The state of Hawaii continued its string of success in Little League baseball.

On Thursday, a Honolulu Little League team defeated Petaluma 13-3 at the Western Regional in San Bernardino, Calif., to become the third consecutive team from the state to advance to Williamsport, Pa., for the prestigious Little League World Series.

Honolulu won the overall Little League title in 2018 and Central Maui team finished runner-up in the U.S. Division in 2019. No tournament was held in 2020 because of the pandemic. In all, Hawaii has won three overall titles — West Oahu in 2005, Waipio in 2008 and Honolulu three years ago.

In Thursday’s victory, Pele Payanal batted 4-for-4, with double, triple and three runs scored and Micah Bennett added three hits, a double and four runs scored for Honolulu, called “HNL Boys.”

“Their bats have been getting a lot better lately,” coach Brandon Sardinha, who is the older brother of former major leaguers, Dane and Bronson. “Every game it could be different. That’s the beauty of our team. Our team saying is, ‘We got your back.’ When one guy is having a bad game someone else steps in and provides the boost for the team.”

Unlike in past years, no international teams will participate in this year’s Little League World Series for ages 11-12 years old. Instead, the top two teams from each of the eight regionals around the United States will advance to the World Series. The tournament goes from Aug. 19 to Aug. 29.

Thursday’s victory came during a winner’s bracket semifinal game and guaranteed that Honolulu would finish in the top two of the West Regional.

Petaluma, representing Northern California, will play Southern California representative Torrance on Friday for the other spot in the World Series. Honolulu will play the winner of that elimination game on Saturday for seeding purposes in the World Series.

“They’re very happy, excited, ecstatic to be able to qualify to Williamsport, but they understand there’s one more game to win the regional,” Sardinha said.

The coach said all but one of the players attend private schools, such as ‘Iolani, Punahou, Kamehameha and Mid-Pacific.

He said the team realizes its connection to the Little League World Series.

Pat Murray, who had the walk-off hit that plated the 13th run Thursday, is the younger brother of Chandler Murray, who played on the 2018 Honolulu team. Sardinha also said that one of the coaches, Kevin Bagoyo, played for the Pearl City team that went to the World Series in 1988. Bagoyo’s son Zack plays second base.

Honolulu used a 4-4-4 method to pull away from Petaluma.

Honolulu scored four in the first inning, four in the third and four in the fourth for a 12-3 lead. It scored a run in the bottom of the fifth to end the game early on a 10-run mercy rule.

The Honolulu Little League team jumped ahead early, using four consecutive hits and a wild pitch.

Petaluma closed to 4-3 with a single run in the second and a two-run homer by Giovannia Castaing in the third. But the “HNL Boys” added four in third, capped by a two-out, two-run opposite-field single by Bagoyo for an 8-3 lead. During the inning, Petaluma starting pitcher Aiden Jones reached the 85-pitch limit was removed.

Petaluma loaded the bases in the top of the fourth against 5-foot-9 right-handed reliever Ryan Keanu. But Keanu struck out his fourth batter of the inning — one batter reached a strike out-wild pitch — to get out of the jam.

Little League International president and CEO Steve Keener said the decision for international teams not participate this year was the result of uncertainty of international locations being able to host regional tournaments and the inability to secure traveling visas, according to the Williamsport Sun-Gazette.

It is only the second time since 1975 that no international teams will compete in the Little League World Series. Little League banned all non-U.S. teams in 1975 because of allegations of Taiwan using out-of-district players. The ban was lifted in 1976.