SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pennsylvania – Wailuku is in familiar territory.
And if it responds like it did at the West Regional, it could end its season on a perfect note. Wailuku will have to work extra hard to achieve that goal.
Henderson, Nevada, scored a run in the sixth inning and benefited from six Wailuku walks to beat the West champion 3-2 in the winners’ round semifinals of the Little League World Series on Monday at Lamade Stadium.
To reach the national championship on Saturday, Wailuku now needs to win two games instead of one. To reach the world final, the team also needs to win three games instead of two.
But the dream remains alive, and that is the most important fact.
“I think they are a talented and well-coached team. We know that in the past they have been able to really dominate other teams in this tournament,” Said Nevada manager Adam Johnson.
Hawaii manager Daniel Bolduc declined to attend the postgame press conference.
Wailuku found itself in a similar situation at the West Regional, losing its second game to Southern California but then winning the next two games to defeat Southern California for the title.
Before Wailuku can think about a possible rematch against Nevada, which advanced to the winners’ bracket final on Wednesday, it must first defeat Pennsylvania, which has won two games in a row.
Wailuku has a quick turnaround ahead of it, playing Tuesday afternoon against Pennsylvania, which drew the biggest crowds of the series.
The West champions have top pitcher Evan Tavares at their disposal, who has not allowed a single earned run in 35 2/3 innings this summer.