For the Hawaiian squad it would be Jameson Hussey on the hump against New Jersey's Tommy Finnegan and Hussey would come out firing, striking out two in the top of the first inning, but Finnegan would get help from his defense to come away unscathed in the first as well.
Then the floodgates opened as Ben Hoag walked, Nick Bozzi singled into right, Michael Ordille was hit by a pitch as was Mark Elliot. After a hit by Trevor Cohen, Atlantic Shore was up 3-0.
But 'Kamaehu' (Hawaiian for strength) was with our Polynesian brothers as Peyton Hilo doubled and Landon Furukawa reached on a fielder's choice scoring Hilo. Furukawa would eventually come in to score and we had ourselves a ballgame.
Hawaii would get out of the third and fourth then they tied it up when Chase Hedani singled as did Isaiah Mishima then Makai Myamoto drove in the run which would make it 3-3 after four.
But New Jersey came roaring back in the fifth with a hit by Finnegan followed by another by Ryan Spina driving in one, then Spina would score on a fielder's choice to put Middle Atlantic up 5-3.
Honolulu would answer right back with two runs of their own in this game that truly deserved to be the championship game of this historic World Series in our most historic ball park that saw many baseball wars with grand implications.
Hussey singled into left, then my boy and fellow catcher Kamaehu Sanchez took one for the team on a hit by pitch followed by another hit by Hino and yet another by Jacob Villacorte and we were tied again!
New Jersey would score again in the sixth on a hit by Mark Elliot who stole second and came in to score on a fielder's choice and Hawaii would respond with a run of their own in the bottom of the sixth when Mishima reached on an error on the shortstop and eventually came in after three consecutive fielding errors to tie up the game once again.
Miscues were the key to this game as Matt Nunan reached on an error in the top of the seventh inning, went to second on an error by the third baseman and also came in to score what would be the game-winning run of the World Series on a fielder's choice.
The drama continued in the bottom of the seventh when New Jersey got two outs quickly when Sanchez flied out to right and Hino went down swinging, but there was still fight left in the Warriors from Hawaii as Villacorte and Ryan Murao both singled putting men on first and second but Chase Hedani's fly to center field sealed the deal for the newly crowned monarchs of Babe Ruth Baseball, the squad from Atlantic Shore, New Jersey!
There is much to be said for the organizers of this event, but let's give credit where credit is due to Javier Elguezabal and the grounds crew of The City of Eagle Pass for giving these young men the best playing surface possible throughout this tournament and congratulations are in order for both these teams for reaching the pinnacle and the decisive game of this championship having given us the thrill of seeing them compete for this crown. 'Que viva el beisbol en Eagle Pass!'