Obviously, scores are kept for a reason. In the immortal words of then-New York Jets coach Herman Edwards: You play to win the game.
Obviously, scores are kept for a reason. In the immortal words of then-New York Jets coach Herman Edwards: You play to win the game.
In one sense, however, North Hawaii scored a victory just by being able to field a Senior League team this summer, becoming the first Big Island Little League entrant in the ages 15-16 division since 2011.
Coach Lane Yanagisawa has been fighting the good fight for 15 years in Honokaa in trying to drum up interest in baseball, and this year the numbers were just enough. He was set to come down to the state tournament at Wong Stadium with the minimum nine players before ultimately excepting three players from Hilo High.
“We’re just trying to build the program and make sure baseball doesn’t die out in Honokaa,” Yanagisawa said. “Giving them the confidence and experience they normally wouldn’t get.
“We don’t have any feeder leagues like Hilo. It’s about getting the kids out and giving them extra support.”
North Hawaii bowed out of the state tournament Saturday at Wong Stadium, losing 12-3 to Central East Maui for its second loss in as many days. One bright spot came in the form of a two-out rally in the fifth inning. Dayson Moses roped a two-out RBI double to help North Hawaii extend the game and avoid a second consecutive TKO loss.
“If we lose, we lose,” assistant coach Earl Moses said. “I just like a seven-inning game. Just battle and play ball. Errors killed us again.”
Yanagisawa figures North Hawaii might have lost a few battles at states, but the net gains could show up on during the 2018 BIIF season at Honokaa High. The Dragons went through three different coaches in three years before Yanagisawa took the helm in 2016 and provided a stabilizing force.
“Today it looked like we were going to get blown out, but they didn’t quit,” he said. “We’re used to playing Hilo, Waiakea and Kamehameha and getting slaughtered all the time.
“The talent (at states) is just as good as those teams.”
Moses, who will vie for a starting spot at Hilo High next season as a sophomore, collected two doubles. Canen Perreira, one of six Dragons on the team, also finished with two hits. Perreira pitched for the second consecutive day, keeping Maui to its only scoreless inning in the sixth. Moses took the loss and was relieved by Dakota Kala, who also pitched twice at states.
If Yanagisawa and Earl Moses, a Hilo High assistant, have their way, North Hawaii and Hilo will split off next season and field separate teams, which would set the two teams to meet in a district tournament to get to states.
“I wouldn’t doubt it,” Yanagisawa said, “and that would be good.”
“Hopefully, more kids sign up next year.”
Moses has every intention of forming a Hilo team next season, but it will take a recruiting effort to get players out to the age division when many high schoolers opt to play with travel teams or take the summer off.
Honolulu had only nine players during its win against North Hawaii on Friday, and it had to forfeit its game against Pearl City, Oahu, on Saturday because it only had eight. Maui and Honolulu are scheduled to play at 11 a.m. Sunday, with the winner facing Pearl City for the title on Monday.
PONY League also has low participation in the age group. Hilo, coached by Vikings skipper Tony De Sa, is going directly to the West Regionals at the end of the month.
“Next year, I’m going to get a team,” Moses said.