Honolulu defeats New York with power and pitching in Little League World Series

Honolulu’s Jaron Lancaster delivers during the first inning of the team’s baseball game against Massapequa, N.Y., at the Little League World Series in South Williamsport, Pa., Friday, Aug. 19, 2022. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
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Honolulu used power and pitching to no-hit and run-rule Massapequa of New York 12-0 in five innings in the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa., on Friday.

Kekoa Payanal led off the top of the first inning with a homer and added another in the fourth. Jaron Lancaster, the starting pitcher, also homered, as did Esaiah Wong, who hit a three-run blast in the fifth.

Payanal, Lancaster, Wong and Kama Angell each had two hits for Honolulu, which advanced to a game Monday against Pearland, Texas, at 1 p.m.

Lancaster pitched three dominant innings, striking out seven. He threw 49 pitches, which allow him to be eligible to pitch Monday. Cohen Sakamoto, who started Wednesday’s 11-1 win over Bonney Lake, Wash., relieved and completed the no-hitter by pitching the final two innings, striking out four.

The no-hitter was the first by a Hawaii team in the Little League World Series.

Honolulu scored single runs in the first, second and third, then added three in the four and six in the fifth.