Jacob Gomes has a number of landmark birthdays ahead of him. But he could have a tough time coming up with a more memorable one than the day he turned 11.
How better to celebrate than with a two-out, walk-off double after a spotless relief appearance? Gomes delivered both Saturday on his birthday as the Hilo All-Stars rallied to beat Aiea, Oahu, 4-3 to remain in title contention at the state Little League tournament for ages 9-10 at Central Oahu Regional Park.
“I told Jacob before the at-bat, ‘What a better time to do it?’ ” coach Baba Lancaster said.
Hilo will face Pearl City in a rematch on Sunday morning, with the winner advancing to Monday’s title game against undefeated Kihei. The Maui squad beat Pearl City 8-5 on Saturday has would have to be beaten twice to be denied the championship.
Hilo fell behind 3-0 against an Aiea team it pasted 21-2 on Thursday as it struggled to come through with key hits, stranding 11 runners through five innings.
Trailing 3-2 entering its last at-bat, Legend Lancaster led off with a hit up the middle but was erased on a sacrifice bunt attempt by Ezekiel Gragas. Xiage Lancaster’s line drive was caught, and Aiea elected to walk Wailele Kane-Yates – who had tormented Aiea with eight RBIs in the team’s first meeting – to put runners on first and second. Gomes made Aiea pay with a double off the wall, his first game-winning hit in what was Hilo’s 39th game this season.