MLB
Hawai’i Has Won The 2018 LLWS Championship, Blanking South Korea 3-0
After a tournament where they were unbeatable, Hawai’i has won the 2018 LLWS Championship – which is fantastic for them, but sad for us viewers, as that means we don’t get to watch any more games. Hawai’i took the lead on a leadoff Mana Lau Kong solo home run and never looking back.
The squad from South Korea had only allowed two runs in their last three games, and a mere four in the tournament overall. Kong, the superstar of the Hawaiian offense this tournament, jumped all over the first pitch he saw, giving his team the momentum they would never give back.
Hawai’i would then squander a bases loaded, nobody out situation without scoring, but did add two in the third on a wild pitch (yes, two runs scored on a wild pitch – welcome to the beauty of the LLWS). Ka’olu Holt, the ever-smiling starting pitcher for Hawai’i, only needed one run of support, as he threw his first ever complete game – and what a time for it, pitching a shutout against an explosive offense in the biggest stage of his young career.
The Gameplan
Manager Gerald Oda of Hawai’i confidently promised his team before the game that South Korea “is going to score runs,” and that they should ride the wave and limit their scoring as best they could. It seemed a safe assumption, as there hadn’t been a shutout in the LLWS championship in over 15 years, and South Korea had averaged a tick over five runs per game coming in – making Holt’s performance all the more amazing.
While it was difficult to watch the boys from South Korea cry after the final out was recorded, I came away impressed with how hard they had played and their undeniable talent. But Hawai’i had been the most impressive team from start to finish, ending the summer with a 13-0 record, including a perfect 5-0 in the LLWS where they shutout four of five of their opponents, the only blip an 8-3 win over an impressive Michigan squad.
The title couldn’t come to a better squad – led by an always-encouraging coach who regularly preached humility, kindness and having fun as the priorities of the game. This team was a joy to watch. Congrats to you, Hawai’i. You deserve this.
