Central East Maui LL of Hawaii showed composure in its win over New Hampshire in final innings
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Numerous things were likely going through Eassie Miller's mind when New Hampshire suddenly loaded the bases after two walks and a batter was hit by a pitch. Central East Maui Little League from Wailuku, Hawaii was in the driver's seat the entire game with the lead, but momentum looked like it was about to shift.
Hawaii led by just two runs and one out was on the scoreboard. But what likely went through Miller's mind in that moment was pure relief.
With the game on the line, Miller came up clutch with an absolute huge line-drive catch and quick tag at third base to get New Hampshire's Grayson Buckley out.
From a possible rally by the New England Regional champions to an outstanding double play to seal the game as Hawaii left Lamade Stadium in South Williamsport on Wednesday afternoon with a thrilling 3-1 win over New Hampshire.
"I saw it out of the side of my eye," Hawaii's Eassie Miller said of the line drive. "It was very exciting."
"We got a guy there for that. Give 100% and put it all on the line," Hawaii manager Daniel Bolduc said. "Catch the ball, step on the base. That's the play."
Hawaii displayed its composure in that very moment and it came up big when it needed two.
In consecutive innings in the fifth and sixth, New Hampshire managed to load the bases and both times, Hawaii's pitching and defense shut them down and kept a rally from sparking.
"These kids were in some battles through states, through regionals, so when you put them in a situation (like that), they're going to play as good as anybody," Buldoc said.
The manager did note that with an atmosphere like Lamade Stadium, where thousands of fans pack the stadium and surrounding hill in the outfield, nothing is guaranteed with how 11- and 12-year-old kids will react.
"The environment is huge for everybody, so you never know how you're going to react," Bulduc said.
Hawaii opened the game with three big runs from the geto go, sparked by a two-RBI single from Hayden Takahashi. Gauge Pacheco reached to open the game on a walk before Evan Tavares had a single to put two runners on. Kanon Nakama reached by being hit by a pitch with one out before Takahashi's single put runs on the board. A batter later, Miller came up with an RBI single to right to give Hawaii a 3-0 lead.
While that first inning put the seeds in place for a potential mercy-rule game offensively, New Hampshire never let it happen. The New England Regional champions kept Hawaii's bats fairly quiet -- the West Regional champions collected just six hits, only one of which was for an extra base.
Rather than getting nervous and falling apart, Hawaii stayed strong as a team defensively and on the mound, keeping its composure in a pressure-packed situation late in the game.
Hawaii's Brextyn Kamaha'o Hong had a head's up play in in the top of the fifth inning, getting the ball to home and keeping New Hampshire from scoring a second run, keeping it a 3-1 game.
"That was huge. That's a real smart play, it's a force play, but I told him that's head's up baseball right there," Buldoc said.