August 20—The OBRL Hawaiian Islanders let a lead slip away Saturday against Tallahassee-Leon (Fla.), and they won’t let it happen again.
Cole Andrus gets a popout to second baseman Zayd Ramo with runners on first and second to cap the Islanders’ 7-6 victory over Tallahassee-Leon in the final of the Babe Ruth 13U World Series in Glen Allen, Va. .
The Islanders led 7-3 entering the seventh and final inning but surrendered three runs on a run-scoring double, a catcher’s error and a sacrifice fly before closing it out.
“The last inning was kind of dicey, but we got the last couple outs and came out with a one-run win,” Islanders manager Rob Iopa said.
This is the second year in a row that a team from Hawaii has won the Babe Ruth 13U World Series, with Kado Baseball capturing the title last season.
The Islanders (6-1) led 3-0 after three innings, but Tallahassee-Leon tied it at three in the fifth. The Islanders scored four in the sixth to go up 7-3 before going into the next inning.
“I’m amazed at how boys in their early teens can be strong and strong,” Iopa said.
Islanders Joichiro Anderson and Chace Hamada each drove in two runs, and Eli Iopa, the manager’s son, and Brevan Blackwell each scored twice.
Peyton Shimokawa pitched the first five innings and Andrus worked the final two for the win.
The Islanders scored in the top of the first after Eli Iopa led off with a walk, went to third on an errant pickoff attempt by the pitcher and scored on Anderson’s groundout. Later in the inning, Hamada doubled in Blackwell to make it 2-0.
The Islanders added a run in the third when Hamada singled in Levi Perry.
Tallahassee-Leon (5-2) tied it 3-3 in the fifth on an RBI single, an error by the Islanders pitcher and another run scored during a rundown after a single.
The Islanders have not allowed a run in their last 25 innings.
The Islanders got their four runs in the sixth without the ball leaving the infield. They scored when Anderson pinched Andrus, Iopa came in during a rundown, Perry pinched Kanoa Naumu and Blackwell scored on a passed ball.
“We had a double-squeeze. We put the ball in play and executed our small ball,” Iopa said.
Eli Iopa was named tournament MVP, and Naumu also made the all-tournament team. Perry, who played shortstop and center field, made the all-tournament defensive team.
The Islanders, who outscored their opponents 31-4 in the Pacific Southwest Regional in Taft, Calif., won five World Series games by two runs or less. Their only loss in the tournament was 4-2 in Eagle Pass, Texas.
“Coming into regionals we had some easy games and when we got here every game was competitive,” Iopa said. “We have to scratch and claw. Our pitching is outstanding, our defense is on point and our offense is coming through.”
It’s been quite a summer for Eli Iopa, Perry, Shimokawa and manager Iopa. They were part of the Babe Ruth regional championship team in late July, then joined the Honolulu team that won the Little League Junior (13-14) West Regional in Bend, Ore., earlier this month.
The four decided to continue Babe Ruth with other Islanders joining them in Glen Allen.
Honolulu finished 1-2 in the Junior World Series in Taylor, Mich., which ends today.
“I am proud of the boys and their families. Their journeys have been long and difficult,” Iopa said. “Ultimately, we have hope that we can make a run in the Little League Junior World Series and the Babe Ruth World Series. He has about 30 guys who have played in the World Series in both organizations.”