It was a bad sign for North Hawaii when it already had used up its thin margin for error in the first few innings.
It was a bad sign for North Hawaii when it already had used up its thin margin for error in the first few innings.
That made the later innings of its state Senior League tournament opener Friday all the more painful.
When Honolulu put its leadoff man on base it struck, and usually for big innings, pulling away for a 17-2 TKO victory at Wong Stadium.
“Too many mistakes, too many walks,” North Hawaii assistant coach Earl Moses. “We couldn’t throw strikes.”
North Hawaii will play Maui at 2:30 p.m. Saturday to try to stay in contention at the ages 15-16 Little League tournament.
With players from Honokaa (six), Hawaii Prep (three), Hilo (three) and Kamehameha (one), the bright spot for the Big Islanders came in the second inning as they took advantage of three consecutive errors to score a run, and another run crossed the plate on Skyler Sunahara’s single.
“We battled early,” Moses said.
But North Hawaii seemed to lose some steam, and Honolulu starting pitcher Caleb Markwith strengthened, striking out the side in the fourth. He finished with six strikeouts in five innings of work, but he’s pau for the rest of the tournament on the mound after throwing 75 pitches. Little League rules mandate he rest for three days, and the championship game is Monday.
Dayson Moses, a Hilo High sophomore, finished with two hits.
Honolulu’s Keaka Barrozo walked to lead off the first, sparking a three-run rally, and Markwith drew a bases on balls to start the third as Honolulu tacked on seven more runs, knocking out starting pitcher Ocean Gabonia. North Hawaii pitchers walked four batters as Honolulu scored six more times in the sixth to set up the TKO.
Honolulu, meanwhile, did an ample amount of hitting. Barrozo was 2 for 3 with three RBIs, Mark Liberato collected three hits, Paul Mezurashi hit a two-run double to center field and drove in three runs, Alex Keliiholokai reached base four times with two hits, including a two-run single and Kala Burnett finished with two hits.
“At least we got to see a strong caliber of player,” Moses said.
Sunahara, Dakota Kala, Luke Kaniho and Chad Yanagisawa also pitched for North Hawaii, who will turn to Dayson Moses on the mound Saturday against Maui.
One of the pre-tournament favorites, Maui lost 3-2 to Pearl City, Oahu, which plays Honolulu at 11 a.m. Saturday.