Gold Coast finally met their match in Montana.
After rolling through round robin play undefeated, the Big Island squad ran into a buzzsaw Tuesday, falling to Southern California 8-1 in the championship game at the Senior League Softball (ages 13-16) Western Regional.
Southern California got on the board first in the first inning. In the fifth, the Burbank-based squad rallied for four runs with two outs.
Hawaii responded with a run in the top of the sixth, but Southern Cal put the game away with a three more runs.
Gold Coast’s Eliana DeRego hit a double that scored Tehani Epenesa.
Gold Coast went 7-1 in the tournament and beat host Zootown 11-1 earlier in the day to advance to the championship. Epenesa pitched all six innings and allowing the one earned run.
The top of the lineup produced in the semifinal, with Nanea Kaluau, Kamalani Doctor and Epenesa combining to hit .500 (6 of 12) and collecting four RBIs.
• Maui outlasted Honolulu 8-5 to win the state Little League Majors baseball championship on a long day in Naalehu.
Earlier, Honolulu forced the decisive game by beating Maui 7-0.