With restrictive pitch count rules to consider and the demand of trying to win four games in five days, managing a staff at a youth baseball tournament can turn into a chess match of sorts.
For Pearl City’s Darren Murakami, Saturday was as simple as a game of checkers. He handed the ball to Joshua Aribal and watched him go.
Fit him for a crown him on this day.
Aribal scattered seven hits in a complete game and came through with a go-ahead two-run double as Pearl City beat Hilo 4-1 to remain unbeaten at the state Junior League tournament at Walter Victor complex.
“He’s usually pretty steady and confident,” Murakami said, “and he was doing good (today) so we left him in.”
Murakami said Pearl City (2-0) has three starting pitchers it can rely on, leaving the Oahu team in an enviable position entering Sunday’s game against Honolulu (1-0). The winner earns a spot in Tuesday’s championship game.
Drawing players from B-Pono, the RBI Dodgers and the Wreckers, Hilo (0-1) drew a bye Friday, and half of its players were members of the Hilo All-Stars team that won the state Little League title last season. Coach William Kuamoo showed confidence in the depth of his pitching staff Saturday by using two of his top arms, both of whom were heroes last summer on Hilo’s run to regionals.
Joshua Ward relied heavily on his curve ball and pitched three-plus innings, leaving with the game tied 1-1, and left-hander Mana Kuamoo struck out six in firing three scoreless inning to finish. Neither will be available Sunday when Hilo faces Maui (1-1) in an elimination game in the 14-and-under tournament.
“It can’t be helped,” William Kuamoo said. “It’s just good competition, that’s all.”
Hilo tied the game 1-1 in the third thanks to a nifty bit of base running by Devin Saltiban.
Call it the Saltiban Slip.
The third baseman, who finished 2 for 3, led off the inning with a single, moved to second on Xaige Lancaster’s single and one out later he tried to score from second on Mana Kuamoo’s hit to center. The throw home was slightly up the line, but it came in plenty of time to nail Saltiban, who avoided a low tag by leaping over the catcher to provide the highlight of the day for Hilo.
Aribal was otherwise stingy. He struck out six and needed only 21 pitches to get through the final three innings. Hilo, which outhit Pearl City 7-6, put its first two runners on base in the seventh, but Aribal induced a double-play grounder and a comebacker to end it.
“We just have to clean everything up, and it will be fine,” William Kuamoo said.
The biggest at-bat of the game might have come from Pearl City pinch-hitter Asher Kwon. With two outs and the bases empty in the top of the fourth, Kwon coaxed a walk against Reyn Segovia-Tanonaka. Dylan Soto followed with a single and both scored on Aribal’s liner to deep left. Tyson Murakami tacked on an RBI single.
Aribal also manufactured Pearl City’s first run. After getting hit by a pitch, he stole second, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt and scored on a wild pitch.
“They came out strong, they played with confidence,” Darren Murakami said. “Our kids pulled through and backed each other up.”
Friday
Pearl City, Oahu 15, Maui 5
Honolulu 5, Kaneohe, Oahu 1
Saturday
Pearl City 4, Hilo 1
Maui 10, Kaneohe, Oahu 1
Sunday
Honolulu vs. Pearl City, 11:30 a.m.
Hilo vs. Maui, 2:30 p.m.
Monday
Honolulu-Pearl City loser vs. Hilo-Maui winner, 11:30 a.m.
Tuesday
Honolulu-Pearl City winner vs. Monday’s winner, 11:30 a.m.
Honolulu-Pearl City winner vs. Monday’s winner, 2:30 p.m., if necessary