Nearly a year after the devastating Maui wildfires that killed at least 102 people and destroyed 2,200 buildings, the area has a team banding together: a group of 11- and 12-year-olds from Wailuku Little League.
On Friday night in front of a large crowd in San Bernardino in the Western Division final, pitcher Evan Tavares struck out 13 batters and scored two runs to lead Maui to a 2-1 victory over Eastvale and a berth in next week's Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
Maui broke a 1-1 tie in the top of the fifth on an RBI single by Hayden Takahashi with two outs.
Eastvale, a Riverside County team with strong fan support, benefited from a stellar pitching performance from Gavin Crews, who struck out seven batters, walked none and allowed just three hits. Crews gave up one run on a wild pitch in the first inning, then retired nine consecutive batters in the second, third and fourth innings. Eastvale scored on a leadoff single by Jack Mette, two bunts and a wild pitch to tie the game at 1-1 in the second inning.
Eastvale's Jack Mette scored his team's lone goal Friday night.
(Craig Weston)
Tavares pitched until he had a runner on first in the sixth inning, then left the mound after pitching 85 pitches. He had pinpoint control, striking out 27 batters, walking no batters and allowing no runs in 11 1/3 innings over two games in the tournament.
Maui's Hayden Takahashi hit the game-winning run in the fifth inning against Eastvale.
(Craig Weston)
Jaden Lamb singled with one out off Tavares for his second hit of the game and Eastvale survived the bottom of the sixth. Maui brought in Kanon Nakama to the mound, who struck out three batters and grounded out to end the game.
Maui will face New Hampshire in its season opener on Wednesday in Williamsport, looking to replicate the success of last year's West Division champion El Segundo, which won the World Series.
