Hawaii put together one of the most dominant runs in Little League World Series history. It capped off the fourth title in state history with yet another one-sided victory in the championship game Sunday.
Backed by six RBIs from Kama Angell and 10 strikeouts from Jaron Lancaster, Hawaii blew away Curacao 13-3, winning via the 10-run rule after a walk-off single from Angell in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Hawaii was an out away from sealing the victory in the top of the fourth, but a two-run single by Jaythan Cordilia brought the score to 12-3 to keep the summer alive for Curacao.
In the bottom of the fourth, Hawaii finished its run with a hit down the left field line by Angell, scoring Ruston Hiyoto from second.
West Region takes the banner! 🎉 pic.twitter.com/yTKBP8yzCv
— Little League (@LittleLeague) August 28, 2022
“This was great. I feel like what’s special about our team is that we always had our backs, and no matter what happened, if someone goes, like, 10 for 10 or someone pitches a perfect game, everyone has to compete to win this game,” Angell told the ABC broadcast after the game.
Hawaii wrapped up its Little League World Series run having outscored its opponents 60-5. The three runs scored by Curacao were more than all of Hawaii’s other opponents combined.
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Curacao began the game with an electric start, as Davey-Jay Rijke got to second on a hustle double to put a runner in scoring position. He advanced to third on a bunt and scored on a wild pitch to give Curacao an early 1-0 lead. It was the first time a team had taken a lead against Hawaii in the Little League World Series.
It did not take long for Hawaii to recapture the momentum. Keko Payanal led off the bottom of the first with a solo home run and Angell followed him with a second homer to give the team a 2-1 lead.
Hawaii scored three more runs in the second, with RBIs coming from Payanal, Angell and Lancaster, before busting out in the bottom of the third. Payanal was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to make it 6-1, and then Angell doubled to drive in three. After the bases became reloaded, Hiyoto doubled to left to drive in three more and make it a 12-1 game.
Cordilia kept Curacao alive in the fourth by driving in Joshua Acosta and Deshawn Bonafasia, but after two walks put runners on first and second for Hawaii in the bottom of the fourth, Angell singled for the win.
The Sporting News tracked live scores and highlights from Sunday’s championship game. Follow along for complete updates from the 2022 Little League World Series final between Hawaii and Curacao.
Little League World Series updates, highlights from Hawaii vs. Curacao
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | F | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Curacao | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | X | X | 3 |
Hawaii | 2 | 3 | 7 | 1 | X | X | 13 |
Fourth inning
5:20 p.m. Hawaii scoring play: Who else but Angell? He singles down the left field line to drive in Hiyoto and win the Little League World Series.
5:16 p.m.: Cordilia comes in to pitch for Acosta with runners on first and second and only one out.
5:14 p.m.: Payanal walks, and Angell, who has driven in five runs today, will bat with a chance to win the game.
5:13 p.m.: Wild pitch sends Hiyoto to second.
5:12 p.m.: Hino flies out to center for the first out of the inning. Payanal coming to bat.
5:11 p.m.: Wong walks to leadoff the bottom of the fourth. If Hawaii scores a run in this inning, the game is over. Hiyoto comes in to pinch run for Wong.
5:07 p.m. End Top Fourth: Lancaster gets Louisa swinging to end the top of the fourth.
5:05 p.m.: Rijke walks to load the bases. Gerald Oda tells Lancaster this is Louisa is likely his final batter as his pitch count continues to climb.
5:03 p.m. Curacao scoring play: Cordilia singles to right to drive in a pair and keep Curacao alive. Hawaii still leads 12-3.
5:02 p.m.: D’Shaw Winklaar is hit by a pitch to load the bases with two outs. Lancaster has thrown 72 pitches. Hawaii needs one out to win the Little League World Series.
5:01 p.m.: A wild pitch advances Acosta and Bonafasia up a base, but Lancaster gets Decaster swinging for his ninth strikeout of the game.
4:59 p.m.: Bonafasia reaches first on a hard-hit single to Noda at second base. Curacao has runners on first and second with only one away for Reangelo Decaster.
4:58 p.m.: Curacao has some life as Acosta walks to put a runner on first for Deshawn Bonafasia.
4:56 p.m.: Hinkel chases the breaking ball for the first out of the frame.
Third inning
4:51 p.m. End of Third: Hiromoto flies out to center to end the inning.
4:50 p.m. Hawaii scoring play: Hiyoto crushes a double down the left field line to clear the bases. Hawaii is three runs away from bringing in the 15-run rule in the third. If the team allows one or fewer runs in the top of the fourth, the game will end by the 10-run rule. Hawaii extends its lead to 12-1.
4:49 p.m.: Sniffen is hit by a pitch to load the bases. Hiyoto up to bat for the second time in the frame.
4:48 p.m.: After a wild pitch moves Lancaster to third, Watson is hit by a pitch. Jonnovyn Sniffen bats now with runners on the corners.
4:46 p.m.: Lancaster advances to second on a passed ball.
4:45 p.m.: Lancaster floats a popup out to second, but it deflects off the glove of Provacia, as Lancaster reaches on the error.
4:44 p.m. Hawaii scoring play: The first pitch from Acosta is driven down the right field line, and three runs score on the play. He’s tagged out trying for third, but the damage is done. Hawaii extends its lead to 9-1.
4:43 p.m.: Acosta comes in to pitch for Curacao.
4:41 p.m.: Doran is up and is heading off to the dugout.
4:39 p.m.: After a ball to Angell, Doran falls to the mound and appears to be in some pain. Trainers are out to look at him.
4:35 p.m. Hawaii scoring play: Payanal is hit by a pitch to force in a run. Hawaii extends its lead to 6-1.
4:33 p.m.: Hino walks, and the bases are loaded with one away.
4:31 p.m.: The call on the field stands. Hiromoto is out at second. Kobe Hino batting with Hiyoto on third and Purcell on first.
4:29 p.m.: Purcell hits a slow grounder to second, and Provacia throws it to Wiel at short for the force. But Hawaii is challenging the out call and asking officials to review.
4:27 p.m.: Back-to-back hit-by-pitches give Hawaii runners on first and second to start the bottom of the third, as Ruston Hiyoto and Luke Hiromoto are on base for Tau Purcell.
4:23 p.m. End Top Third: Wiel is set down swinging as Lancaster strikes out the side.
4:20 p.m.: Jaydion Louisa hits a hard grounder to third that Watson can’t handle, and he’s aboard on the error.
4:19 p.m.: Rijke goes down swinging for the second out of the inning as Lancaster notches his sixth strikeout of the game.
4:17 p.m.: Lancaster catches Cordilia looking at strike three, his fifth punchout of the game.
Second inning
4:11 p.m. End of Second: Sakamoto hits a hard liner, but right at Cordilia in left field to end the inning.
4:11 p.m.: Breaking ball cuts right back over the plate and catches Watson looking for the second out of the frame.
4:09 p.m. Hawaii scoring play: Lancaster helps his own cause as he lifts a high fly into left that drops in for a base hit down the line. Nouchi scores, and runners are back at first and second. Hawaii extends its lead to 5-1.
4:07 p.m. Hawaii scoring play: Put another one up on the scoreboard for Hawaii, as Angell drives in his second run of the day with a single into right-center to drive in Wong from second. Still runners on first and second with only one out in the second. Hawaii extends its lead to 4-1.
Ball, meet barrel. pic.twitter.com/Ia7WvdwaiR
— Little League (@LittleLeague) August 28, 2022
4:06 p.m. Hawaii scoring play: Impressive grab made by second baseman Provacia down the right field line to snag a tricky popup from Payanal, but it is deep enough for Noda to tag up and score from third. Hawaii extends its lead to 3-1.
4:01 p.m.: Kaeo Nouchi is hit by a pitch to load the bases. Payanal is coming up to bat. He led off the bottom of the first with an LLWS-best fourth home run. Curacao is bringing in Qshondrickson Doran to face him.
4 p.m.: Isaiah Wong is hit by a pitch on a 3-1 count to put runners on the corners with no one out for Hawaii.
3:58 p.m.: Wild pitch goes over the glove of the catcher, and Noda alertly goes from first to third as the catcher was slow to field the ball.
3:56 p.m.: Mikah Noda leads off Hawaii’s bottom of the second with a walk on four pitches.
3:51 p.m. End Top Second: Lancaster catches Alexander Provacia looking at a fastball down and away to retire the side.
3:50 p.m.: Emperador strikes out swinging for the second out.
3:48 p.m.: Shemar Jacobus sends a roller down the third base line that stays fair, but Watson is able to field it and make the throw for the out. Acosta advances to second.
3:47 p.m.: Joshua Acosta walks to leadoff the top of the second for Curacao.
First inning
3:41 p.m. End of First: Brennan Tomas strikes out swinging at a high fastball to end the first. But Hawaii struck back quickly with a pair of homers to take a 2-1 lead in the frame.
3:39 p.m.: Cohen Sakamoto strikes out swinging, but he beats the throw to first on a dropped third strike. Hawaii still batting in the bottom of the first.
3:37 p.m.: Daly Watson lifts a high fly ball into left field, but Jaythan Cordilia makes the catch for the second out.
3:36 p.m.: Lancaster hits a slow roller to shortstop, but Wiel makes the throw on to first to pick up the first out.
3:32 p.m.: Curacao is making a pitching change after the back-to-back homers. Left-hander Jaylliard Emperador is the new pitcher in the game.
3:30 p.m. Hawaii scoring play: Make it back-to-back blasts. Kama Angell hits a homer to right field to put Hawaii in front. Hawaii takes a 2-0 lead.
Hawaii is here for the party 🎉
Back✌️Back homers in the bottom of the first #LLWS pic.twitter.com/B3Ig5PKI8e
— Little League (@LittleLeague) August 28, 2022
3:29 p.m. Hawaii scoring play: That deficit did not last long. Keko Payanal hits a no-doubt home run to left field to tie the game at one. Hawaii ties the game at 1-1.
3:22 p.m. End Top First: Lancaster catches Kyshore Hinkel looking for the third out of the frame.
3:21 p.m.: Jaron Lancaster picks up his first strikeout of the game as he gets Jay-Dlynn Wiel to strike out swinging on a slider.
3:18 p.m. Curacao scoring play: Wild pitch, and Rijke is able to score. Curacao takes a 1-0 lead.
Curacao strikes first in the #LLWS75 Championship Game off aggressive base running and a wild pitch #LLWS pic.twitter.com/eIXFCX1ERC
— Little League (@LittleLeague) August 28, 2022
3:17 p.m.: Emery Hansen lays down a sacrifice bunt to move Rijke over to third.
3:16 p.m.: Davey-Jay Rijke leads off the game with a hustle double on a line drive that just got over the head of the shortstop.
3:15 p.m.: The first pitch of the game is taken for a strike, and the Little League World Series championship is underway.
Little League World Series start time today
ESPN/ABC wraps up its coverage of the Little League World Series with the championship game on ABC. Karl Ravech will handle the play-by-play, with Kyle Peterson and Jessica Mendoza providing analysis. Julie Foudy and Sebastian Salazar will be the dugout reporters for the game.
For those hoping to stream the matchup, it can be found on ESPN+ or fuboTV, which offers a free trial.
Little League World Series rosters
Here are the rosters for Hawaii and Curacao:
Hawaii
Number | Player | Pos. | B/T |
---|---|---|---|
4 | Kobe Hino | IF | L/R |
5 | Luke Hiromoto | IF/P | R/R |
8 | Ruston Hiyoto | OF/P | R/R |
9 | Mikah Noda | IF/P | R/R |
10 | Kaeo Nouchi | C | L/R |
12 | Daly Watson | IF/P | R/R |
13 | Jaron Lancaster | IF/P | R/R |
14 | Kama Angell | OF | L/L |
15 | Keko Payanal | IF | R/R |
16 | Cohen Sakamoto | OF/P | R/R |
17 | Jonnovyn Sniffen | OF/P | L/L |
18 | Tau Purcell | OD | R/R |
19 | Brennan Tomas | OF | R/R |
20 | Isaiah Wong | IF | R/R |
Coaching staff: Gerald Oda (manager), Keith Oda, Willis Kato
Curacao
Number | Player | Pos. | B/T |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Jaythan Cordilia | OF/P | R/R |
2 | Alexander Provacia | 2B | R/R |
4 | Jaylliard Emperador | 1B/OF/P | L/L |
5 | Joshua Acosta | OF/P | S/R |
6 | D’Shaw Winklaar | OF/C | R/R |
7 | Jay-Dlynn Wiel | 3B/SS/P | R/R |
8 | Davey-Jay Rijke | P/SS | R/R |
9 | Shemar Jacobus | OF/3B | R/R |
10 | Emery Hansen | C/OF | R/R |
12 | Jaydion Louisa | OF | L/R |
14 | Reangelo Decaster | P/OF | R/R |
15 | Qshondrickson Doran | P/OF | R/R |
17 | Deshawn Bonafasia | 1B/DH | R/R |
19 | Kyshore Hinkel | 1B | R/R |
Coaching staff: Zaino Everett (manager), Ildion Martina, Ringemar Raap
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