Play ball!
Play ball!
Some notable Big Island youth baseball postseason tournaments on tap:
PONY League
Sectional tournaments
Mustangs (9-10): June 20-21, Hilo vs. West Hawaii, best-of-three series, Old Kona Airport Park
Winner advances to states, July 3-7 on Maui
Broncos (11-12): June 20-21, Hilo vs. West Hawaii, best-of-three series, Old Kona Airport Park
Winner advances to states, June 26-30 in Hilo
State tournaments
Mustang 9s: June 26-30, Walter Victor Stadium, Hilo
Bronco 11: June 26-30, Walter Victor Stadium, Hilo
Broncos (11-12): June 26-30, Walter Victor Stadium, Hilo
Colt (15-16): June 25-27, Walter Victor Stadium, Hilo
Notes: Hilo teams in Pony 13s and Pony (13-14) advance directly to states, July 3-7 on Maui
Little League
District tournaments
Minors (9-10): Starts June 4-5 in Pahala
Majors (11-12): July in Hilo
State tournament
Majors (11-12): TBA in Waimea
Memorial Day weekend is nearly here, which means its time for a busy three days of baseball in Kailua-Kona.
Teams from around the state will converge at Old Kona Airport Park for the 16th annual PONY Baseball Memorial Day Tournament, which will run Saturday through Monday.
Bronco (11-12) and Mustang (9-10) teams will compete in competitive bracket play. The younger Pinto (7-8) squads will play a “goodwill” format, which helps promote healthy competition, rather than worrying about the outcome in what is the first travel-team experience for many of the players.
The home run derby — which has hosted names such as Kolten and Kean Wong — is always a top attraction for the young athletes. The Bronco derby will be held Saturday at 6:30 p.m., while the Mustang and Pinto players will swing away starting at 5 p.m. on Sunday.
West Hawaii had only produced one winner in the 15-year history of the tournament before last year, when Kona Crush doubled that total by winning the Bronco division.
The most crowded division this year is Mustang, with 20 teams battling it out in pool play before entering a playoff bracket. With only one of the four teams from each of the five brackets earning a spot in the playoffs, and the first tie-breaker being fewest runs scored, every run will count in pool play.
Kona Lil Soljahs are a standout team to watch in the 9-10 division. The Lil Soljahs took home the Mustang consolation championship last year, but went on to have a long summer that included the first state title for a West Hawaii PONY team in any age group, and a deep run at the PONY Mustang 9s World Series in Walnut, Calif.
Lil Soljahs head coach Kallen Hiraishi said he will have about half of that team, with the other half playing with Waimea for the Memorial Day tournament. He also will have a few new players who have graduated from Pinto.
“There are a lot of great teams that come to this tournament from around the state, and we expect them to bring their A-game,” Hiraishi said. “These kids are still young, but they work hard and should do great if they show up ready to play.”
Lil Soljahs and Waimea faced off for the regular-season PONY title recently, with the Lil Soljahs pulling away for a hard-fought victory. The win not only granted the Lil Soljahs the title, but also meant Hiraishi will also have the opportunity to coach the Kona all-star Mustang squad with hopes of returning the World Series.
The Kona all-star roster is expected to be announced following the tournament. That Hiraishi-coached squad will face a Hilo all-star team in a best-of-three series at Old Kona Airport Park on June 20-21, with the winner advancing to states, July 3-7 on Maui.
“This tournament is always a good tune-up for the long summer,” Hiraishi said.
PINTO
Saturday
Playground field
Andrews Braves vs. Wai-Kahala Astros, 8 a.m.
Andrews Indians vs. Wai-Kahala Blue Jays, 9:30 a.m.
Hilo RBI vs. Wai-Kahala Diamondbacks, 11 a.m.
Wai-Kahala Blue Jays vs. Waiakea Pirates, 12:30 p.m.
Lincoln Wreckers vs. Wai-Khala Nuuanu Cardinals, 2 p.m.
Waiakea Pirates vs. Lincoln Wreckers, 3:30 p.m.
Ocean field
Keaukaha Keiki AA vs. Hilo RBI, 8 a.m.
Mililani ESPNHD vs. Alakai, 9:30 a.m.
Wai-Kahala Astros vs. Lil Soljahs, 11 a.m.
Andrews Indians vs. Waiakea Uka Tigers, 12:30 p.m.
Alakai vs. B-PONO, 2 p.m.
Lil Soljahs vs. Wai-Kahala Nuuanu Cardinals, 2 p.m.
Sunday
Playground field
Waiakea Uka Tigers vs. Alakai, 8 a.m.
Keaukaha Keiki AA vs. Wai-Kahala Diamondbacks, 9:30 a.m.
Wai-Kahala Blue Jays vs. Lil Soljahs, 11 a.m.
Wai-Kahala Diamondbacks vs. Alakai, 12:30 p.m.
Andrews Braves vs. Keaukaha Keiki AA, 2 p.m.
Waiakea Uka Tigers vs. Wai –Khala Astros, 3:30 p.m.
Ocean field
Mililani ESPNHD vs. Waiakea Pirates, 8 a.m.
B-PONO vs. Andrews Indians, 9:30 a.m.
Lincoln Wreckers vs. Andrews Braves, 11 a.m.
B-PONO vs. Mililani ESPNHD, 12:30 p.m.
Wai-Kahala Nuuanu Cardinals vs. Hilo RBI, 2 p.m.
MUSTANG
Red Pool
Saturday
Wai-Kahala Mets vs. Wreckers Black, 8 a.m.
Kona Alakai vs. Wailuku Phillies, 8 a.m.
Wai-Kahala Mets vs. Kona Alakai, 2 p.m.
Wreckers Black vs. Wailuku Phillies, 2 p.m.
Sunday
Wai-Kahala Mets vs. Wailuku Phillies. 10 a.m.
Wreckers Black vs. Kona Alakai, 10 a.m.
Green Pool
Saturday
B-PONO vs. Kohala Outlaws, 8 a.m.
Kailua Giants vs. Wai-Kahala Yankees, 10 a.m.
B-PONO vs. Kailua Giants, 4 p.m.
Kohala Outlaws vs. Wai-Kahala Yankees, 4 p.m.
Sunday
B-PONO vs. Wai-Kahala Yankees, Noon
Kohala Outlaws vs. Kailua Giants, Noon
Blue Pool
Saturday
Waimea Broncos vs. Hilo RBI, 10 a.m.
Nanakuli Hawks vs. Waiakea Pirates Raiders, 10 a.m.
Waimea Broncos vs. Nanakuli Hawks, 4 p.m.
Hilo RBI vs. Waiakea Pirates Raiders, 4 p.m.
Sunday
Waimea Broncos vs. Waiakea Pirates Raiders, Noon
Hilo RBI vs. Nanakuli Hawks, Noon
Purple pool
Saturday
Kona Lil Soljahs vs. Andrews Braves, Noon
Nuuanu Cardinals vs. Ewa Bombers, Noon
Sunday
Kona Lil Soljahs vs. Nuuanu Cardinals, 8 a.m.
Andrews Braves vs. Ewa Bombers, 8 a.m.
Kona Lil Soljahs vs. Ewa Bombers, 2 p.m.
Andrews Braves vs. Nuuanu Cardinals, 2 p.m.
Orange Pool
Saturday
KAC Orioles vs. Andrews Chiefs, Noon
Wai-Kahala Mariners vs. Keaukaha Keiki AA, 2 p.m.
Sunday
KAC Orioles vs. Wai-Kahala Mariners, 8 a.m.
Andrews Chiefs vs. Keaukaha Keiki AA, 10 a.m.
KAC Orioles vs. Keaukaha Keiki AA, 4 p.m.
Andrews Chiefs vs. Wai-Kahala Mariners, 4 p.m.
Playoffs
Sunday
Game 1: Red winner vs. Green Winner, 4 p.m.
Monday
Game 2: Blue winner vs. Orange Winner, 9 a.m.
Game 3: Game 1 winner vs. Purple Winner, 9 a.m.
Championship: Noon
Third-place game: Noon
BRONCO
Saturday
Game 1: Oahu Prospects vs. Alakai, 8 a.m.
Game 2: Hilo RBI vs. Keaukaha Keiki, 10 a.m.
Game 3: Kohala Outlaws vs. Waiakea Uka, Noon
Game 4: Kona Alakai vs. Andrews Chiefs, 8 a.m.
Game 5: Waikoloa vs. Waiakea Pirates. 10 a.m.
Game 6: Hui Amakua Red vs. Aiea Wolf Pack, Noon
Quarterfinals
Game 7: Oahu Prospects/Alakai winner vs. Hilo RBI/Keaukaha Keiki winner, 2 p.m.
Game 8: Lil Soljahs vs. Winner Kona Alakai/Andrews Chiefs, 2 p.m.
Game 9: Waikoloa/Waiakea Pirates winner vs. Hui Aumakua Red/Aiea Wolf Pack winner, 4 p.m.
Sunday
Semifinals
Game 13: Game 7 winner vs. Kohala/Waiakea Uka winner, 10 a.m.
Game 14: Game 8 winner vs. Game 9 winner, Noon
Consolation bracket
Game 10: Oahu Prospects/Alakai loser vs. Hilo RBI/Keaukaha Keiki loser, 8 a.m.
Game 11: Kohala Outlaws/Waiakea Uka loser vs. Kona Alakai/Andrews Chiefs loser, 8 a.m.
Game 12: Waikoloa/Waiakea Pirates loser vs. Hui Aumakua Red/Aiea Wolf Pack loser, Noon
Game 15: Winner Game 10 vs. Winner Game 11, Noon
Game 16: Winner Game 12 vs. Loser Game 8, 2 p.m.
Game 17: Loser Game 7 vs. Loser Game 9, 2 p.m.
Monday
Championship
Game 22: Winner Game 13 vs. Winner Game 14, Noon
Consolation
Game 18: Loser Game 10 vs. Loser Game 11, 8 a.m.
Game 19: Loser Game 12 vs. Loser Game 13, 8 a.m.
Game 20: TBA vs. Kona Centrals, 10 a.m.
Game 21: Consolation championship: Winner Game 15 vs. Winner Game 16