A double play is a pitcher’s best friend.
Hit it where they ain’t.
Let your defense do its job.
It was cliche Sunday at the state Junior League baseball tournament, and the Hilo All-Stars were up against it facing their visitors from the Valley Isle.
Flashing sound fundamental play that would make a college team proud, Central East Maui eliminated Hilo with a 10-0 TKO victory at Walter Victor complex.
“We lucked out,” Maui coach Leo Tomita said. “Hilo hit the ball and our guys did what they’re taught, and we were fortunate to be able to make plays.”
And by making plays, he means turning two.
Hilo (0-2) hit into four rally-killing double plays in the five innings, three of which Maui’s middle infielders were able to convert on groundballs. The prettiest one came in the fifth when second baseman Zach Dando went to his left to glove Kyson Wada’s hard-hit grounder, then pivoted to throw to second to start a twin killing.
Backed by his error-less defense, Maui starter B.A. Oto needed just 47 pitches to weave a three-hitter, striking out one. Oto walked two in the top of the first, but once he got out of the inning by inducing Joshua Ward to hit into a double play on a hard-struck ball to short, Oto started pounding the strike zone and was rewarded.
“(He had) to get comfortable on the mound,” Tomita said. “First time he threw all tournament, and he was getting his feel. He settled down nicely.”
Hilo obviously has talent – evidenced by the fact that half of its players were on the state Little League championship team last season – but it just couldn’t get it going at home, finishing with just one run in two games.
Its four pitchers – Kaynan Kaku Jr., Tyler Halemanu, Krysjyn-Kydyn Nakamura and Wada – combined to walk six batters and hit two more, and Hilo committed four errors.
Central East Maui’s players have a strong pedigree as well, with some playing on the 2016 state Little League championship team and the 2015 Mustang club that went to the PONY World series.
At 11:30 a.m. Monday, Maui (2-1) plays Honolulu (1-1) to try and get into Tuesday’s ages 14-under title game opposite Pearl City (3-0), which came back to beat Honolulu 5-3 earlier Sunday and would need to lose twice after a day’s rest to be denied the title. Pearl City beat Maui 15-5 on Friday.
“We’re OK pitching-wise,” Tomita said. “We’re not going to take (Honolulu) cheap. They played a great game against Pearl City.”
B.J. Pacheco hit a two-out, two-run single in the third to give Maui a 3-0 lead, finishing 2 for 2 with three RBIs.
The bottom of the fourth was a drip, drip, drip of unfortunate events for Hilo. A walk and two bunt singles loaded the bases, then an error, Wehiwa Aloy’s hit, a walk and a hit a batter accounted for four more runs.
Aloy snacked an RBI double in the fifth, going 3 for 4 with two RBIs, and Kahiau Tekuya followed with a deep double to bring home two runs and end it.
Friday
Pearl City, Oahu 15, Maui 5
Honolulu 5, Kaneohe, Oahu 1
Saturday
Pearl City 4, Hilo 1
Maui 10, Kaneohe, Oahu 1
Sunday
Maui 10, Hilo 0
Pearl City 5, Honolulu 3
Monday
Honolulu vs. Maui winner, 11:30 a.m.
Tuesday
Pearl City winner vs. Monday’s winner, 11:30 a.m.
Pearl City winner vs. Monday’s winner, 2:30 p.m., if necessary