Long days proved to be fruitful for three Hilo PONY Baseball teams playing in state tournaments on Oahu.
The Hilo Broncos and Mustangs bounced back, while the Mustang 9s continued to forge ahead.
In Manoa, the Broncos All-Stars avoided elimination with two victories, 21-0 against Kapolei and 10-1 against Manoa, to reach the semifinals in ages 11-12.
Against Kapolei, Landon Criste and Kedren Kinzie combined on a two-hitter, Journey Leialoha hit two home runs and Higen Hatayama and Jake Gomes each finished with three hits and a home run. Dayson Akimseu, Bubu Kawelu and Kinzie collected two hits apiece.
Leialoha and Gomes (two hits) also homered against Manoa, as did Elijah Igawa (two hits) and Kinzie. Devin Saltiban and Tulang also had two hits apiece, and Salvatore Martino, Dylan Hanson and Gomes combined on a six-hitter.
The Mustangs faced a similar predicament in Hawaii Kai in ages 9-10, and they responded with a 10-0 win against Mililani – Elijah Okano had three hits and Brayden Malani two – and an 11-4 win against Windard.
Clemson Julian collected two hits in the second game, with Jaziah Oili (two innings), Julian, Braden Gomes and Quinn Waiki handling the pitching.
Ivor Brooks got the win the first game. The Mustangs play in the semifinals Monday, as will the Mustang 9s, who rallied from an early nine-run deficit and outlasted Central Oahu 24-23 in a game that lasted 3 hours, 40 minutes for their second win in a row.
In a five-team ages 13-14 tournament at Central Oahu Regional Park, Hilo Pony Royal Blue fell to Maui 13-5 for its first loss.
Kahiau Vincent batted 2 for 3 with two RBIs and a stolen base and Braxton Cagampang also was 2 for 3 for Hilo, which plays again Monday for the right to meet Maui in Tuesday’s title game.
