The last time the Big Island hosted a Little League state tournament, a group of youngsters from Maui used it as a gateway to the World Series.
The three teams gathering at Walter Victor complex this weekend won’t have that luxury, but Hilo coach Koa Marzo doesn’t expect players to hold anything back.
“I know, for sure, Maui is going to be tough, and Pearl City (Oahu) as well,” Marzo said. “There are not going to be any slouches.”
Not in the Intermediate (ages 11-13) division, even if the road stops here for the winner since Little League International nixed baseball tournaments beyond the state level for all but the Majors (11-12).
The Intermediate division covers three ages, but it essentially exists so 13-year-olds can have their own age group. Intermediate uses 50-70 dimensions (the distance from the pitcher’s mound to home plate is 50 feet – as opposed to 46 for 11-12s – and the line from home to first base covers 70 feet – it’s 60 in 11-12s).
Youth baseball was on hold last summer because of the pandemic, but the Big Island’s District 4 hosted a state Majors tournament two years ago in Ka’u, where Maui caught fire, reached the World Series in Williamsport, Penn., and finished as the national runner-up.
According to a District 4 official, this is believed to be the first time Hilo Little League has fielded an Intermediate all-star team, and Marzo’s bunch doesn’t mind being trend-setters.
“They are ready and they are hungry,” Marzo said.
That’s by design.
“We’ve been practicing three days a week, but I took it light on them,” he said. “The kids jelled really well together, but I didn’t want them the burn out.
“We have some depth to our pitching, we have some good hitting and we think we’ll be strong defensively.”
Hilo also has the advantage of sitting back and watching Pearl City and Maui – which produced an Intermediate World Series winner in 2016 – play in the opener at 11 a.m. Friday. Hilo gets the winner at 11 a.m. Saturday, with an elimination game on tap Sunday and the title decided Monday.
• The Hilo Majors All-Stars – coached by Earl Moses – won the District 4 tournament in mid-June in Hilo, advancing to the state tournament in mid-July on Maui, where a berth at regionals will be at stake.
On the team were Zanden Kepaa, Knox Marzo, Kendrick Stevens, Jesse Inouye, Ghage Dequep, John Branco, Landon Haili, Brock Ayudan, Josiah Nihoa, Blaze Leslie, Conor Wallace, Logan Doran, Cameron Mateo and Dayton Hanson. The assistants were Scott Inouye, Dayson Moses.
• Hilo Omega – coached by Lee Guillermo – won the Minors (9-10) District 4 tournament in mid-June in Hilo. There is no state tournament this year.
On the team were Blayze Gomes, Kahiau Naipo, Kade Manarpaac, Tadyne Agudo, Hailey Kailiuli, Layne Paiva, Wyatt Machado, Hekili Naipo, Chase Guillermo, Kolby-Kai Leong-Takahashi, Aukai Dulan, Lamichael Bronson, Matyx Camero and Zane Rayoan. Guillermo was assisted by Shannon Camero and Ikaika Naipo.
• Hilo will send an all-star Majors softball team directly to the Little League West Regional in San Bernardino, Calif., at the end of the month.
• For PONY League and the RBI League, official Wayne Yamauchi said both organizations are limiting to island compettition this summer.