By BILL O’REAR By BILL O’REAR ADVERTISING Tribune-Herald sports editor The Hilo All-Stars provided their fans with an early fireworks show on Sunday, exploding for a combined 30 hits and 30 runs in a pair of impressive TKO victories at
By BILL O’REAR
Tribune-Herald sports editor
The Hilo All-Stars provided their fans with an early fireworks show on Sunday, exploding for a combined 30 hits and 30 runs in a pair of impressive TKO victories at the Hawaii Region Mustang (ages 9-10) Baseball Tournament on Sunday.
The Hawaii Region Mustang and Bronco tournaments, under PONY League Baseball, are being held currently at Central Oahu Regional Park on Oahu.
The Hilo Mustang All-Stars, under manager Chris Honda, crushed Lihue 16-6 in a five-inning TKO win Sunday morning, then came back to eliminate Kapolei 14-4 in a five-inning contest to remain alive in the eight-team, double-elimination tournament. Kapolei rallied to beat Hilo 8-6 in Friday’s opening round, dropping the Big Islanders into the losers bracket.
“The win over Kapolei today was nice redemption,” Hilo business manager Lenny Paik said. “Our boys are starting to gel and really playing well as a team. The boys are really hitting the ball hard now, even their outs are hit hard right at somebody.”
Hilo (3-1) will play Mililani (2-1) at 10 a.m. today and if Honda’s gutsy team motors past the Oahu squad, it will battle unbeaten Maui (3-0) at 1 p.m. today. Hilo needs to win twice today to force a sudden-death contest against Maui at 10 a.m. Tuesday.
“We’re just going to give it our best shot,” Paik said. “Our boys are playing well — hitting, pitching and defense.”
In the win over Lihue, Bula Ahuna and Cody Min each went 3 for 4 while Devon Hirata, Rydge Ishii and Khaden Victorino each added two hits. Hirata had three runs batted in and Ahuna two as Hilo pounded two Lihue pitchers for 15 hits.
Victorino started and went five inning to earn the win. He got relief help from Brycen Nakata. Lihue reliever Kaimi Malina took the loss.
Against Kapolei, Maui Ahuna went 4 for 4, scored four runs and had two RBIs to spark the Hilo attack. Hirata (2 RBIs) and Ishii (1 RBI) each had three hits and Noah Ohara two hits. Bronz Mure led Kapolei (2-2) with two hits.
Bula Ahuna started for Hilo and hurled three innings. Relievers Nakata (1 inning) and Blake Baclig (1 inning) pitched the final two innings, holding off their dangerous opponent.
“Blake pitched well, holding Kapolei to only one run,” Paik said.
Ahuna got the win. Kapolei starter Keanu Kalaola went three innings and took the loss.
Members of the Hilo Mustang All-Stars include Devin Midel, Kypp Miyashiro, Teagan Tamiya, Devon Hirata, Noah Ohara, Cody Min, Brycen Nakata, Walter “Maui” Ahuna III, Joshua Ho, Braeden Coloma, Dan “Bula” Ahuna Jr., Blake Baclig, Rydge Ishii, Ty Honda, Khaden Victorino, manager Chris Honda, coach Walter “Bully” Ahuna and business Manager Leonard Paik.
Note: It was incorrectly reported in a previous Mustangs story that the Oahu tournament was part of Little League.
Hawaii Region
Mustangs Tournament
CORP on Oahu
Hilo 231 28 — 16 15 3
Lihue 111 03 — 6 5 6
Hilo 423 32 — 14 15 1
Kapolei 001 21 — 4 6 2