The Hilo Pony All-Stars went to sleep Saturday night facing a precarious situation.
The ages 13- and 14-year-old baseball team trailed West Oahu 7-4 when their elimination game at the state PONY League tournament on Oahu was suspended because of darkness. Hilo has to hope to mount a comeback Sunday when its game continues in the seventh inning in Waipahu, Oahu, just to move on to a second game on the day.
But it’s good bet that the Big Islanders were able to keep the faith – they’ve already enjoyed one rally for the ages.
That Hilo was even able to play a second game Saturday was somewhat miraculous after they fell behind by 12 runs only to storm back, scoring 17 times in its last two at-bats to beat Windward 19-17.
“Nobody gave up,” coach Corey Matsu said. “Nobody got down.”
The teams combined for 30 hits and there were no shortage of heroes for Hilo.
Trailing 14-2, Jacob Momohara and Boston Matsu highlighted a 10-run fifth inning with back-to-back doubles.
Hilo forged ahead for good with seven runs in the sixth. Ryan Ota drew a bases-loaded walk to tie the game and Jace Hironaga hit the go-ahead single.
“We got one hit and they just kept on coming,” Corey Matsu said.
Boston Matsu finished with three hits, including a triple, Eli Yamanaka had two of his three hits in the big fifth inning, and Keanu Tavares, Kedren Kinzie (double) and Momohara added two hits apiece.
At the state Pinto (ages 7-8) tournament in Kapolei, Oahu, both Hilo teams won thanks to good defense, their coaches said.
Hilo Blue improved to 2-0 with a 12-1 win against Mililani B, while Hilo White bounced back from a loss Friday to beat Aiea 12-2.
Urijah Agustin finished with a triple and three runs scored for Hilo Blue, which has outscored its competition 27-1 heading into Sunday’s showdown against Mililani A, the other undefeated club in the eight-team field. The winner gets a berth in Tuesday’s title game, while the loser has to win Monday to advance to the final.
“That’s a really tough team, but they are looking forward to it,” said coach Levon Stevens, who credited assistant coach Chase Leopoldino for handling the pitching duties.
“Our defense today is what shined,” Stevens said.
The same could be said for Hilo White, which gets Mililani B for what it hopes is just the first of two games Sunday.
“Our leadoff batter, Kanoa ‘Snowy’ Kendrick and second batter, Brock Ayudan, came in clutch today,” coach Kapena Keopuhiwa said.
Kendrick and Ayudan each went 4 for 4 with three doubles and six RBIs combined.
Kainui Keopuhiwa was 3 for 4 with two RBIs and Kuhao Ofisa drove in four runs.