Kaua‘i's Kawaihau Little League was eliminated from Little League World Series contention with an 11-3 loss to Southern California's Sweetwater Valley Little League on Friday afternoon in the West Region championship game.
Kawaihau began regional play with a 7-3 victory over Arizona's Chandler National Little League on Sunday, advancing to the winner's bracket. Kawaihau fell 6-0 to Sweetwater on Tuesday and needed another victory over Arizona to advance to Friday's winner-take-all championship game.
Kawaihau prevailed 5-2 over Arizona on Wednesday to advance to Friday's championship game.
On Friday, Kawaihau fell behind 5-0 heading into the fifth inning before a 3-run home run by Waika Doctolero cut the deficit to 5-3. But Southern California pulled away with six runs in the bottom of the fame, taking a comfortable lead into the final frame.
Sweetwater Valley Little League went a perfect 3-0 in West Regional play and advances to the 2026 Little League World Series, which runs from Aug. 19-30 in Williamsport, Pa.
Kawaihau's magical summer came to an end on Friday, where heading into the contest, it had won six straight elimination games at the state tournament and regionals. The boys from Kapa‘a were the first team from Kauai to win the state title since Kawaihau did so for the first time in 1990.
In 2026, Kawaihau's presence in the West Region championship game marked the furthest a team from Kaua‘i had gone in a Little League tournament, as the 1990 Kawaihau team was eliminated in the 1990 West Region semifinals.
Christian Shimabuku can be reached at christian@alohastatedaily.com.
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