MAKAWAO, Maui — Waipi'o rode the pitching and hitting of Marcus Yoshii to 4-0 and 7-2 victories over MKH (Makakilo/Kapolei/Honokai Hale) yesterday to win the Hawai'i State Little League Tournament at the Mayor Eddie Tam Field.

Yoshii, a lefthander who will be attending Punahou School next month, pitched a no-hitter — his second of the tournament — and blasted a two-run homer in the first game to force a playoff for the championship in the double-elimination tournament for players ages 11-12.

Yoshii struck out 16 and walked two in the six-inning opener. Tyler Tokunaga hit a two-run homer in the fifth inning to cap the scoring.

Waipi'o manager Timo Donahue called Yoshii "the best pitcher in the state at this age. He's the most polished at understanding what he's trying to do on the mound."

In the second game, Waipi'o rallied for five runs in the top of the sixth to break a 2-2 tie.

Yoshii hit a double in the first inning, and MKH intentionally walked him his next two at-bats. But the bases were loaded with one out when he came to the plate in the final inning, leaving MKH no option with the score still tied at 2. Yoshii hit a shot to right-center field, and combined with a fielding error, the hit scored three runs.

Yoshii said he was frustrated at not getting a chance to swing the bat earlier in the game, making him all the more hungry when his turn came around in the sixth. "I was thinking that we've got to get a hit because we've got to score runs," he said.

Yoshii then scored on a wild pitch to make it 6-2.

Brian Iida doubled up the left-field line, and later scored Waipi'o's final run on a ground ball by Blake McCrea that was bobbled by the first baseman.

MKH tried to rally in the bottom of the sixth after a hit by Travis Namohala, but a strikeout by Tokunaga, who relieved Nicolas Ogasawara in the fifth, and two easily fielded balls ended the game.

Waipi'o advances to the Little League Western Region Tournament, Aug. 4 to 13, in San Bernardino, Calif. West O'ahu, which represented Hawai'i last year, went on to capture the Little League world championship.

Donahue wasn't predicting a repeat, saying "to do what they did, I don't know if it can happen again because so many things had to happen for them to get there."

But Donahue said his team is taking it "each step of the way." He credited "their attitude to believe in what they can do and never give up."

Before yesterday's doubleheader, Waipi'o had to play five games to emerge from the losers' bracket, while MKH was well-rested after only three games. It looked like Waipi'o was tiring in yesterday's second game after a first-inning hit by MKH's Walter Kaczmarski scored Trevor Manoha. Paul-Christopher Naki hit a solo homer in the fourth to put MKH ahead 2-0.

Waipi'o, which finished with nine hits, finally scored when McCrea's bases-loaded shot to center brought in two runs.

MKH was unable to capitalize in the bottom of the fifth after a hit by Manoha and a walk, stranding two runners and opening the way for Waipi'o's sixth-inning rally.

Other Waipi'o team members are: Troy Vicari, Dustyn Cook, Ryan Reyes, Westin Fabro, Chad Uyehara, Jordan Stevens, Reid Akau, Brody Asuncion and Nainoa Kaai.

WAIPI'O 000 025—7 3 N/A

MKH 100 100—2 5 N/A

Nicholas Ogasawara, Tyler Tokunaga (5) and Weston Fabro. Zachary Muenster, Kamana Kealoha (6), Trevor Manoha (7) and Trevor Manoha, Kamana Kealoha. W—Tokunaga. L—Manoha.

Leading hitters—Waipi'o: Marcus Yoshii 2-2, double, RBI, 2 runs; Blake McCrea 2-3; Dustyn Cook 2-4, 2 runs; Jordan Stevens double; Brian Iida RBI. MKH: Paul-Christopher Naki homer.

Reach Christie Wilson at cwilson@honoluluadvertiser.com.