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Eassie Miller had a game-ending gem to lift Hawaii over New Hampshire

By Chris Masse 4 min read

A closer look at 3-1 Wailuku, Hawaii win over Salem, New Hampshire, Wednesday at Lamade Stadium Stadium.

PLAY OF THE GAME -- Eassie Miller's game-ending gem: New Hampshire staged a furious sixth inning rally, loading the bases with one out. The go-ahead runners were on base when Grayson Buckley smashed a wicked liner down the third-base line. Miller had just moved to third base and came up huge, snaring the line drive for the second out. Not finished, Miller was right near the bag and tagged third, completing the double play and clinching the Hawaii win.

HAWAII PLAYER OF THE GAME -- Hayden Takahashi: A slick-fielding first baseman, Takahashi also showed off his defensive prowess, going 2 for 2 with a two-run single. Takahashi produced the game's first two runs when he belted a two-run single into center field in the first inning.

NEW HAMPHSIRE PLAYER OF THE GAME -- Nolan Dupuis: Dupuis shined in relief, throwing 2 1/3 scoreless innings and striking out four. He was especially strong in pressure situations, leaving the bases loaded in the fourth inning. An inning later, Matthew Yang hit a lead-off double, but Dupuis was unfazed and came storming back, striking out the next three batters.

BIG INNING--Hawaii first: New Hampshire gave Hawaii all it could handle, but the West champions scored all the runs they needed in the first inning. After Takahashi hit his two-run single, Miller followed with an RBI single. Combined, those two went 3 for 3 and reached base four times. Gauge Pacheco ignited the rally with a lead-off walk before Tavares hit an infield single.

BEST EFFORT--New Hampshire's comeback and Hawaii's defense: After falling behind 3-0, New Hampshire could have crumbled. Instead, Colton Johnson and Dupuis did not allow another run. The New England champions also threatened in the fifth and sixth innings, loading the bases each time. Johnson hit an RBI single in the fifth, making it, 3-1 but Hawaii third baseman Brextyn Kamaha'o Hong made a sensational play, previewing what was coming in the sixth inning. Hong sprinted in on a slow roller which looked like it might go for an infield single. Hong would have had a hard time throwing to first across his body, so he alertly understood that a force could be made at home. After making a bare-handed stop, Hong threw home to Yang who tagged home and preserved the two-run lead.

FLASHING LEATHER--New Hampshire second baseman Patrick DeFrancesco made the game's first outstanding play, producing the first out in the bottom of the second. Brextyn Kamaha'o Hong hit a sharp grounder between first and second which looked like it might go for a single. Instead, DeFrancesco lunged, made a diving stop and then made a good throw from his knees to beat Hong by a step. New Hampshire right fielder William Briggs kept the good defense going an inning later, saving a run with a sliding catch in right field. Briggs charged in on the Jet Pontes sinking line drive and made the grab an inch or two before it hit the ground, preventing Kamalei Leynes-Santos from scoring.

WHAT THE ADULTS SAY--"We played them down to the last out and positioned ourselves well. They should feel proud," New Hampshire manager Dan DeFrancesco said. "If you told me at the beginning of this that we would be playing the West in a two-run game with a chance to take the lead in the sixth inning, I would take that 100 times out of 100."

WHAT THE KIDS SAY--"I saw it right away," Miller said. "I saw him (the runner) out of the side of my eye. It was very exciting."

WHAT IT MEANS-- Hawaii advances in the winner's bracket and plays again Friday when it faces Hinsdale, Illinois. Illinois received a bye and the winner of that game moves on to the winner's bracket semifinals. New Hampshire takes momentum into Saturday's elimination game against the loser of Thursday night's Pennsylvania-Texas game after playing Hawaii so tough.

Starting at /week.