Hilo’s Mustang 9 All-Stars maintained a strict no-swim policy on Kauai for the state PONY baseball tournament. The idea, coach Shon Malani said, was to keep the focus on baseball.
Hilo’s Mustang 9 All-Stars maintained a strict no-swim policy on Kauai for the state PONY baseball tournament. The idea, coach Shon Malani said, was to keep the focus on baseball.
While Hilo Gold stayed away from the water, it was also no day at the beach for the competition.
Malani’s youngsters slugged their way to their third state title Tuesday, clubbing five home runs to overwhelm Central Oahu 21-1.
“It was all business,” Malani said. “We had a goal.
“For 9-year-olds, I would say it was impressive. It was nice to see these kids play like they are capable.”
After falling behind twice in the tournament, Hilo poured it on in the first inning, scoring six runs. Ivor Brooks delivered the big blow with a three-run home run, and his teammates soon joined the act.
Jason Mandaquit hit a grand slam, Braden Gomes launched a three-run home run and Jaziah Oili and Quinn Waiki each smashed two-run shots. Braden Malani and Landyr Ishii joined Mandaquit, Oili and Waiki in finishing with two hits apiece.
The usual suspects delivered for Hilo on the mound. Clemson Julian pitched the first inning before Gomes (two innings) and Waiki (one inning) finished it out.
“This is a tight-knit group, they’re spunky and that rubs off on each other,” Shon Malani said
“They’re 9-year-olds, but they do everything a 12-year-old level. They are a couple of years ahead of the curve.”
Through his Hui Aumakua club team, Malani has churned out five state champions. His current group won a pair of Pinto titles last season in player-pitch and coach-pitch. An older group also won the Mustang 9s title in 2013 and the Broncos 11 crown last season.
With redemption in mind, Hilo Gold advances to West Zone, which will be held July 22-25 in Walnut, Calif. The World Series is at the same site starting July 28.
At the player-pitch World Series last year, Hilo fell one game short, losing to Southern California.
“After we lost that game, we made it a point to make it back,” Malani said. “Everybody saw the big picture, even the parents. We kind of want to see (Southern California) again.”
First, Hilo will return to the Big Island to get in more practice – and maybe even a swim.
Bronco
Hilo Royal made a valiant run to try and extend Hilo’s stranglehold at states in the 11-12 division, but it ended in the final as the road-weary All-Stars fell to Kauai 11-1.
After battling through the consolation bracket, Hilo was playing its sixth game in five days and would have needed to win twice Tuesday, too tall of an order against a good team playing on its home field.
“I told the boys to keep their heads up,” coach Ronald Auwae said.
Keahi Hisashima finished with hits for Hilo, and Makakoa Auwae pitched three innings and gave up two runs before Kauai started to break the game open in the fourth.
Kauai advances to West Zone in California. Ronald Auwae said Kauai already has been to the mainland once this summer, winning a tournament in Nevada.
“They played a strong team,” he said.
The host island had produced the past six state Bronco champions, including Hilo in 2011 and 2013-2015.
“I’ll remember how the kids came back after losing to a ‘B’ team to start (on Friday),” Auwae said. “We beat Windward, and they are always strong.
Auwae said Hisashima was Hilo’s MVP as it went 4-2 on Garden Isle, and Dallas Kaili was easily the most inspirational.
“Dallas recently was diagnosed with diabetes. That changed a lot for him, but he was medically cleared to play,” Auwae said. “That’s the lasting memory.”