As the calendar is set to hit August, the Hilo Broncos are playing for more than just the love of the game.
Motivated by the fate of their friends back home, they furthered their goal of delaying the inevitable.
Hanalei Warren’s three-run double Thursday fueled Hilo to a 7-4 comeback victory against Long Beach, Calif., in its opening game at the PONY West regional in Whittier, Calif.
“They were talking about staying out of school as long as they could,” coach Chris Honda said.
Instead of going to class Friday, the ages 11-12 team will report back to York Field for a 2 p.m. HST game against Scottsdale, Ariz., in the double-elimination tournament.
Hilo’s poise played hooky for a bit Thursday, but Warren’s three doubles lifted any lingering nerves. Batting fifth, Warren drove in five runs, included a bases-clearing double in the bottom of the sixth that put Hilo in the lead.
“He had himself a day,” Honda said.
He said Warren’s first double helped Hilo look more like the team that dominated the state tournament.
“You could see the team was a little tight, but then they started executing,” Honda said. “We were more relaxed.”
Nainoa Kane-Yates pitched six innings and Zakaia Michaels pitched an inning to nail down the save. Michaels also contributed three hits.
A Hilo Bronco team is making its third consecutive appearance and fourth and five years at the regional, but Michaels and Kalai Rosario are the only returnees from last season. Hilo has yet to break through and reach the World Series in that five-year span. Hilo reached the final two years ago.
“They are playing against big kids, and their pitcher threw hard,” Honda said. “Long Beach was tough. Some of them were 6 feet (tall). The crowd was loud.”
Traditionally, squads from Southern California represent some of the toughest challenges in the eight-team field, but two of the three Los Angeles-area entrants lost their openers. Scottsdale thumped Whittier 11-1.
