The teams from Wailuke, Hawaii and Hampden, Maine line up for the national anthem prior to their Senior League World Series game Tuesday night in Bangor. Photo by Chris Lessner.
BANGOR- For the second time in three nights the Bronco-Hermon Little League from Hampden would pull off a dramatic win at a packed Mansfield Stadium. This time it was on the defensive side with the game on the line that provided the final outcome for a 3-2 win over Central East Champion Wailuke, Hawaii.
The District 3 All Stars will now advance to an 8 pm semifinal on Thursday evening.
Bronco-Hermon struck first when they took advantage of a dropped popup by shortstop Jyrah Lalim in the bottom of the second with two outs, scoring a hustling Nick Robidoux from second base to make it 1-0.
That lead was increased in the third inning when Alex McKenney hit a long RBI double down the right field line to make it 2-0.
Hawaii came back with a pair of runs in the top of the fourth. Haoa Jarnesky walked with the bases loaded and Jacob Chong hit a sacrifice fly to make it 2-2. But the host team was able to get out of the bases loaded jam when starting pitcher Casey Sudbeck got Iokepa Supnet to line out sharply to right field to end the threat.
Bronco-Hermon took advantage of another Hawaii miscue in the bottom of the fifth as Sudbeck hit a soft fly ball into left field that landed as a single. Hawaii left fielder Supnet would throw the ball away trying to cut down Alex Applebee who was trying to go first to third on the hit. The ball sailed to the backstop allowing Applebee to come across to make it 3-2.
The seventh inning began on a hit by Hawaii DH Jarnesky. Micah Saki would try to sacrifice him with a bunt but would pop it up to Bronco first baseman McKenney. Supnet then hit a grounder that Applebee bobbled at second base and wasn’t able to get the runner. Sudbeck then was forced out of the game because he was over 95 pitches.
Applebee came in for the save chance but would walk the first hitter he faced in Lalim. With only one out and the bases full, Anthony Tuionetua hit a grounder to shortstop that was gathered in by Zach Nash who tagged the bag at second and fired off balance to first where McKenney held the bag to complete the double play and end the game.
Sudbeck earned the win by allowing just two runs, five hits, four walks and five strikeouts in 6.1 innings. Jacob Chong was the tough luck loser for Hawaii as he went six innings allowing three runs, only one earned, six hits, no walks and one strikeout.
Bronco-Hermon manager Matt Kinney said after the game, “Hawaii is a good team. A really good team. I think we were fortunate enough to be in a position to win a ball game. Casey (Sudbeck) pitched fantastic, kept us in it all day. Then Zach (Nash) making that play at the end was huge. The kids battled hard all day. It was just another one of those games that is aging me more and more everyday alot”. Kinney added, “Yeah another off day will be good let these guys relax a little after another stressful game but then we are right back it Thursday. This is the stage these guys want to be on and we want to prove we can play baseball with anyone. I think these kids have done a good job of having fun but also playing hard and I think this is why you play the game of baseball to have this opportunity and we will see if they can take advantage of it”.
Wailuke, Hawaii will now play an elimination game 8 pm Wednesday against US Southeast resprentative Dumfries, Virginia.
HAWAII 0 0 0 2 0 0 0- 2 5 2
MAINE 0 1 1 0 1 0 x- 3 6 3
WP-Sudbeck LP- Chong
Left on base- Hawaii 7, Maine 4
