From Honolulu, with love...
Honolulu Little League has set the 2022 Little League World Series alight, thrashing teams left and right en route to a berth in the U.S. championship. They are just two games away from claiming Hawaii's fourth Little League World Series title since 2005.
Hawaii's dominance in this year's tournament feels unprecedented. The Honolulu-based squad has blitzed opponents early and often, showcasing both an explosive offense and lights-out pitching.
Here are four numbers outlining Hawaii's impressive run in the 2022 Little League World Series.
MORE: Latest Little League World Series scores, bracket updates, TV info
0
That's the number of hits Honolulu Little League surrendered in its second round game against New York last week.
The historic no-hitter performance was spotlighted by a three-inning, seven strikeout display by ace Jaron Lancaster. Cohen Sakamoto proceeded to step in the limelight in relief for Lancaster. Sakamoto pitched a gem as well, fanning four batters in two innings before the game was called by way of mercy ruling.
Hawaii throws a combined no-hitter in the @LittleLeague World Series 👏 #LLWS pic.twitter.com/BkZMGH0vXO
— ESPN (@espn) August 20, 2022
With last week's showcase of pitching excellence, the island nation notched its first-ever no hitter in the Little League World Series. Lancaster and Sakamoto have continued to impress on both sides of the field, helping lead to another impressive statistic...
42-1
Hawaii has outscored opponents 42-1 during its time in Williamsport. That's absurd.
On the defensive side of things, Hawaii is practically unhittable. The pitching triumvirate of Lancaster, Sakamoto and Luke Hiramoto has locked opponents down, fanning batters with ease while also coaxing weak contact on the few occasions they can actually get their bat on the ball.
MORE: LLWS teams, ages, pitch count and more for 2022 tournament
And the lineup? Well, it's an explosive bunch. Hawaii has racked up double-digit runs in all but one game this Little League World Series.
When you combine a Murderer's Row-type lineup with a pitching staff doing their best Maddux/Glavine/Smoltz impression, that leads to one thing: mercy rulings...
2
Two of Hawaii's three Little League World Series games have ended early due to the mercy rule.
There was the 11-1 demolition of Washington in the opening game of the Little League World Series, a game in which Sakamoto showed off his impressive two-way ability. Hawaii's (other) ace whiffed six in three innings. He also drove in the game's first two runs at the plate.
Then there was Lancaster and Sakamoto's no-no. While the pitchers got all the shine, Hawaii was potent at the plate, too; the Honolulu-based ballers combined for a whopping four home runs in just five innings of work, two of which came by Kekoa Payanal.
2️⃣ HOMERS IN THE GAME FOR KEKOA PAYANAL 😤 #LLWS | @LittleLeague pic.twitter.com/2dagHcyrRk
— ESPN (@espn) August 20, 2022
“I have this routine,” Payanal said. “Basically you take a deep breath and stare at your bat to focus. That’s what works for me.”
4
Another word on Hawaii's pitching dominance: The island nation's pitch staff has given up just four (!) hits in the entirety of the Little League World Series.
Four measly hits. It can't be overstated how special this Hawaii pitching staff is. In a tournament filled with offensive fireworks — the tournament has already seen eight team's post double-digit run totals — Hawaii is shutting teams down at a rate that wouldn't look out of place in the dead-ball era.
Walter Johnson and Cy Young would be so proud!
5
One thing about Hawaii's dominance in the 2022 Little League World Series: It's been more or less evenly-distributed throughout the roster.
Names like Lancaster, Sakamoto and Payanal get all the shine. But it's a workman-like approach to baseball, one that ensures a host of players get involved in the action. No statistic shows that more than this one: Five Hawaii players have recorded a hit in every game this Little League World Series.
It's a mindset that comes from the top; Hawaii has relied on a "We > Me" motto that has served them well so far, says interim manager Keith Oda.
“What we pound in the heads of these kids is that it’s not about you, it’s about the team,″ Oda said. “Whatever it takes for the team to do well. Even if you aren’t starting, be the best cheerleader to your fullest for the team.”
That translates to the dugout, too. Oda wasn't initially supposed to be in charge of the team. That responsibility is typically undertaken by his brother, Gerald. But Gerald caught COVID-19. Keith Oda stepped up in his absence. And now, Hawaii is on the doorstep of another Little League World Series title.
“We tell them to attack every pitch and they work hard at it,” Oda said. “Their hard work shows up in the games.”
