West Walks Off Southeast In 11 Inning Defensive Struggle

By Justin Hawkins
justin@talkwilliamsport.com

The final game of Day #2 of the 2018 Little League World Series gave the fans the third walk-off win of the day in the first 11 inning contest at the Little League World Series since 2002, as the West Region; Honolulu Little League of Honolulu, Hawaii; defeated the Southeast Region; Peachtree City American Little League of Peachtree, Georgia; 2-0 at Howard J. Lamade Stadium.

After waiting 47 minutes past the scheduled 8:00 p.m. start time due to weather delays earlier in the day, the West got to work quickly, retiring the Southeast in order in the Top of the 1st. The offense would show it’s power in the bottom of the frame, with Mana Lau Kong becoming the first baserunner of the game to reach safely with a lead off single. This would be followed two batters later with a double from Sean Yamaguchi, but it was not hit deep enough, and Kong would be forced to hold at 3rd base. Bruce Boucher would follow up with a walk to load the bases, but Southeast pitcher Jansen Kenty would finally settle in, striking the next two West batters out in order to leave the bases loaded, and keep the game scoreless through one inning.

The second inning would see the Southeast get their second baserunner of the game as pinch hitter Will Clem would work a two-out walk, but he would be left stranded at 1st. The West would get their fourth and fifth baserunners as Caleb Okada reached via an E4 and Jace Souza singled, but both would be left stranded, keeping the game scoreless through two innings.

Both teams would send the minimum to the plate until the Bottom of the 5th Inning, as the West would threaten to score again as pinch hitter Hunter Nishina singled to lead off the frame, followed by a walk by Mana Lau Kong. Sean Yamaguchi would ground into a fielder’s choice that forced out Nishina at 3rd, and both Kong and Yamaguchi would be left stranded, keeping it scoreless through five.

The Southeast and the West would both get the potential winning run on base in the final inning of regulation as the Southeast’s Cole Manetti would be hit by a pitch and the West’s Caleb Okada doubled, but both would be left stranded, sending the nightcap into extra innings.

With the midnight hour quickly approaching and the Curfew Rule coming close to being put into effect, both teams would continue to trade zeros on the scoreboard, and the game would become the longest game since 2007, passing the 10 inning mark as both teams went into the 11th still scoreless.

The Top of the 11th inning would see the Southeast try to mount a two out rally as Chase Fralick was hit by a pitch and Tai Peete would work a walk, giving the Southeast the potential go-ahead run at 2nd and an insurance run at 1st. Unfortuantly, Wills Maginnis would hit a grounder right down the first base line for the final out, stranding both runners once again for the Southeast.

Heading to the Bottom of the 11th, it was starting to look like a Little League World Series game may head to the 12th Inning for the first time in the tournament’s history, but the West had finally had enough. With one away, Mana Lau Kong would take a pitch off of his elbow to give the West the winning run at 1st base, but it wouldn’t matter as Aukai Kea would drive a 1-1 offering to left field for the game winning home run, walking it off for the West in a 2-0, 11 inning victory.

With the win, the West moves on in the Winner’s Bracket and will face the Great Lakes on Sunday at 2:00 p.m. at Howard J. Lamade Stadium.

With the loss, the Southeast falls into the Loser’s Bracket and will face the Northwest in an elimination game on Saturday at 8:00 p.m. at Howard J. Lamade Stadium.