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Citrus Park Suffers Defeat

AP Photo

Citrus Park first baseman Danny Lastra can't reach an errant throw by shortstop Wyatt Reid on a second-inning grounder by Waipahu, Hawaii's Caleb Duhay during pool play at the Little League World Series Sunday.

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By JOEY JOHNSTON

The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 18, 2008

For the Citrus Park All-Stars, the outlook is simple.

Win or go home.

That scenario was set up by Citrus Park's 10-2 loss to Waihapu, Hawaii, in Sunday night's Little League World Series at Williamsport, Pa.

Citrus Park (1-1) must defeat Shelton, Conn. (1-1), in tonight's final pool-play game (ESPN2, 6 p.m.) to reach the U.S. semifinals. If Citrus Park falls again, it is eliminated from the tournament.

Before the final inning, facing an eight-run deficit, Citrus Park manager Joe McGuire encouraged his team, which came in with an 18-game winning streak.

"Sooner or later, we had to lose," said McGuire, who was wired for sound by ESPN. "It's no big deal. We were going to have a game like this. Let's finish proud."

Citrus Park can erase its sour feelings by winning tonight, earning a spot in the single-elimination U.S. semifinals and climbing within three victories of a world championship.

But the team strengths - pitching and defense - must resurface.

After a summer of excitement - a run through the district, state and Southeast Region tournaments, national television exposure, community support and a trip to Little League's Mecca - Sunday night brought a completely new experience.

Defeat.

Left-handed reliever Trevor Ling, Hawaii's third pitcher, got the victory by keeping Citrus Park in check over three innings, allowing just three base-runners and striking out four.

Hawaii (2-0 and already assured of a spot in the U.S. semifinals) took command with a four-run third inning off Citrus Park starter Kevin Merrell. Pikai Winchester's bases-loaded single scored one run, and another came home when a throw from center fielder Levi Gilcrease sailed to the backstop.

Ling's sacrifice fly provided the lead run, and Caleb Duhay's RBI single added insurance.

Winchester added a two-out, two-run double in the fourth as Hawaii increased its advantage. It got worse in the fifth, when Tanner Tokanuga blasted a two-out grand slam after Hawaii loaded the bases on a pair of hit batters and an error.

Citrus Park chased Hawaii starter Khade Paris after just six batters. Citrus Park scored two runs before getting its initial hits, capitalizing on a pair of walks, a stolen base, then some mishaps behind the plate.

Hawaii catcher Keelen Obedoza, filling in for injured Iolana Aku (hairline fracture) had a passed ball, sending Ryan McCullers home from third. On the next pitch, with Michael McGuire at third, Paris' pitch sailed over Obedoza's head, scoring the second run.

Citrus Park left fielder Darren Miller made the game's best defensive play - on a backhanded, diving catch to save two runs in the first - but it was long forgotten by the time Hawaii's bats found their rhythm.

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