As Kallen Hiraishi talked on the phone from California on Saturday night, some on Lil Soljahs could be heard running around in the background. ADVERTISING As Kallen Hiraishi talked on the phone from California on Saturday night, some on Lil
As Kallen Hiraishi talked on the phone from California on Saturday night, some on Lil Soljahs could be heard running around in the background.
As Kallen Hiraishi talked on the phone from California on Saturday night, some on Lil Soljahs could be heard running around in the background.
They didn’t even sound close to being tired.
“They all actually have a lot of energy,” Hiraishi said.
Enough to last two games Sunday? That’s certainly the plan.
Led by Lopaka Akau, Lil Soljahs beat Garner, N.C., 9-5 in an elimination game at the PONY Mustang 9s World Series in Walnut.
Hiraishi called it a team effort, but added, “It was Akau’s day.”
He pitched into the fifth and spurred a pair of rallies with two-run singles.
“He pitched superb baseball and was really on his game,” Hiraishi said.
Ioane Kaaekuahiwi enjoyed another multihit game at the World Series, finishing 3 for 4 as Lil Soljahs — with players from Kailua-Kona, Kohala and Waimea — jumped out to a 9-1 lead.
Jake Bannister got two outs in the fifth as Garner scored four runs to creep back in the game, and Tookie Hook worked a scoreless sixth.
“We came out jumping,” Hiraishi said. “The first four innings were top-notch baseball.”
Lil Soljahs will play Walnut, Calif., at 1 p.m. Sunday in another elimination game at the eight-team tournament, and the winner draws unbeaten North Valley (Calif.) at 5 p.m. North Valley beat Walnut 7-1 on Saturday after beating Lil Soljahs 9-8 on Friday.
“They want to play (North Valley) again,” Hiraishi said. “But we know we have to take it one game at a time.”
Garner, N.C. 100 040 — 5 4 2
Lil Soljahs 303 30x — 9 7 4
Bronco West Zone: Hilo bounced back with 20 hits — four by the incomparable Devin Midel — and beat San Jose, Calif., 14-6 to reach the championship game in Whittier, Calif.
The ages 11-12 All-Stars will have to beat Santa Monica, Calif., twice Sunday to advance to the World Series. The first game is at 9:30 a.m. Hawaii time. Santa Monica remained unbeaten when it held off Hilo 8-7 on Saturday, a game in which All-Stars pitchers walked 10 batters and committed four errors.
“We know we can beat them,” Min said. “We just have to throw strikes and cut down on the errors.”
With his team’s season on the line, Min turned the ball over to his son, Cody. The control artist delivered three solid innings and picked up the victory against San Jose, striking out two.
“He is one of our starters but we haven’t used him that way in a while,” Marvin Min said. “He throws strikes.”
Batting leadoff, Midel continued his assault, going 4 for 5 to lift his average to .857 (12 of 14) in four games.
“He’s unbelievable,” Min said.
Stone Miyao also finished with four hits, and Bula Ahuna (2 for 4) clubbed a home run in the third to fuel an eight-run rally. Maui Ahuna, who provided 2 1/3 innings of relief, compiled three hits and Kalai Rosario finished with two.
Kalani Marquez (2 for 2) hit a two-run home run in the top of the seventh inning, but Hilo’s rally fell short.
“They got quiet, but they remained confident,” Min said.
First game
Santa Monica 022 202 0— 8 8 0
Hilo012 020 2—7104
Second game
Hilo 108 103 1 — 14 20 1
SJ 011 202 0— 6 12 3
Colt Bronco West Zone: Taylor Mondina’s grand slam powered Hilo, which opened with a 14-6 victory against San Bruno, Calif., in San Jose.
Hilo (15-16) plays Riverside, Calif., at 4:30 p.m. Sunday.
Led by Mondina (2 for 4, double) and Daylen Calicdan (three-run home run), Hilo had myriad hitting stars in back of winning pitcher Makoa Andres, who pitched six innings and eventually found his groove.
Andres allowed only four hits, but Nick Mogannam’s three-run home run staked San Bruno to a 6-3 lead.
Mondina’s slam put Hilo back in front in the fourth.
“Taylor turned the game around,” coach Eric Kurosawa said.
Hilo 111 450 2 — 14 14 1
San Bruno 204 000 0 — 6 4 2
