If it wasn’t official before, it is now: Hilo owns the best collection of 11- and 12-year-old baseball talent in Hawaii.
The burgeoning baseball power’s Little League All-Stars did their part Monday, charging past Maui 12-1 at Pu’uiki Park on Oahu to capture Hilo’s first state Majors championship in 30 years.
Sure, Hilo can hit, pitch and field – Joshua Ward did the honors in the clincher with two home runs and a double-digit strikeout performance on the mound – but coach Baba Lancaster is most proud of his team’s heart.
“The bond of these kids in unreal,” Lancaster said. “This has been our plan for five years with this team.
“One one our coaches (Randy Riley) was diagnosed with cancer. This season was for him. His grandson is on the team, and to do this for him is special.”
The win gives Hilo a youth baseball sweep.
In PONY League, a Hilo All-Star team that consists of an entirely different group of 11- and 12-year-olds is gearing up for its California regional after claiming the state Bronco title in June on Oahu. Hilo PONY teams have basked in the spotlight recently, grabbing four of the past five state titles in the 11-12 division as well as an ages 13-14 World Series in 2014.
But there is only one nationally televised Little League World Series, and Lancaster’s bunch is four or five wins from getting there.
First things first. The West Regional beckons Aug. 6-12 in San Bernardino, Calif.
“The kids are so relaxed,” Lancaster said. “They don’t know how important this is or how big it is.
“The don’t pressure out. They just have fun and see what happens.”
The Waiakea Lions in 1987 were the last Big Island team to win a state Little League Majors title, a feat also accomplished by East Hawaii Kiwanis in 1977.
The only Big Island team to punch through to the World Series was Hilo American in 1961.
Lancaster compares this year’s team favorably to any team he’s coached, including a Cal Ripken squad that won a world title in 2006 and a Little League Seniors (ages 15-16) team that reached regionals in 2009.
“This group is right up there,” Lancaster said.
Maui entered as the defending champion in the four-team tournament after reaching the West Region semifinals in 2016, but it returned only one player.
Kaimana Kuamoo won a pitcher’s duel Saturday in Hilo’s 2-0 victory, and after a day off the All-Stars returned to the North Shore and showcased their bats.
Ward’s three-run blast ended the game via the TKO, and Kuamoo and Kaynan Kaku Jr. also hit home runs.
“(Ward) hit two bombs,” Lancaster said. “His first was a laser. I don’t think it got 4 feet off the ground.”
On the Hilo All-Stars are Kahiapo Silva, Legend Lancaster, Kaimana Kuamoo, Kaynan Kaku Jr., Wailele Kane-Yates, Joshua Ward, Klayson Herolaga, Xaige Lancaster, Tyler Halemanu, Kyson Wada, Dylan Villanueva, Gunner Riley, Devin Garza and Michael Mitsuda.
Baba Lancaster is assisted by Bronson Malani and Randy Riley.
At the state Little League Minors (ages 9-10) tournament, Shiloh Santos pitched five solid innings as Hilo beat Honolulu 11-2 to reach the title game.
Ryin Leopoldino and Lee Guillermo each finished with three hits, including a double, Toren Segovia doubled twice and Ty Fujii, Kanu Tolentino and Talus Sato also had multihit games.
Hilo will have to beat Maui twice Tuesday in Kailua, Oahu, to claim the crown. The first game is at 9 a.m.
