In the past, baseball coach Baba Lancaster has been more than willing to play small-ball. Bunts, hit-and-runs, stolen bases, safety squeezes – whatever gets a run home.
In the past, baseball coach Baba Lancaster has been more than willing to play small-ball. Bunts, hit-and-runs, stolen bases, safety squeezes – whatever gets a run home.
Or he can do as he did the past three games at Walter Victor Stadium, where he essentially stood down the third-base line and put his hands in his pockets, leaving the Hilo All-Stars to do what they do best.
“Grip and rip,” Lancaster said.
Hilo hammered four more home runs, two by Xaige Lancaster, and Joshua Ward gave the All-Stars another fine pitching performance in a 14-4 victory against North Hawaii to clinch the Little League District 4 championship for the Majors division (ages 11-12).
“Don’t try to overpower it, just stroke the ball,” slick-fielding shortstop Wailele Kane-Yates said.
Kane-Yates and Kaynan Kaku each finished with a home run and three hits.
“Smooth strokes,” Kane-Yates said.
Not to mention pitching and defense.
North Hawaii showed well in going 2-2 to finish runner-up at a third tournament in the past five weeks, including PONY League sectionals and the Kona Memorial Day tourney. Many of the All-Stars from Waimea-Kohala have a chance to be a boon for schools such Hawaii Prep, Kohala and Honokaa in the years ahead in BIIF play.
They just ran into a hot team from Hilo, which advances to the state tournament, July 21-25 on Oahu, with big goals in mind.
Ward gave up a three-run home run to Elijah Scadino in the bottom of the first inning, but he got stronger and pitched a five-hitter with two strikeouts and no walks in the five-inning TKO.
“I was supposed to pitch (in relief), but Josh pitched fabulous,” Kane-Yates said.
Ward retired the side in the second, third and fifth inning, and as a result, Hilo needed just three pitchers in its three wins, outscoring the opposition 55-10 with nine home runs.
“Really, 1-14 can hit the ball, “Lancaster said. “I’ve got 13 pitchers out of 14 players, and that says it all. Especially at the next level, we need a lot of pitching.”
Hilo is one step closer to the famed Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa., and a national TV audience.
“That’s our goal, to win that thing,” Kane-Yates said.
Scadino’s picture could be listed with the word resilient in the dictionary.
Right off the bat, he allowed a leadoff home run to Lancaster, a double to Kaimana Kuamoo and a two-run shot off the bat of Kane-Yates, yielding six runs in the first. Scadino was on the ropes, but he gutted out four innings, throwing 83 pitches and striking out the side in the fourth. He struck out five.
“He pitched a hell of a game,” coach Andrew Akau said. “I’m very proud of our boys’ heart and effort.”
North Hawaii’s other run came in the fourth as Tookie Hook singled and eventually scored on Micah Reyes’ hit.
Kaku’s three-run home run in the second was his second of the tournament, and Lancasters’ two-run shot in the fifth gave him four.
Kuamoo and Ward each finished with two hits. The top five batters in the lineup combined for 12 of Hilo’s 14 hits.
“We have small things to improve,” Kane-Yates said, “but right now we’re playing great.”
Also on the island champions are Kahiapo Silva, Kyson Wada, Devin Garza, Klayson Herolaga, Tyler Halemanu, Gunner Riley, Mikey Mitsuda, Legend Lancaster and Dylan Villanueva.