Hilo PONY League is back in the saddle.
On Friday, Walter Victor complex will host state tournament baseball play in the PONY organization for the first time since 2015, when, to be frank, the competition had seen enough.
After watching Hilo All-Stars teams run roughshod through the 12-and-under Bronco division for three consecutive seasons at Walter Victor, the rest of the state wanted a piece of the action.
“Before everyone didn’t want to host because it’s a lot of work, but they wanted to start hosting when (we) started winning,” Hawaii Island coordinator Wayne Yamauchi said.
The Hilo Broncos held their own away from home the past three years, finishing runner-up twice and reaching the semifinals last season, but Yamauchi called this year’s team “really strong.”
Bronco alumni from 2013-15 teams feature a who’s who list of BIIF baseball standouts, including both Players of the Year, Maui Ahuna and Tai Atkins, who teamed up on the 2014 title-winning team.
Leagues have to bid to become a host, and Hilo PONY is getting its money’s worth with four double-elimination tournaments starting Friday:
• Bronco, six teams, through Tuesday
• Pony (14-under), four teams, through Monday
• Pony 13s, four, through Monday
• Bronco 11s, three teams, through Monday
Yamauchi said Kailua-Kona didn’t have a PONY league this season, so all Hilo teams drew a bye to states.
Meanwhile, Hilo Little League didn’t enter an All-Star team in the 12-and-under postseason, ostensibly giving the Hilo Broncos a bigger pool of players to draw from.
“Everyone (in that age group) is playing PONY,” Yamauchi said.
The organizations that helped form Hilo PONY in 1958 will be honored during the festivities this weekend, he said.
Also on tap on the Big Island are five Little League tournaments, including state play for ages 12-and-under in baseball and softball.
Hilo Little League opted not to host this tournament play this season, so if a Hawaii team wants to follow in the footsteps of the Honolulu squad that captured the Little League World Series last year, it will start its journey in Naalehu.
Batter up
Youth baseball and softball tournaments upcoming on the Big Island:
PONY: State tournaments, Bronco, Pony, Bronco 11, Pony 13, Friday through Tuesday at Walter Victor Tournament
Little League: District Minors (10-and-under) tournament, June 20-23, Old Kona Airport
Little League: District Majors (12-and-under) tournament, June 28-July 2, Old Kona Airport
Little League: State Majors (12-and-under) tournament, July 19-23, Naalehu Ball Park
Little League softball: District Majors (12-and-under) tournament, June 28-June 30, Old Kona Airport
Little League softball: State Majors (12-and-under) tournament, July 4-6, UH-Hilo field