Jordan Ottis pitched a three-hitter, and Thad Yasuhara batted 2 for 2 with a homer and three RBIs, as Hilo routed Tucson, Ariz., 11-1, yesterday in the Little League Senior (ages 14-16) West Regional final at Salem, Ore.

Hilo advances to the World Series in Bangor, Maine, Aug. 12 to 18.

Hilo finished 6-0 in regional play and outscored its opponents 64-12.

Ottis walked two and struck out five.

Jeremy Crivello, Kolten Wong, Keaka Pilayo and Blake Amaral each had two hits in yesterday's championship game for Hilo, which scored in all five innings.

Yasuhara's two-run homer in the fifth put Hilo up by 10 runs and the game ended in the bottom half when Tucson couldn't score.

Hilo's first game in the 10-team World Series will be against Saipan, the Asia Pacific representative, at 8:30 a.m. (Hawai'i time).

That will be the first of four pool-play games for the Big Island team.

The Little League Senior World Series semifinals are scheduled for Aug. 17, with the championship game the following day.

BABE RUTH

PUNAHOU ADVANCES TO WORLD SERIES

Michael Suiter had two hits and scored three runs, and tournament MVP Jeremy Fujimoto earned the win in relief as Punahou defeated South Reno (Nev.), 11-9, yesterday in the championship game of the Babe Ruth (ages 13-15) Pacific Southwest Regional at Hanford, Calif.

Jeremy Ioane, Roy Fuchigami, Ryan Yamane and Reece Toma each had two hits for Punahou, which scored two runs in the top of the seventh for the winning margin.

Punahou advances to the World Series, Aug. 17 to 24, in Andalusia, Ala.

LITTLE LEAGUE JUNIORS

PEARL CITY TO PLAY IN SEMIFINAL TODAY

Sumi Pruett had three hits, including two doubles, and three RBIs as Pearl City pounded out 14 hits to defeat Federal Way (Wash.), 7-4, yesterday at the Little League Junior (ages 13-14) Western Regional at Beaverton, Ore.

Kahana Neal added three hits and an RBI, and Chevas Numata contributed two hits and an RBI for Pearl City, which scored two runs in the top of the first and never trailed in advancing to the semifinals.

Pearl City will play Henderson (Nev.) in today's first semifinal at 9 a.m. Hawai'i time.