The Hilo All-Stars started with simple contact, spraying the ball over the field, and by the second time through the lineup they started connecting for power.
When North Hawaii tried to pitch around Hilo’s hitters, they were happy to be patient and take their base.
The spectacle Sunday at the Little League District 4 tournament at Walter Victor Stadium made Kaimana Kuamoo’s second at-bat of the second inning seem unfair. Kuamoo managed just a little squibber between home plate and the mound, but even in an instance when North Hawaii made a great pitch, the ball wasn’t hit hard enough to be fielded and it went as a hit.
“Well, there really is nothing you can do because we are a very good hitting team,” Xaige Lancaster said. “I think the best way to go is probably to walk us.”
But that strategy just puts more runners on base for hitters such as Lancaster, who hit a grand slam in Hilo’s 18-0 victory. Wailele Kane-Yates (triple, double, four RBIs) and Joshua Ward (two-run homer) also had big games as undefeated Hilo powered into Tuesday’s Majors (12-and-under) title game.
“I always tell them don’t over-swing, let the ball come to you,” coach Baba Lancaster said. “Let it come deep in the zone, and just put the bat on to the ball. That’s the strength of our kids.
“It’s either going to be a nice hard hit somewhere or a home run.”
As impressive as Hilo’s bats were, Kuamoo was equally impressive on the mound, securing 11 of his 12 outs via strikeouts in the four-inning TKO. Mixing two different types of fastballs, a two-seamer and four-seamer with a palmball, Kuamoo held North Hawaii’s potent lineup to just three hits.
Kuamoo said his father helped him develop his pitching repertoire, and at some point, he’d like to add more pitches.
The left-hander is ineligible to take the mound for the remainder of the tournament after his 61-pitch gem, but Baba Lancaster said, “I got another 10 pitchers I can go with.”
Xaige Lancaster, the coach’s son, highlighted a 12-run second inning with his grand slam as Hilo sent 15 batters to the plate. Like Kane-Yates, he had three hits, and Kuamoo and Ward (three RBIs) each had two.
Baba Lancaster has coached a variety of Little League teams at different age groups over the years. He’s been with this team – many players participate in the RBI program – for three years.
“This team is (comparably) talented to the ones we had back in the day,” he said. “They are up there.”
After a day off, the Hilo All-Stars would have to lose twice Tuesday to be denied the title and a trip to the state tournament. West Side stayed in contention with a 14-0 victory against Ka’u, and will face North Hawaii on Monday to try and advance. On Saturday, North Hawaii handled West Side 22-3.
On Sunday, it was Xaige Lancaster’s turn to wear No. 96 as his brother Legend sported No. 69, which is the jersey number their father/coach wore growing up playing youth baseball. The only time Baba Lancaster couldn’t wear his favorite number was when he played at Hilo High, but now his sons alternate between the two.
“I really didn’t have a choice,” Xaige Lancaster said when asked about wearing an unconventional baseball number. “I’d like to wear No. 1.”
For now, he and his teammates will have to settle for trying to be No. 1 on the island and beyond.
Minors
Kade Guillermo hit a double and a triple and Kanu Tolentino and Kamaka Ili each tripled and finished with two hits as Hilo Blue beat Hilo Red 15-3 to advance to Tuesday’s title game in the ages 9-10 tournament.
Tolentino picked up the win for Hilo Blue, which has allowed just three runs in its two wins.
Hilo Red can make it an all-Hilo final with a win Monday against West Side, which eliminated North Hawaii in a 13-3 win Sunday.
