Due to a bit of bad luck, coach Troy Fujii had only seen the state Little League Minors tournament from afar.
Fujii finally got a chance to coach the Hilo Blue All-Stars on Sunday, and if Toren Segovia, Keagan Pacheco and their teammates have their way, Fujii hasn’t seen anything yet.
Segovia hit a go-ahead grand slam and Pacheco came through with a solid relief stint as Hilo fought off elimination for the second consecutive day with a 12-7 victory against Kauai. This time Fujii was able to join in the fun at the ages 9-10 tournament in Kailua, Oahu.
Hilo faces Honolulu at 4 p.m. Monday for the right to advance to Tuesday’s championship game, and by then Fujii should have forgotten all about the way the tournament started.
“It was just stressful not being able to be there,” Fujii said.
The reason why is somewhat humorous.
Hilo opened play Friday and was playing the first inning of its game against Maui when Hilo’s catcher was cited for an equipment violation because he wasn’t wearing an athletic supporter. By rule, Fujii was ejected from the game as well as Saturday’s contest in the five-team, double-elimination tournament.
Hilo lost to Maui 8-5, before rebounding Saturday to beat Waipio, Oahu, 15-9 on the strength of Payten Alameda’s two-run home run.
Fujii probably wished he was still suspended Sunday considering the way the game started. Kauai jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning and led 6-0 in the third, but Pacheco and Segovia helped stem the tide from there on the mound, and Segovia provided the big blow as Hilo scored six runs in the fourth inning to charge ahead.
“They just keep battling and keep fighting,” Fujii said. “Our hitting has been consistent all tournament long.”
Kade Guillermo finished with two hits and two runs scored, and the No. 9 spot in the order, manned by Alameda and Kanu Tolentino, combined for three hits, including two doubles, and three runs scored. Pacheco took over in relief of Nathaniel Freeman in the first inning and threw 74 pitches before being relieved by Segovia in the fifth.
Maui awaits the winner of Monday’s game and would have to be beaten twice Tuesday to be denied the title.
Besides it win against Hilo, Fujii said Maui’s other two wins were via TKO.
“I’m running out of pitchers, but I do have my ace (Shiloh Santos) for Monday,” Fujii said.
And by now, all the equipment glitches have been sorted out.
“The officials were all joking with me today,” Fujii said. “Everybody was wearing a cup.”
