By KEVIN JAKAHI
By KEVIN JAKAHI
Hawaii Tribune-Herald
The Hilo Mustang 9s All-Stars are sitting in good shape, and the Hilo Bronco All-Stars are making a championship run through the losers’ bracket.
Both teams won their semifinal games at the state PONY baseball tournament Monday on Kauai, where the air of confidence is pushing both Hilo ballclubs in the right direction.
The Hilo Mustang 9s defeated West Oahu (Kapolei, Ewa Beach) 11-6 while Hilo Bronco beat Oahu’s Windward B (Kaneohe) 11-4.
The two Hilo teams could bring home championships, which conclude Tuesday, and earn the reward of extending their summers with West Regional berths.
Hilo Gold will play Mililani at 9 a.m. for the Mustang 9s (ages 9-10) championship.
Mililani needs to win twice to take the title. Should Mililani win the first game, a second game will follow at noon.
The game will be streamed live on Hilo Gold coach Shon Malani’s website at www.huiaumakuasports.com.
In the Bronco (ages 11-12) division, Hilo will play host Kauai at 9 a.m.
Hilo needs to win twice to bring home the championship. Should Hilo win the first game, a second game will follow at noon.
Mustang 9s
Hilo 11, West Oahu 6: Before coach Malani could blink his team was trailing 6-0 after the top of the first inning.
Not to fear, though. Malani’s ballclubs have built a reputation for rallying from deficits.
Braden Gomes blasted a grand slam in the bottom of the first to highlight a nine-run rally.
Gomes finished with two hits and four RBIs while JJ Mandaquit, Tait Labra, and Linken Kuikahi-Batalona each paired hits.
Quinn Waiki had three hits and pitched the final three innings for the save.
Gomes started but didn’t record an out. Ivor Brooks followed with three innings of scoreless relief.
“We started slow. Right off the bat, we were down 6-0 in the first inning,” Malani said. “But that was the only runs we gave up.
“The kids have played a lot of big games at a young age, so they don’t get rattled. Our pitchers were tough in relief, and they came in and did their job. Ivor was awesome. He gave us three solid innings of no runs. Our closer Quinn mowed everybody down from there.”
Malani is not taking Mililani for granted. He played basketball back in the day so he knows a team can fall, even if holding a 3-1 edge, like the Golden State Warriors.
“We’re taking it one game at a time,” he said. “We like our chances. We got our pitchers lined up. We’ll start our lefty Clemson Julian. Hopefully, we can get a bridge to Quinn and let her do her thing.”
The Mustang 9s champion will advance to the West Regional set for July 22-25 in Walnut, Calif.
Bronco
Hilo 11, Windward B 4: Tied 4-4, Hilo exploded for seven runs in the fifth inning and capitalized on its Oahu foe’s errors.
Makakoa Auwae pitched three innings, Wailele Kane-Yates went 2 1/3 innings for the win in relief, and Christian Ribordy fired the final 1 2/3 innings.
Dallas Kaili and Dayson Valentin led Hilo’s 10-hit attack with two hits apiece.
“We made the outs when we needed to,” Hilo coach Ronald Auwae said. “We got away with the win. They made a lot of errors. In the later innings, our defense held and we made outs.”
In the earlier game, Kauai drilled Windward B 11-0 in a TKO win. The Garden Isle host team is in the driver’s seat with a clean record.
“Those guys are sitting pretty,” Auwae said. “But I like where we’re sitting. Of course, I’d like to be undefeated. But we’ve got good momentum. Our kids are coming around and playing good ball at the right time.”