Eastvale Little League's World Series hopes crushed with 2-1 loss to Hawaii

A Riverside County Little League all-star team with their sights set on the Little League World Series fell just short on Friday evening, losing to Hawaii 2-1. 

The game, which featured the Eastvale Little League All-Stars vs. the Central East Maui Little League All-Stars from Wailuku, Hawaii, determined which team earned the final spot in Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. 

Eastvale won its first two games in the West Region Tournament, including an 11-3 victory over Hawaii on Tuesday afternoon in a game which saw 102-degree heat. 

They finished 15-2 in four tournaments this summer after qualifying for the West Region Tournament by winning the 10-team Southern California State Tournament. They won their final seven games in the double-elimination tournament after losing their opening game. 

Despite tonight's outcome, the Eastvale Little Leaguers already etched their names in Southern California history by being the first team in Riverside County ever to make the regional Little League Baseball tournament.   

The championship game of the Little League Baseball West Region tournament was held at Al Houghton Stadium in San Bernardino and televised on ESPN.

Last year, the El Segundo All-Star team took home the 2023 Little League World Series title with a 6-5 victory over Curacao that was highlighted by an electric walk-off home run to win it all.