inning to cut it to 5-2.
Khade Paris drove in a run on a groundout and Caleb Duhay added an RBI single.
Four batters later, Christian Donahue came up with two outs and the bases loaded and lined a hard grounder that Leger, who had moved to first, misplayed to allow Duhay to score.
That set up Tokunaga’s go-ahead double, which just slipped under shortstop Kennon Fontenot’s glove and made its way to the warning track, driving in Jedd Andrade and Keelen Obedoza.
Hawaii’s frantic fans cheered wildly as Tokunaga clapped his hands at second.
“He would have needed a lot of skill to get to the ball and he has it,” Tokunaga said about Fontenot. “But I thought the ball would get through the infield.”
Winning pitcher Trevor Ling retired the side in the bottom of the sixth and set off a wild celebration as Hawaii’s players tossed their gloves in the air near the mound.
A team from Hawaii won the Little League championship in 2005, the first of three consecutive titles for U.S. teams.
Now, Waipahu will try to make it four in a row on Sunday.
Bryce Jordan had a two-run single and Nicholas Abshire had three hits and two RBI to pace Louisiana. Leading 3-1, Lake Charles added two runs in the fifth off a Fontenot homer and an RBI single from Abshire.
It still wasn’t enough against Hawaii.
“It’s such a hopeless feeling,” Louisiana manager Charlie Phillips said. “You have to stay calm on the outside for the kids. You don’t want to panic.”
Leger had closed out Louisiana’s wins in its state and regional tournament. On Saturday, Phillips had to console his 12-year-old reliever after he gave up six runs in the sixth.
“I told him if he’s going to compete, he’s going to have days like this,” Phillips said. “It’s not the last time it’s going to happen to him in his life. It’s a good learning experience.”
