Tucson, AZ - Hawaii needed one run in the seventh to tie the game but came up short with runners on first and third and two outs as Florida outlasted their opponents 13-12 in a dramatic Big League World Series U.S. division championship game.  The game's finale capped a courageous comeback by Hawaii as they fell behind 11-2 in the fourth and appeared to be all but out of the contest.  Hawaii, however, was not content to rollover and die.   In true sports competition form, Hawaii fought back to tie the game and showed why they were able to reach the World Series tournament in the first place.

Florida jumped to an early 4-0 lead in the first.  Hawaii came back in the second when Paki Lum torched a ground rule double into right-center and moved to third on a grounder by Jacob Flick.  Kukui Lucas, the starting pitcher, hit rocket into right-center for a double scoring Lum.  Ryan Okano, who came in and ran for Lucas, advanced to third on a passed ball.  Kellan Briones' ground out to short brought in Okano to make it a 4-2 ballgame.  But Florida extended their lead with five runs in the top of the third to put them up 9-2.  They added two more in the fourth giving them a comfortable 11-2 lead.

The boys from Hawaii showed why a game is never over until the last out is made.  Lum led off the fourth with a walk and advanced to second on a base hit by catcher Flick.  Lum moved to third and Flick to second on single by Kyle Correa, who had taken over the pitching duties in the fourth inning.  Briones came through with another single scoring Lum and Flick as Okano moved to second.  Adrian Mols advanced Okano to third on a sacrifice fly to center and Roy Dunlap scored Okano from third on an RBI single that put Briones on second.   Hawaii loaded the bases on a single by Kevin Higa.  Bryan Lee hit a liner to right that could not be handled by Florida that allowed Briones to score from third.  Higa, freezing on the play is forced out at second.  Consecutive walks by Lum and Kenji Takanishi loaded the bases again for Flick who grounded out to short that scored one more run to cut the lead to four.

Florida got a run back in the top of the sixth to make it a 12-7 ballgame.  Hawaii then mounted another assault in the bottom of the sixth.  Lee triples down the left field line to lead off the inning.  Takanishi and Lum drew consecutive walks to load the bases.  Flick hit a grounder to short but the throw went awry as Lee and Takanishi score on the play to make it a 12-9 game.  Flick advanced to second and Lum to third on the error.   The next batter Correa, helped his own cause by lining a sharp single to right to knock in Flick and Lum cutting the lead to one.  Okano ran for Correa, stole second and moved to third on Mols ground out to short.  With the tying run on third, Dunlap hit a clutch single bringing in Okano making it a brand new 12-12 ballgame.

But with two outs in the top of the seventh, Florida manages a run to go ahead 13-12.   Hawaii in it's final at-bat dug down deep for one last effort when Lum lineed a two-out single to left for his second hit of the game.  Flick advanced Lum to third as Okano came in to run for Flick.  In the game's final rousing moment, Correa hit a chopper to the second baseman who bobbled the ball but managed to barely get a diving Correa out at first to end the game.

NOTES:
The Hawaii players and coaches will return to the islands on Sunday.