Mid-Atlantic champions from New York routed by the West’s Honolulu, Hawaii

Hawaii overpowers New York, 10-0, with seven runs at the outset, holds it to only one hit, and just rolls along with its hit parade, strong pitching, and on the bases

By Arnie Leshin 

You can’t always get what you except.

It was expected that New York’s Mid-Atlantic Region champions and the West Region winner from Honolulu, Hawaii, would be a tight test of the two teams at 2-0 in the USA game played at Lamade Stadium Wednesday.

But it became no contest. West had just too much strength on the mound, made the plays in the field, and put together a hit parade against four Mid-Atlantic hurlers.

This final score of 10-0 advanced Hawaii (3-0) to Saturday’s USA championship game. It will face 2-1 Staten Island, New York or Southeast Region’s Georgia Peachtree. They have not met yet, but the survivor meets the West in the championship game Saturday.

With standout pitcher Gabriel Bruno ineligible because of the pitch-count limit, he couldn’t hurl in this game or in the one against Southeast.

But if it can get past SE, it would have Bruno available. The problem is the Georgia boys are a tough go. They turned back Great Lakes’ Michigan, 4-3, and came from behind to nip Southwest, 7-6, in nine innings. Now 3-1, they also blanked Northwest, 3-0, and the lone setback was 2-0 in a tense test against the West in a pitching duel.

But they have plenty of qualified pitchers, and will make a choice before the game. They also have a well-balanced lineup, can field, and can take the extra base.

The situation for Mid-Atlantic will again be on the mound. Against Hawaii, it started right-hander Dereck Martinez and he didn’t last long in allowing seven runs and four hits while striking out two in the first frame. Next came righty Chris Bedford, right-hander Steven Martinez, and Chris Cancel.

But no one had the answers. Hawaii never slowed down, adding two runs in the third and another on a solo home run in the fifth from Sean Yamakusi. Mid-Atlantic could manage only one hit, that being a single in the fifth from Derek Martinez.

But at least, the New Yorkers are still playing and get another chance, Before this, they depended on the crafty pitching of the 6-foot-1 Bruno, some key hits, and some alert base running. But with Bruno playing second base again, it must decide on who takes the mound.