As Kallen Hiraishi talked on the phone from California at 9 p.m. Pacific time Saturday, some on Lil Soljahs could be heard running around in the background.
As Kallen Hiraishi talked on the phone from California at 9 p.m. Pacific time Saturday, 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 actually 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 30— 9 7 4