Some victories take years to manifest.
Hilo High’s baseball team got to experience its dream come true, as the Vikings recovered from a 1-0 series hole to rout rival Waiakea two games in a row in the Central Pacific Bank/BIIF Division I finals on Monday — winning their first BIIF DI title against Waiakea since before the pandemic, and preventing the Warriors from another repeat title.
After suffering a first-round loss of 9-4 on Saturday morning, the Vikings crushed the Warriors 15-0 in five innings later in the evening and returned on Monday to dominate Waiakea again, 8-3.
It was an exceptional and unusual chapter in a perennial rivalry which usually consists of tightly-contested, low-scoring affairs.
“I dont think that ever happened before between the both of us,” Hilo head coach Baba Lancaster said.”I think it was the first time.
“The boys hit the ball and executed how we planned to. The knew how to put the ball down, they bunted when they had to and got the hits that we needed.”
Saturday’s evening game was where Hilo gained its momentum. After a disappointing, big loss in the morning, the Vikings had had enough — and got it together.
“I told the boys ‘I’m glad we got the loss now,’” Lancaster said. “They didn’t like that feeling, and they stepped up. All praise to the boys, they worked hard and came out victorious.
“Our underclassmen wanted it so bad for the seniors, it was a great team win.”
Waiakea head coach Chris Honda commended the Vikings for their performance thoughout the whole series.
“Hilo played very well,” he said. “They’re a good team. I was proud of our boys — they kept their heads up and continued to compete every inning, every day.
“I think we played OK. Hilo hit the ball well, put the ball in play and limited their errors — which I think was big for their success — and they out-hit us every game.”
In Monday’s game three — Hilo drew first blood in the bottom of the first inning, as shortstop Legend Lancaster hit a sacrifice fly to deep left field for an RBI, driving in Jarren Sakamoto.
Next, catcher Zion Palea doubled a line drive to left field to bat in Kamren Agpalza. After a flyout, Hilo entered the second inning ahead 2-0.
Two looking strikeouts by Hilo pitcher Jayden Geraci and a flyout sent the Warriors down in four at-bats in the top second.
“I gotta hand it to our pitchers,” Lancaster said. “In the 15-0 game, Koa Marzo pitched a hell of a game, (on Monday) Geraci pitched a hell of a game.”
In the bottom second, Sakamoto sacrifice bunted to drive in Logan Schlueter — a courtesy runner for Geraci — to plate Hilo’s third run. Next, Koa Marzo singled to bat in Cole Hatayama before the end of the inning.
Waiakea was shut out again in the top fourth, and Hilo returned to bolster its lead. Facing two outs, Sakamoto singled on a ground ball to right field and batted in Schlueter. Waiakea pitcher Jerell Alston struck out a batter looking, ending the frame.
The trend persisted, as the Warriors failed to score in the top fifth and Hilo scored again in the subsequent frame. With one out and runners on first and third in the bottom fifth, Geraci sacrifice bunted to drive in Agpalza. Talus Sato stepped up to the plate with two outs, and worked a 1-2 count to a 3-2 as Legend Lancaster scored on a wild pitch. Another wild pitch allowed Dylan Villanueva to score and walked Sato. WHS’ Conor Wallace sent a batter down swinging to end the frame.
Waiakea rallied for its first three runs in the top sixth. Caleb Wada doubled on a line drive to left field, batting in Jesse Inouye. In the next at-bat, first-baseman Clemson Julian doubled on a first-pitch line drive to deep right field — sending Wada and Ivor Brooks home. A batter lined out to third base for WHS’ second out, then the following batter flew out to second base.
Hilo was unable to increase its score in the bottom sixth. With two outs and runners on first and second in the top seventh, the Vikings put Marzo on the mound. An HBP loaded the bases, but the following batter grounded out to seal Hilo’s victory.
Hilo will await seeding in the DI state championship, while Waiakea will host OIA sixth-place finisher Kalani High for a state play-in game at 3 p.m. on Friday.