Scottsdale, AZ - What started out as a
potentially high scoring game ended in a one run nail-biter as Hawaii's rally came up a
run short. Anaheim jumped ahead early with two runs in the first but Hawaii
countered with three runs in the bottom half of the inning. Bryan
Lee reached on an error by the shortstop and stole second. Paki
Lum walked and was followed by Jacob Flick's RBI single to
left. Kukui Lucas drove in another run with an RBI single
of his own to tie the game. Kellan Briones hit a grounder
to the third baseman and was called safe at first when the throw went low allowing Flick
to score. But Anaheim came back in the third scoring three runs to take the
lead. Trailing by two runs going into the bottom of the seventh, Hawaii mounted a
last ditch effort. Kalvin Koverman walked with one
out. Kenji Takanishi and Lum hit consecutive singles
after two outs bringing in one run and putting runners on first and second. Ryan Okano, running for Takanishi, executed the front end of a
double steal that put him on third sending Lum to second. But on a swung-on third
strike, Flick headed to first when the Anaheim catcher could not hold on to the
ball. What appeared to be a routine play to first then turned into an nerve-racking
rundown between third and home when Okano, with nothing to lose, broke for the plate on
the catcher's bobble. Instead of an easy throw to first for the final out, a
"pickle" ensued going several intervals before Okano was tagged for the final
out to end the game. Hawaii will face Anaheim again tomorrow at 7:00pm PDT for the
final game of the regionals. The winner will advance to the Big League World Series
in Tuscon, AZ.