Honolulu’s Kama Angel (right) is pummeled by his teammates after hitting to win the fourth inning of the Little League World Series Championship game against Curacao on Sunday. Honolulu won 13-3 by Mercy rules. AP’s photo
SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, PA — No team came close to Honolulu during a week and a half of the Little League World Series. Championship Sunday was no exception.
The Hawaii State champions scored back-to-back home runs from Kekoa Payanal and Kama Angel in the first inning to give Curacao a 13-3 victory in just four innings.
The LLWS title is the fourth title won by the Hawaii team. Honolulu he won in 2018 and last year he was third. Travel restrictions due to COVID-19 prevented international teams from participating.
How was Honolulu? Winning all 6 games, the closest conceded 4 goals. They outscored their opponents 60-5.
Honolulu’s players will parade around Lamade Stadium after Sunday’s victory, carrying a banner of the Little League World Series Championship.
“We are lucky that everything worked out at the right time.” Honolulu manager Gerald Oda said. “I am so grateful that these kids were able to sit back and relax and play.”
Part of that run was without Oda, who missed several games due to COVID-19. Oda also managed Honolulu’s 2018 team.
“After 2018, I thought the next thing to come to Williamsport would be as a spectator.” He said. “I never dreamed that I would be back as the team’s coach in 2022.”
Honolulu starter Jaron Lancaster again dominated on Sunday, pitching all four innings, allowing three runs on three hits and striking out 10.
“We knew Curacao would be a great team,” he said. Lancaster said. “My mindset was to go out there and do my best and do my thing. I know offense and defense pushed me.”
Honolulu pitcher Jaron Lancaster pitched in the first inning.
Jaron’s father, James Lancaster, said all the title efforts were worth it.
“It’s been a tough road” James Lancaster, whose family lives about 4,800 miles from central Pennsylvania, said: “We haven’t been home for over a month.”
Curaçao took its first lead in Honolulu of the tournament when Davey Jay Raike led the game on what appeared to be a bloop single, but when neither middle fielder covered that bag, he was out. came in second place. Davey Jay eventually came in to score on a wild pitch.
“Sooner or later someone will score.” Oda said. “We told the kids to keep fighting. It’s going to be a great day.”
Honolulu only dragged on for a few minutes. Leading hitter Payanal hit a homer to left field, and Angel’s shot, which barely cleared the center wall, reignited the Hawaiian side and gave him a 2–1 lead over the West Region team. We also chased the Curacao starter Shemar Jacobs.
“Anytime someone can score a big run” Oda said. “When someone hits a home run, the whole team gets pumped up and everyone’s morale is boosted.”
The game ended in the fourth inning, with Angell single to the left field line to score Esaiah Wong and secure the win and another championship for Hawaii.
According to Little League rules, a team wins if they are ahead by 10 points or more after four innings.
“I saw the ball go down and saw the manager send in Ruston (Hishiro).” Angel said. “I was very emotional. It was the best time of my life.”
Curacao holds one title back in 2004. But a team from a tiny Caribbean island with a population the size of Springfield, Massachusetts, made it to the finals in 2019 and this year.
“I am very proud of these people.” Curacao manager Zaino Everett said the team had won five elimination games to reach the title game. “We are champions, the second best team in the world. No one expected us to be here.”
After the trophy announcement and press conference were over and most of the fans were gone, the Hawaiian players celebrated their titles like 10- to 12-year-old boys. They slid down a large hill behind the Ramade Stadium on cardboard sheets.
*****
Little League World Series
in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
Saturday results
International Championship – Willemstad, Curacao 1, Taipei City, Chinese Taipei 0
National Championships – Honolulu 5, Norensville, TN 1
Sunday results
3rd – Chinese Taipei 2, Norensville, TN 0
Championship – Honolulu 13, Willemstad, Curacao 3, 4 innings
