ASSOCIATED PRESS Waipio pitcher Kurt Tanabe keeps his eye on the batter as he delivers a pitch during the fourth inning today against Worcester, Mass. He struck out 12 batters and also hit a solo home run.

Waipio wins
in 3-2 thriller

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By Jerry Campany
jcampany@starbulletin.com

Travis Jones' arm helped get Waipio into the Little League World Series, his bat made it a winner.

Jones fouled off two pitches before hitting a walk-off home run over the gap in left-center field to give Waipio a 3-2 win over Worcester, Mass., in the first game of the World Series at WIlliamsport, Pa., today.

Jones' shot was set up by pitcher Kurt Tanabe's effort.

Tanabe struck out 12 batters and gave up only two runs while throwing 111 pitches, 58 of them for strikes. He gave Waipio its first lead in the game with a solo home run off pitcher Frank Flynn to lead off the fourth. Waipio followed Tanabe's blast for another run when Cory Yuh singled home Isaac Moises.

Waipio will get its next chance Sunday at 9 a.m., Hawaii time, against Westside Little League of Fort Worth, Texas, on ESPN. Hawaii finishes the round-robin round Monday at 2 p.m. against Webb City Little League of Webb City, Mo., also on ESPN. Tanabe is not eligible to pitch until that game. Waipio has to win its group to advance to the U.S. Semifinal on Wednesday.