Central East Maui advances to LLWS

Central East Maui Little League advanced to the Little League World Series with a 2-1 win over Eastvale Little League of Southern California on Friday.

In the winner-take-all championship game, pitcher Evan Tavares was masterful, allowing one run with 13 strikeouts in 5.1 innings, reaching the 85-pitch limit before he could complete the game but getting credited for the win. Kanon Nakama closed out the game for CEM, recording a two-out save.

Hayden Takahashi’s RBI single in the top of the fifth broke a 1-1 tie, scoring Tavares and giving Central East Maui the lead for good.

CEM will open Little League World Series against Salem Little League of New Hampshire on Aug. 14 at 9 a.m. HST on ESPN.

The 2024 Little League World Series is ...