Hawaii topped Georgia, 2-0, in Friday night's Little League World Series action, and it did so with a flair for the dramatic.
Aukai Kea, Hawaii's starting pitcher, was already in the spotlight throughout the contest for his work on the mound. The ace snagged a ground ball with his bare hand to prevent a hit in the fifth inning, and his stuff kept Georgia off the board into extras.
Just another day for Aukai Kea. #LLWS pic.twitter.com/rLJ4vhwpfO
— Little League (@LittleLeague) August 18, 2018
When he returned to the plate in the 11th inning, though, he added to his triumphant night with the final at-bat of one of the longest games in Little League World Series history. With a runner on first and one out, Georgia was eyeing a double play to send the game to the 12th, but Kea lined the first pitch of his plate appearance right to left field -- and over the wall.
What a way to end it. #LLWS pic.twitter.com/uNvJHSzcEM
— Little League (@LittleLeague) August 18, 2018
Kea didn't just end the game and seal Hawaii's walk-off victory, though. He also unleashed a two-handed bat flip and a follow-up hand gesture that, as MLB noted, looked awfully similar to the celebration by Washington Nationals' Bryce Harper at the 2018 Home Run Derby.