The Maui News

The Central Maui Little League Intermediate (age 13) All-Star team captured the Hawaii State Championship recently, defeating Hilo, 8-2.

Maui will now represent Hawaii as champions, advancing to the Western Regional competition from July 14-25 in Nogales, Arizona, on the “Road to the World Series.”

To recap the Hawaii State Tournament results, Maui defeated Pearl City in game one, 2-1 in eight innings Kaden Grancha pitched a gem of a game, allowing no runs before leaving the game on the Little League pitch count limit. Granche’s masterpiece included four strikeouts and support of a tremendous team defense.

In the second round, Maui matched up in what turned out to be game one against Hilo, and came away with a 7-2 victory, thanks to another combined pitching performance by lefty Chubbs Wong and Ryder Urig, who combined for 12 strikeouts. Noah Mathias homered to deep right center field in the third inning to ignite the offense.

The victory put the Maui boys in the “catbird seat” for a rematch against Hilo, who now needed to beat Maui twice or be eliminated in the championship rematch.

Maui’s seven-run first inning at the plate proved to be too much for Hilo, and set-up another fine pitching performance turned in by Justice Wickes, who’s deep home run stunned Hilo. Four batters later, Jaxon Delos Santos homered deep to right center field to cash in on 3 more runs and quiet the raucous Hilo fan base.

“Our ballplayers have worked hard to prepare for this competition and rose to the top of their game this weekend. We are pleased with their work effort and results so far. They are bonding as a team and we look forward to carrying that momentum forward to the West Regionals,” manager Stephen Leis said. “We now have the opportunity to represent the entire State of Hawaii on and off the field in Nogales, Arizona.”

For information on the Western Regionals game schedule, travel, television games and streaming opportunities, visit www.littleleague.org and click on postseason tournaments for the West Region 50/70 intermediate division (ballplayers age 13).

For more information or to contribute donations to help offset team travel expenses, contact coach Kelly Fliear at 808-870-2755.