Brayden Hiraki pitched a three-hitter with eight strikeouts and Jerin Po‘opa‘a and Joshua Fournier both drove in three runs as Thunder Baseball routed West Linn, Ore., 13-0 in five innings in the championship game of the Babe Ruth U14 World Series on Thursday in Glen Allen, Va.
The Thunder scored six runs in both the second and third innings. They went 6-0 in the tournament and outscored their opponents 51-4.
The Thunder’s Kelena Sauer was named the World Series MVP. Kody Watanabe (second base) and Fournier (shortstop) were also named to the All-World Series Team. Sauer (pitcher), DJ Akiyama (second base) and Jayton Pang (center field) were named to the All-Defensive Team.
Other members of the team were Randen Kohagura, Michael Morgia, Neill Natori, Carlson Ogata, Tate Shimao, Michael Yamaguchi and Jaron Yoshikane. The manager was Daren Akiyama and his assistants were Derek Toyama and Keane Yorita.
The Thunder are scheduled to arrive back in Honolulu today at 12:23 p.m., aboard American Airlines Flight 123 from Dallas.
Oda falls in round of 16 at U.S. Amateur
UNLV senior and Moanalua alum John Oda lost in the round of 16 at the U.S. Amateur on Thursday at the Bel-Air Country Club in Los Angeles.
Oda beat Dylan Wu of Medford, Ore., 2 and 1 in the round of 32, then fell to Doc Redman of Raleigh, N.C., 2 and 1 later in the day.
Kawai leads by 3 strokes at OCC
Evan Kawai shot a 6-under-par 65 to take a three-shot lead after the first round of the Oahu Country Club Men’s Invitational on Thursday at Oahu Country Club.
Joey Sakaue is second and Andrew Okita and Andrew Otani are tied for third at 69 in the Open flight. Isaac Jaffurs (69) leads the Mid-Am flight and Jonathan Ota (68) leads the Senior flight.
