Like other young pitchers, Mana Kuamoo eschewed picking up a curveball in favor of a palmball, an off-speed pitch that puts less stress on the arm.
Kuamoo isn’t just learning the palmball, he appears to have mastered it, transferring all the stress on to Little League hitters from Hilo to California.
The left-hander struck out an amazing 16 hitters Sunday in a two-hit gem, and Kuamoo went from tough-luck loser to Game 1 West Regional winner when Hilo rallied for two runs in the bottom of the sixth for a 2-1 walk-off win against Chandler, Ariz., 2-1.
“I’ve seen him dominate hitters before,” coach Baba Lancaster said on the telephone from San Bernardino, Calif., “but I think the way he did today was the best I’ve seen.”
Kyson Wada singled in the tying run and Joshua Ward scampered home with the winning run on a wild pitch for the Hilo All-Stars, whose mantra remains “one game at a time.” Still, the goal of reaching the famous World Series in Williamsport, Pa., is one game closer with three more victories standing in the way at the 12-under regional.
Hilo plays Dixie, Utah at 8:30 a.m. HST Monday in a game that will be streamed on ESPN3. Utah hasn’t played yet in the six-team tournament.
Mixing his palmball with two types of fastballs, Kuamoo yielded an unearned run in the first, striking out the side in every inning but the fourth. After the third batter of the game reached on an error, Kuamoo set down the next 16 hitters until allowing a hit in the sixth.
He didn’t walk a batter, and after unleashing 85 pitchers he isn’t available to pitch again until Friday. Should Hilo reach Saturday’s championship game, Kuamoo would be fully rested to pitch.
Hilo cruised through the district and state tournaments, but Joshua Tiedemann was stingy for Arizona, striking out eight.
“This is the first game that we haven’t just sailed in,” Lancaster said. “We trailed since the first inning, but the kids never gave up. The believed they were going to win, and they showed a lot of character.”
Wailele Kane-Yates drew a walk to open the sixth and moved to second on Ward’s single to center. Tiedemann was lifted after surpassing the pitch count, and after an out Wada singled through the left side against Gavin Noreus to tie the game 1-1, moving Ward to third. Kahiapo Silva was intentionally walked to load the bases and set up a force out at home, but Ward scored easily on Kole Klecker’s wild pitch.
Wada was alone in finishing with two hits.
“Other hitters have overshadowed him,” Lancaster said, “but Kyson has been very consistent.”
Monday’s game isn’t must-win, but it’s ultra-important if Lancaster is to stick to his plan. Tyler Halemanu is slated to start on the mound against Utah, with Kane-Yates among the options to work relief.
A win would boost Hilo into Thursday’s semifinal, where Ward would be handed the ball.
“You have to have a plan, and if all goes right Mana could come back and pitch for the title,” Lancaster.
If so, Kuamoo could have the world in the palm of his hand.