Hawaii Floored for Count of 10 : Baseball: Cunningham’s homer breaks tie, sparks explosion that sends Northridge to World Series, 17-7.

In many respects, it was merely another sloppy Little League game like ones played every day all over the country--full of errors, walks and wild pitches.

But this game was played before 8,800 fans, plus cameras from almost every TV station in Los Angeles.

And this game sent the Northridge 11- and 12-year-old all-star team to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa., culminating a two-month-long quest that has included 17 consecutive victories and four tournament championships.

After five innings of mistake-filled play, Northridge bore down in the sixth and final inning, exploding for 10 runs to snap a tie and defeat Waianae, Hawaii, 17-7, Friday night in the Western Regional final.

Northridge will open World Series play against Brooklyn, Minn., champion of the Central Region, Monday at 4 p.m. PDT.

Catcher Matt Cunningham homered to lead off the sixth. He hit a grand slam later in the inning, during which Northridge sent 14 batters to the plate.

Nathaniel Dunlap and Matt Fisher also homered for Northridge, which pounded 18 hits--at least one by every starter.

“We knew against this team we would have to hit the ball hard,” said Fisher, who had three hits. “We had to score a lot, then score a lot more.”

When the scoring was done, it was time to celebrate. Northridge players dashed around the field, holding up T-shirts that proclaimed them champions as the crowd stood and cheered.

“This was our goal, to make it to San Bernardino,” Cunningham said. “Then to win it here is incredible.”

Northridge (17-0, 5-0 in regional play) opened the scoring in the first on a three-run home run by Fisher. Northridge starter Justin Gentile was wild, however, and Hawaii answered with four runs in the bottom of the inning on two hits and four walks.

Peter Tuber replaced Gentile with two out and the bases loaded, and after a passed ball sent home Hawaii’s fourth run, Tuber struck out Matthew Flanagan to end the inning.

Gentile was wiping away tears after taking Tuber’s position in left field, but he bounced back to double, single and drive in a run.

“My job was to pitch, then my job changed and I told myself I had to hit,” Gentile said.

Hawaii scored two more in the second on three consecutive bloop hits and two Northridge throwing errors to take a 6-3 lead with none out. Tuber settled down by striking out the side and he went on to retire 10 in a row.

Tuber (5-0), grandson of former Dodger and National League batting champion Pete Reiser, struck out 11 and recorded his third victory in the regional. He also had two singles and drove in two runs.

“I really wanted to pitch this game, and I was standing in left field when Justin was struggling, thinking that I would get in,” said Tuber, a 5-foot-9 right-hander. “I felt ready.”

Northridge scored four runs to take a 7-6 lead in the third when a double off the right-field fence by David Teraoka followed an error, a double by Fisher and a single by Tuber. Teraoka, who was only in the lineup because regular first baseman Matt Cassel severely cut his hand Thursday in the team barracks, scored on an error by Hawaii first baseman Jubie Wong.

“Before the game David was real nervous and crying in the dugout, but he did a great job,” Northridge Manager Larry Baca said. “I can’t say enough about him.”

Another player coming through in a starting role was second baseman Michael Frost, who doubled and singled. Frost is in the lineup because regular catcher Jonathan Higashi was declared ineligible for living outside the Northridge league boundaries.

Cunningham moved to catcher, where he has done an outstanding job, and Frost has started, getting eight hits in five regional games.

Tuber was sailing along until Fred Taitin hit a solo homer to right field with one out in the fifth to tie the score.

Suddenly, Northridge needed more offense. No problem.

Hawaii’s Christen Asinsin threw 126 pitches before he was lifted with the score 12-7. Cunningham greeted reliever Keoki Telles with a grand slam, but he’ll remember his first homer the most.

“I knew we were going to Williamsport when that ball sailed over the fence,” Cunningham said.