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Citrus Park Takes On Hawaiian Team

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By JOEY JOHNSTON

The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 17, 2008

For the Citrus Park All-Stars, Saturday was an off day at the Little League World Series in South Williamsport, Pa.

Time to jump in the swimming pool. Time to take in a movie, go to an amusement park or visit with family and friends.

That changes tonight.

It's time for a pool-play showdown.

Manager Joe McGuire's Citrus Park team, which opened the tournament with a 10-0 no-hit victory, faces Waipio Little League of Waipahu, Hawaii, which also won its first game. First pitch is scheduled for 8 p.m. on ESPN2.

"They looked really good," Hawaii manager Timo Donahue said of Citrus Park. "Every team here is a champion. There shouldn't be any easy games. It should be another tough battle for us."

Hawaii defeated Shelton, Conn., 3-1 on Friday night behind the nine strikeouts of Caleb Duhay, who threw 89 pitches and is not eligible to throw tonight. Hawaii suffered what looked to be a critical injury when catcher and cleanup batter Iolana Akau was hit by a pitch on his left elbow. The initial diagnosis was a hairline fracture.

Donahue said he's "holding out hope" that Akau can play.

As for Citrus Park, it's business as usual.

"We just have to keep winning games," Citrus Park shortstop Kevin Merrell said.

The top two teams in pool play advance to the U.S. semifinals, either Wednesday or Thursday night. Citrus Park can build a cushion, but it won't clinch a semifinal spot if it beats Hawaii.

If there is a two-way tie after pool play, the first tiebreaker is head-to-head results.

If there's a three-way tie, the initial team will advance with the best runs-allowed ratio (total runs allowed divided by innings played). After that, head-to-head results will determine the second team.

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