For those who watched the Hilo Gold Mustang 9s ballclub’s game on huiaumakuasports.com on Monday, one thing was obvious: that Southern Cal foe was a beast.
For those who watched the Hilo Gold Mustang 9s ballclub’s game on huiaumakuasports.com on Monday, one thing was obvious: that Southern Cal foe was a beast.
At the PONY West Zone championship, No. 1 seed Emerald defeated Hilo 13-7 at Walnut, Calif., to earn a berth to the International World Series.
Hilo lost its first game to Southern Cal’s Simi Valley 9-8 on Friday and had to fight its way through the loser’s bracket.
At least, Hilo scored a bit of revenge, knocking off Simi Valley 12-6 in the semifinals earlier in the day.
On Sunday, Hilo had a pair of magical fourth innings, exploding for five and six runs in a pair of victories to extend its stay in Walnut.
Against Emerald ace Zeph Carter, who went five frames for the win, Hilo tagged him for four runs in that magical fourth inning.
That tied it 5-5, but it wasn’t enough. When it was Emerald’s turn to hit, the No. 1 seed kept swinging big bats.
“What a run. We just fell a little short against a really, really good team,” Hilo coach Shon Malani said. “They could hit and their pitcher was big and athletic. He must be 5 feet 6 and 200 pounds, and he throws hard.
“When we scored four runs in that magical fourth, I thought we had him rattled. Their coach said he’s never been hit like that before. But their hitters would keep fouling off good pitchers and then put the ball in play.”
Hilo started left-hander Clemson Julian then went to Braden Gomes in the second. Malani went to closer Quinn Waiki early, bringing her in the third.
“We brought in Quinn to hold it down,” Malani said. “We had momentum after we tied it. I felt good where we were. But that team could really hit.
“I’ve checked back to the last 10 years, and the West Zone has won eight of the last 10 World Series. If you get out of the West Zone, you have a pretty good chance at the World Series.”
Next summer, Hilo could grow into a beast.
“Everybody is back, and 10 of the 12 kids are from my Hui Aumakua club,” Malani said. “We’ll make another run. The greatest part is the parents are all in. It takes a lot of hard work, money, and commitment, but they see the big picture and they look forward to it.”
In the 12-6 win over Simi Valley in the semifinals, Ivor Brooks went four innings and Gomes the last two.
Julian had two hits and two RBIs to lead the offense.
Last summer, most of the Hilo Gold players were on the Pinto (ages 7-8) that reached the PONY World Series.
That Pinto team lost Southern California 10-0, getting no-hit by a pair of flame-throwers. Still, that was an unprecedented run for a Hilo Pinto team.
Two years from now, Malani’s team will be in the 11-12 age division. His ballclub could make another glorious summer run at history — the Little League World Series, which is televised every year on ABC.
“No team from Hilo has ever been there,” said Malani, also mindful that Oahu’s Waipio won it all in 2008. “Last year, not too many teams from Hawaii make it that far to the PONY World Series.
“Six of the eight teams that won the World Series were from out of the West Zone. All the tough teams are from there, California, Arizona. That’s where all the baseball powers are.”
Next year, Malani’s Hilo Gold Mustang 9s could make some noise again on the PONY level.
Then in 2018, maybe they go for the most prestigious prize of all — a Little League World Series championship in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
Hilo Gold team members are Khaelan Nakapaahu, Jaiden-Lee Gabriel, Jaziah Oili, Linken Kuikahi-Batalona, Braden Gomes, Ivor Brooks, Landyr Ishii, Clemson Julian, Quinn Waiki, JJ Mandaquit, Brayden Malani, Tait Labra, business manager Randal Ishii, coach Jason Mandaquit, and manager Shon Malani.