KEAAU — Xaige Lancaster batted 4 for 4, including a three-run homer, to lift Hilo over Keaau 19-0 in a four-inning TKO blowout in a BIIF season-opener on Monday.
Lancaster, who signed with New Mexico State, impressed MLB scouts from the Arizona Diamondbacks, Toronto Blue Jays and Texas Rangers at the Cougars field. He finished with five RBIs.
Hilo coach Baba Lancaster, who’s Xaige’s dad and took over the Vikings in August 2018, pointed out this year’s edition is the most talent packed.
He guided the Vikings to the BIIF Division I title in 2019 in his first year, followed by two lost seasons due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“They came to watch Xaige and a couple of other boys, Tobey Jackson, Devin Saltiban, Journey Leialoha, and Kaynan Kaku,” Lancaster said. “Xaige impressed the scouts. He went 4 for 4, double, two singles, and a home run. He did his job.
“From our perspective, we did our job. We didn’t overswing and hit into the gaps.”
Hilo also got a boost while weakening crosstown rival Waiakea with the transfer for senior Eli Yamanaka, who started and picked up the win with one inning of work. The right-hander walked one and struck out one.
Yamanaka and three other pitchers, senior right-hander Hekili Robello, senior left-hander Tyler Halemanu, and freshman left-hander Joydon Geraci, combined for a no-hitter against the inexperienced Cougars (0-1), who drew three walks and struck out 10 times.
Robello walked one and whiffed three. Halemanu walked one and struck out three. Geraci struck out three.
Robello is actually the ace. Lancaster made Yamanaka and Robello Jan-Ken-Po for the season-opening start.
“Robello is the ace. Yamanaka is No. 2, Halemanu and Geraci,” Lancaster said. “I’ve got 10 pitchers this year, so we’re pretty deep.”
The first eight Hilo hitters scored in a 12-run first inning off left-hander Robert Lucas-Medeiros, who allowed 13 hits, six walks and threw four wild pitches that led to runs.
“They’re one of the toughest teams in the state, especially when you’ve got scouts to look at kids,” Keaau coach Herb Yasuhara said. “Baba’s kid is legit. They got a couple of other guys who will be somebody in this game.
“We usually have four or five weeks. This year, we had two, and one week was tryouts. Half our kids never played. Our start date could have been earlier as far as tryouts.”
Keanu Kaeo, Arzel Bautista, Jayten Kamakea, and Laa Filoteo combined to pitch the final three innings and surrendered seven runs.
Leialoha, Saltiban, and Kaikua Kokubun each had two RBIs for the Vikings (1-0), who pounded out 12 hits.
Jackson signed with UH-Manoa, Kaku, and Elijah Haili inked with Wenatchee College, a junior college in Washington.