This past weekend saw plenty of Little League action — the District 4 Majors division tournament, Hilo LL’s 50/70 team state run and the Softball Majors state championship.
Hilo LL baseball wins Dist. 4 Majors tourney
The Majors District Championship kicked off on Friday at Walter Victor Baseball Complex, with first-round matchups between Hilo and North Hawaii, and between West Side Hawaii and Ka‘u.
The two first round games ended in double-digit victories for WSH and Hilo — with West Side winning 16-0 and Hilo winning 17-1.
Hilo quickly got the bats going during the game against NHLL, scoring six runs in the first inning — boosted by a first inning homer by Knoxx Kailimai. Later in the game, teammate Reese Kualii also hit a homer.
During WSHLL’s game against Ka‘u, West Side’s George Youngstrom also homered.
Saturday saw Hilo blank WSHLL 11-0 to earn its berth in the final round, and North Hawaii knock Ka‘u out of the tournament with a 17-0 win.
NHLL bounced back from its first round loss, with its players combining for a homer, two triples and four doubles.
Hilo kept the bats ablaze. Damian Iida hit a home run, and doubles were hit by Madden Awaya, Chase Iwata, Kase Ulibas, Liam Villanueva and Jordan Pagan.
On Sunday, North Hawaii and West Side fought tooth and nail for the other championship berth. NHLL plated a run in the second inning — which proved to be the deciding run, as both teams each added four runs in the fifth inning. North Hawaii came away with a 5-4 win and a shot at redemption against Hilo.
Though NHLL fared much better against Hilo in the championship, Hilo won 9-2 to take the title and earn a berth in the upcoming state tournament. During that final game, Kailimai hit his second homer of the tournament.
Hilo LL Softball Majors win
state via forfeit
Hilo Little League’s Softball Majors All-Star team was set to play against District 6 (Honolulu) in the state championship on Saturday at Walter Victor, but District 6 elected to forfeit from the tournament.
As the only other team in the bracket, this gave Hilo an automatic win and a berth in the West Region Championship — which will begin July 22 in San Bernardino, Calif.
The double-elimination tournament will also host state champions from Utah, Nevada, Arizona, Northern California and Southern California.
Hilo will play its first round against Southern California.
The winner of regionals will enter the Little League Softball World Series, which begins in August in Greenville, N.C.
Hilo 50/70
falls at state
Hilo LL’s 50/70 (Intermediate) All-Star team traveled to Oahu for the state championship on Friday and Saturday, but fell out after going 0-2.
HLL began the tournament with a 13-3 loss to Pearl City, then fell 9-6 to Central Maui during consolation play.
Correction
The Monday edition of the Hawaii Tribune-Herald included a photo of Knoxx Kailimai which was erroneously identified as Reese Kualii.
