Daylen Calicdan pitched a five-hitter and drove in three runs as the Hilo All-Stars crushed Mililani 12-1 in a victory Sunday in the winners’ bracket of the state PONY baseball tournament. Daylen Calicdan pitched a five-hitter and drove in three
Daylen Calicdan pitched a five-hitter and drove in three runs as the Hilo All-Stars crushed Mililani 12-1 in a victory Sunday in the winners’ bracket of the state PONY baseball tournament.
The eight-team event for players ages 13-14 is being played at Iron Maehara Stadium in Kahului, Maui. It runs through Tuesday with the champion advancing to the West Zone tournament later this month in Whittier, Calif.
Hilo (2-0) plays Maui Blue (2-0) at 4 p.m. today in a winners’ bracket game, with the winner moving on to the title contest on Tuesday.
Calicdan went the five-inning distance to pocket the win. He struck out five and didn’t walk a batter. Alexander Wong was tagged with the loss.
At the plate, Calicdan went 3-for-4 with his game-high three RBIs. Mackanzy Maesaka (RBI) and Keegan Miura (triple) each added two hits in the Big Islanders’ 12-hit attack.
Wong had two hits for Mililani, including a triple. The Oahu team slipped to 1-1 in the tournament.
Hilo scored eight runs in the fourth inning to break open the game, then added four more runs in the fifth.
Mililani scored its lone run in the first inning.
“Daylen threw well all game,” Hilo coach Eric Kurosawa said. “He was a little nervous at first and gave up three hits in the first inning. But after that he shut down Mililani the rest of the way. He did a good job.”
The Big Islanders started slow with the bat against Wong.
“We hit the ball hard early in the game, but it was right at someone,” Kurosawa said. “But later on the ball started finding the open spots, and we started to score some runs. We played much better today than we did on Saturday.”
Kurosawa said the Hilo club has a lot of support on Maui.
“A lot of parents and friends have come down to support the team,” he said. “The kids are enjoying the tournament and the overall experience that goes along with this type of thing.”
Kurosawa said Maui Blue will provide a strong challenge.
“Maui Blue is a good club, and we’ll have to play well,” he said.
In other action Sunday involving a Big Island team, Kona (1-1) eliminated Makakilo-Kapolei 6-2 behind winning pitcher Pulama Louis.
Louis hurled a two-hitter, while Ejay Kuakini took the loss.
Logan Canda (two RBIs) led Kona with three hits, and Tanner Kitaoka (RBI) added two hits in the Big Islanders’ seven-hit attack. No one paired hits for Makakilo-Kapolei.
Kona plated three runs in the top of the sixth inning to take the lead and scored three more in the seventh to put the game away.
Kona played Windward (1-1) in an elimination contest at 7 p.m. Sunday. The game ended after press time.
Prep tournament
in Las Vegas
The Nobu Yamauchi All-Stars beat Rancho 15-8 in their final game in the Stephen Janvrin Memorial Baseball Tournament on Sunday.
The eight-team event for players ages 15 and under and wrapped up Sunday at the Durango High School Field in Las Vegas.
The Nobu Yamauchi All-Stars, from Hilo, finished with a 5-1 record.
Caleb Freitas-Fields had three hits and three RBIs to lead the Big Islanders in the four-inning win over Rancho High of Nevada on Sunday. Ryley Widell (RBI) and Kelii Montibon each had two hits, while Ryder Oshiro and Kilohana Brown each had a hit and two RBIs.
Brown started and got the win.
Hilo now moves on to play in the RBI Baseball West Zone regional, scheduled to start Friday in Anaheim, Calif.
Hilo (11)03 1 — 15 13 4
Rancho 041 3 — 8 5 2
