Levon Stevens’ 7- and 8-year-olds accomplished their first goal Sunday: They had fun.
Winning will have to wait, but hopefully for only a day.
In a battle of unbeaten Pinto baseball teams, Hilo Blue lost to Mililani 12-9 at the state coach-pitch PONY League tournament in Kapolei, Oahu, missing on its first chance to reach the title game.
“It was a great game,” Stevens said, “a really great game.”
“We got the lead but Mililani came back. They are really tough. Hopefully, we can meet again.”
First, Hilo Blue plays Maui on Monday to advance opposite Mililani in Tuesday’s title game.
Maui stayed alive Sunday by eliminating Hilo White with a 16-5 win.
“At the end of the day, the coaches are proud of all of the kids,” Hilo White coach Kapena Keopuhiwa said. “This tournament was good for all of us – coaches included.”
Also eliminated on Sunday was the Hilo Pony All-Stars, who bowed out of the ages 13-14 tournament in Waipahu, Oahu, with a 7-4 loss to West Oahu. The game resumed after being suspended Saturday night in the seventh inning.
Boston Matsu, Chaz Aniol and Jace Hironaga finished with two hits apiece for Hilo.