KAILUA-KONA — The annual PONY Memorial Day baseball tournament, hosted by the Lil Soljahs and taking place at Old Airport Park, signifies the start of postseason play for many teams on the Big Island.
It is also a chance to play in a competitive environment in front of a home crowd, something that is not always common once teams enter the postseason with upcoming trips usually planned for the mainland and other islands.
As the common saying goes, “competition breeds success”, and if that is true, then the Bronco division will be filled with successful teams from the Big Island heading into postseason play.
On Monday, two Big Island teams, one from Kona and the other from Hilo played in an extra inning thriller to determine the Bronco division championship.
The Lil Soljahs, the reigning tournament champions, jumped out to a three-run lead in the first inning against Hilo’s Hui Aumakua before eventually falling 6-3 in nine innings.
Zes Tolentino led off the top of the first for the Kona squad with a single and the next batter walked, setting up a three-run home run by Trez Uemoto.
The lead held until the top of the seventh inning.
Three outs away from elimination, Hui Aumakua rallied to tie the game. Ka’ohu Kawelu led off the inning with a single to left. Journey Leialoha walked and Quinn Waiki singled to left. The ball bounced past a diving Lil Soljahs fielder, allowing two runs to cross the plate. Waiki then scored the tying run on a sacrifice fly.
“This team has been together for a while and they have traveled to many places to get them ready for this type of game and they came through today,” said Hui Aumakua head coach Shon Malani. “The hits were not falling for us early but they finally came. The kids did a good job.”
The game went to the ninth where Hui Aumakua pushed three more runs across the plate to seal the victory.
“The Lil Soljahs played a good game, and though we usually travel to Maui for a Memorial Day tournament, we were happy to stay at home and support their tournament,” Malani said. “They also played a great game.”
For 12-year-old Leialoha and Kawelu, the comeback victory was an experience that topped off an exciting tournament.
“We got more hyped as the game went on,” Leialoha said.
“The tournament was really fun, and it is especially exciting when you win the championship,” Kawelu added.
Though the Lil Soljahs lost the title game, they were able to prepare for the next step of postseason play thanks to their 19th annual tournament.
“It was a great game and a good battle,” said Broncos head coach Robert Makagawa. “The kids played hard, things just did not roll our way.”
Rebounding from the loss is not a concern for the first year head coach.
“I tell the kids they are at a great age,” Makagawa said. “We learn a lot more from losing than from blowouts. Even though this loss may leave a bitter feeling, they have plenty of games to play. They can come back stronger next year.”
More importantly for the Lil Soljahs, the tournament seemed to be a success all around.
“This is my fourth year with Lil Soljahs and this is always a competitive tournament,” Makagawa said. “We had a good crowd and our team was able to bond. We look forward to taking our kids to the mainland now to see where they stand and so they can get some college recruiting exposure.”