Game 1: North Hawaii 13, Hamakua 12.
Little League
Minors (ages 9-10)
District tourney
Saturday
Waimea Park
Game 1: North Hawaii 13, Hamakua 12.
The North Hawaii All-Stars rallied from a 12-3 deficit in the bottom of the sixth inning to earn a thrilling victory over the Hamakua All-Stars in a Little League Minors District tournament game Saturday at Waimea Park.
Kellen Sakaitani was the winning pitcher. Leading the North Hawaii attack was Ry Bleckel with three hits, including a double and RBIs. Chad Yanigasawa and Sheldon Aribel each added two hits.
Kalia Augustin led Hamakua with three hits and two RBIs. Kalani Marquez pitched four strong innings and added two hits, including a triple. Elijah Aguilar also tallied two hits for Hamakua.
With the win, North Hawaii advances to play Kona Coast today at 1 p.m. The winner will play in the championship round versus Hilo on Monday at 4 p.m. and if necessary at 6 p.m.
Correction: Kahulialii Arraujo had hits for Hilo in a 13-1 win over Hamakua on Friday.
Game 2: Hilo 5, Kona Coast 3.
Jaystin Lewi and Ku’e Martin combined on the mound to keep the Kona Coast offense in check. Six players had hits for the balanced Hilo attack: Ocean Gabonia, Paul Antony, Kahiah Vincent, Kilohana Haasenritter, Jaystin Lewi (double) and Dayson Moses (home run).
Cruz Alani-Horan took the loss for Kona Coast. Kona Coast tallied 10 hits, led by AJ Alani’s two singles and a double, and Drew Basque’s two hits. Also hitting singles were Cruz Alani, Jamison Medeiros, Sariah Kuahia-Pabre, Tucker Quarles, and Jackson Miles.
Hilo earned a bye today and will play in the championship on Monday.
PONY
Pony (ages 13-14)
Hilo Boys and Girls Club
Game 1: Kona All-Stars 17, Hilo Red All-Stars 10.
Tate Fernandez earned the win for Kona and DJ Sekiya, Shaden Lewi, Shelton Grace and Blaise Leong each had three hits for Kona.
Chase Narimatsu took the loss for Hilo Red. Mike Jitchaku, Garrick Yokoe Jr., Royce Nunez, Bryson Nakao and Shaun Kurosawa each had two hits for Hilo Red.
Game 2: Kona 8, Hilo Red 3.
Lewi’s hot bat carried Kona. He had a single, a two-run homer in the first and a two-run homer in the seventh. Sekiya, who earned the win, added three hits while Pohaku Dela Cruz had a three-run homer in the third. Nalu Kelii added three hits.
Nakao took the loss. No one paired hits for Hilo Red.
Kona advances to the PONY state tournament, which will be held July 7-11 at Wong Stadium. The Hilo Blue All-Stars already qualified.