Gastineau Junior All-Stars fall in regional opener

Juneau loses to Hawaii's Central Maui Little League 28-1 in Junior Baseball West Region

Gastineau Channel Little League Junior All-Star Elias Lockhart, shown hitting against Ketchikan in the state championships, had Juneau's only hit, stole three bases and scored their lone run in Juneau's opening game loss to Hawaii at the West Regional in Bend, Oregon on Friday, July 24, 2026. Juneau plays Oregon's Bend South on Saturday. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Independent)

By Klas Stolpe  

Juneau Independent

Hawaii brought its sun and big guns to the Little League West Regions in Bend, Oregon, and toppled Juneau’s Gastineau Channel Little League 28-1.

Elias Lockhart recorded the only hit for Juneau, a one-out single past Hawaii shortstop Zaiah Pantorilla. Lockhart stole second during a Juneau strikeout. Marquis Lim was hit by a pitch to put Juneau runners on first and second base. Lockhart stole third base and then stole home for the first run of the game.

Hawaii scored nine runs in the bottom of the first inning, seven in the bottom of the second inning and 12 in the bottom of the third. Juneau did not reach base in the second and third innings but started a rally in the top of the fourth, with Max Hayes earning a leadoff walk and Lim earning a walk with two outs. But the final out went down swinging, ending the inning-shortened game by run rule.

Colin Daniels, Wyatt Hickock, Logan Fanning and Bridger Lockhart all had pitching time.

“Wyatt (Hickock) showed a lot of character,” Juneau manager Zach Kohan said. “And we are excited to have CD (Colin Daniels) in our back pocket for Saturday.”

Hawaii’s Kellen Takamura earned the win in 2.1 innings, allowing the one hit and one run and striking out four. Gabriel Laloulu relieved, walking two batters and striking out one.

Hawaii’s Ekolu Bustillos, Paliku Pagan and Kamalei Leynes-Santos led with two hits each. Laloulu, Takamura, Bustillos and Leynes-Santos led with three RBI each. Gauge Pacheco, Jet Pontes and Chase Inokuma led with three runs scored each. Ponetes and Caleb Okano led with two walks apiece.

The tournament is double elimination. Games continue through Thursday.

Juneau plays tournament host Bend South LL on Saturday. Bend lost to Colorado on a 10-2 rain delay.

This was Hawaii’s second game in the tournament. They defeated Northern California 25-7 on Thursday.

Teams in the West Region include Alaska (Gastineau Channel LL),

Arizona (Douglas LL), Colorado (Northern Lights LL), Hawaii (Central Maui LL), Montana (Mile High LL), Nevada (Reno Continental LL), Northern California (Sunnyvale LL), Southern California (La Miranda LL), Utah (Cedar American LL), Washington (Queen Anne LL), the Oregon state champion (La Grande LL) and the Oregon host (Bend South LL).

In opening action Wednesday, Utah (1-0) defeated Oregon’s La Grande (0-1) 15-4 and Colorado (1-0) led Oregon’s Bend South (0-1) 10-2 before a rain delay decided the game.

On Thursday, Hawaii (1-0) defeated Northern California (0-1) 25-7, Nevada (1-0) defeated Arizona (0-1) 7-6, Utah (2-0) defeated Montana (0-1) 9-8 and Southern California (1-0) defeated Colorado (1-1) 19-1.

On Friday, Hawaii (2-0) defeated Alaska (0-1) 28-1, and Nevada (2-0) defeated Washington (0-1) 14-8.

Saturday matchups include Northern California (0-1) vs. Montana (0-1), Arizona (0-1) vs. Colorado (1-1), Oregon La Grande (0-1) vs. Alaska (0-1) and Oregon Bend South (0-1) vs. Washington (0-1).

Sunday includes Utah (2-0) vs. Southern California (1-0), Hawaii (2-0) vs. Nevada (2-0), the winner of Northern California/Montana (loser out) plays the winner of Arizona/Colorado (loser out) and the winner of Alaska/Oregon La Grande (loser out) plays the winner of Washington/Oregon Bend  South (loser out)

• Contact Klas Stolpe at sports@juneauindependent.com