Hilo Little League teams win juniors and intermediate tourneys

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Contributed Hilo's Juniors division All-Star team includes, from left in the back row, Logan Doran, Kahiau Kalaniopio, Kysen Honda, Hunter Pangelinan, Tycen Baruela, Cameron Mateo, Conor Wallace and Coach Chris Honda; front row, Manager Earl Moses John Branco Jr., Zanden Kepaa, Kendrick Stevens, Jay Rudy Arzaga, Keizen Ono, Brock Ayudan and Coach Levon Stevens.
Contributed Hilo Little League's Intermediate (50/70) division All-Star team includes, from left in the back row, Coach Kapena Keopuhiwa , Kainui Keopuhiwa, Eyshen Kitagawa, Donovan Castile, Salota Ofisa, Rycen Garza, Asher Igawa-Silva, Coach Kainoa Kailimai and Coach Mark Kitagawa; front row, Ethan Pangelinan, Colton Leopoldino, Kanoa Kendrick, Braden Oda, OaKley Kailimai and Tyson Santiago.
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Hawaii District 4’s Little League teams faced off in the Juniors division and Intermediate (50/70) division tournaments last weekend at Walter Victor Baseball Complex, and Hilo LL came out on top in both.

The action began with the intermediate tourney. In game one, Hilo routed West Side Hawaii 11-1.

The pair faced off again that afternoon, with Hilo winning 7-0 to take the District title and clinch a bid in the state championship.

The championship will begin July 7 at Bryan J Baptiste Complex in Kapaa, Kauai — ending on July 10. Hilo’s first game will be against District 7 champion Pearl City.

The Juniors tournament began Saturday afternoon, and saw Hilo take on a combined team consisting of players from West Side Hawaii, North Hawaii and Ka‘u.

Hilo won the first game 7-1, but game two became a back-and-forth battle.

The combined team scored two runs in the top first, and held its two-run lead until Hilo tied the score 3-3 in the bottom sixth. With two outs on the board in the bottom seventh and facing a 2-1 count, Kendrick-Allen Stevens singled on a line drive to right field to bat in Brock Ayudan for the go-ahead run.

Hilo will advance to the state tournament, which will run from July 14 to 18 on Maui. Hilo’s first game will be against District 1 champion Kaneohe Little League at the Iron Mahara Stadium in Wailuku.