For Hawaii, winning in the Little League World Series has become as synonymous as surfing and sunshine.
Hawaii has played eight games over the last two years in Williamsport and hasn’t lost a single one, ultimately leading to a team from Honolulu winning last year’s title. Now, just two victories separate the team from Wailuku (the first-ever club from the island of Maui) from another championship for the Aloha State.
MORE: Little League World Series 2019 scores, bracket and schedule
Hawaii has stayed undefeated thanks to small ball. Of its 26 hits it has gathered in three wins, only one has crossed the fence. Hawaii beat Louisiana 5-2 in boths teams’ first game of the tournament.
Lousiana has never played in a LLWS title game, but may have one of the best hitters in the tournament to help change that. Reece Roussel is 13 for 17 to this point in the tournament and is just one hit away from tying the series record for hits, set by Kiko Garcia and Bradley Smith. His six extra-base hits are the same amount that Hawaii has hit as a team.
The winner advances to Sunday’s title game and will face Curacao, a 5-4 winner over Japan in the International Championship.
Sporting News is tracking live updates of the U.S. Championship between Hawaii and Louisana. Follow along below.
Little League World Series live score, updates, highlights from Hawaii vs. Louisana
(All times Eastern)
4:15 p.m.: Lousiana sends the runner home on a sac-fly, but he retreats to third when Hawaii hits the cutoff man. Hawaii’s pitcher then throws to third, where the runner is ruled out. Heading to the bottom of the frame.
4:12 p.m.: The runner advances to second on a bad throw to first.
4:10 p.m.: Louisana’s first batter reaches first safely.
End 1st: Louisana 0, Hawaii 0
4:06 p.m.: The runner is ruled out. No run.
4:03 p.m.: A hit to shallow right is kicked around, and the Hawaii runner on first looks like he scores on a close play at the plate, but the play is under review.
3:55 p.m.: The next two batters are retired, and Hawaii keeps Lousiana off the board.
3:51 p.m.: Roussel singles, and he is now tied for the most hits ever at a LLWS with 14.
3:50 p.m.: A nice play in right field, and Louisana’s first batter is retired. Reece Roussel to the plate.
3:49 p.m.: Hawaii is the home team and throws the first pitch for a strike.
3:24 p.m.: The winner of this game will advance to play Curacao tomorrow in the LLWS Final.
