Hawaii hands Land Park Pacific of Sacramento tough loss in Little League Western regional
The Hawaii All-Stars scored runs in the first and fifth innings and received a monstrous effort from their best player to beat Land Park Pacific of Sacramento 2-0 on Sunday in an opening game of Little League’s Western Regional championships in steamy-hot San Bernardino, a tournament broadcast on ESPN.
Central East Maui of tradition-rich Hawaii advanced to the winner’s bracket in a 12-and-under double-elimination tournament that will send the winner to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Land Park, which is representing Northern California in the four-team event at Al Houghton Stadium, was led on the mound by its ace, Dillon Chiuu. Braving 104-degree temperatures, Chiuu struck out 10 in 4 ⅔ innings, allowing one earned run.
Reliever Dominic Grandinetti struck out two in 1 ⅓ innings, allowing no hits or walks, but the Land Park Pacific offense wasn’t able to solve Central East Maui ace Evan Tavares. A lefty, Tavares tossed a complete-game two-hitter, walking none and striking out 14 in six innings — the length of Little League games — as Hawaii advanced to a winner’s bracket game on Tuesday.
Mason Ebe and Patrick Casella each had a hit for Land Park Pacific, which moves into the consolation bracket, needing a win on Monday to stay alive and continue its magical season.
The Sacramento team aims to become the fourth area program to reach the World Series since its inception in 1947. The other locals to win the Western Regional tournament and reach Williamsport are Auburn, which appeared in the finals in 1959, Airport of Sacramento (1966) and Pacific (1983).
Hawaii teams have won the Western Regional four times since 2018, including Central East Maui in 2019. Hawaii teams have won four Little League World Series championships since 2005.
This story was originally published August 5, 2024 at 5:00 AM.