On Monday on Oahu, it was a mix of business and pleasure for the Kona Pinto All-Stars, who visited an aquarium and took batting practice.
Strong defense and mental toughness helped the ages 7-8 baseball team earn a day off, but coach Kimo Kapela says its hitting could put it over the top at the state PONY League coach-pitch tournament.
“As a coaching staff, we’re just waiting for them to hit like they can,” Kapela said.
So far, so good, and his youngsters have margin for error Tuesday heading into a 10:30 a.m. championship game, for them, against Ewa Beach, Oahu, in Mililani. Ewa Beach beat Maui 10-6 on Monday but still has to beat Kona in the morning to force an afternoon winner-take-all. Kona already beat Ewa Beach once, 12-10 on Saturday en route a 3-0 record at the double-elimination tournament.
As Kona strives to wake up its bats, some of the onus falls on assistant coach Greg Alcoran to try and groove hittable pitches in the middle of the strike zone.
“He’s been very composed among all the pressure, too,” Kapela said.
Even at their young age, baseball is starting to become second nature to his players, many of whom have been playing the game for nearly half of the lives.
The majority of the team comes from Kapela’s Kealakekua-based Lanakila Baseball Club.
“We started this journey three years ago with this team, and all their hard work is showing,” Kapela said. “They believe in themselves.”
As Kona rested Monday, Hilo Black battled its way to the consolation championship game, beating Kauai and Mililani Black. Hilo Black will play Windward on Tuesday after it ousted Hilo White 7-6.
Kona will try to become the first West Hawaii team to win a state PONY championship since Kona’s Lil Soljahs claimed the Mustang 9 division in 2014.
“We tell the team that it doesn’t matter what happens individually because what matters most is that the team succeeds,” Kapela said. “It makes me so proud that they’ve been listening and have a family attitude.”
