THOUSAND OAKS : Little League Stars Defeat Hawaii Team
The Thousand Oaks Little League all-star team took a big step Sunday toward reaching the World Series by defeating the team from Pearl City, Hawaii.
The team of 13-year-olds plays again Tuesday and is two wins away from a World Series berth, team manager Ed Kitchen said Sunday.
“This is the furthest we’ve ever gone,” he said after his team beat the Hawaiians, 4-1, in a seven-inning playoff in San Jose.
Starting pitcher Kevin Howard of Thousand Oaks worked five innings, striking out eight batters and walking three. He allowed one earned run and went 2-for-3 at the plate, driving in one run.
Wes Munyon, also of Thousand Oaks, started off the game with a solo home run in the first inning.
The team from Thousand Oaks never looked back, scattering five hits over seven innings.
Center fielder Fran Adams hit a double and scored a run on Howard’s base hit, while first baseman Jon Shepard went 1-for-1 with a walk and a sacrifice, Kitchen said.
“It’s the best team I’ve ever been around as far as heart,” he said. “They just don’t want to lose.”
Kitchen said the Thousand Oaks all-stars will play a team from either Las Vegas or Stockton on Tuesday. If they win, they go to the regional final Thursday.
If they win Thursday, they will travel to Taylor, Mich., for the Little League World Series.
“We’ve got as good a chance as anybody,” Kitchen said. “This is the same group that beat the (eventual) World Series champions last year, so they’ve got a hungry edge. They want to go all the way.”
