It’s hard to stand out on a team full of sluggers. Kalai Rosario manages to do it, and not just because he’s the “team clown,” as coach Chris Honda calls him. ADVERTISING It’s hard to stand out on a team
It’s hard to stand out on a team full of sluggers. Kalai Rosario manages to do it, and not just because he’s the “team clown,” as coach Chris Honda calls him.
The Hilo All-Stars hit four more home runs Saturday, but Rosario’s was a HOME RUN. His mammoth blast cleared the Butler Building, which is behind the incline that’s beyond the fence marked 250 feet at Walter Victor Stadium.
Highlighted by a tape-measure shot that likely travelled more than 350 feet, Hilo moved into the semifinals of the state PONY League Bronco tournament with a 17-7 victory against Kona.
“We’re seeing the pitches well and putting good swings on the ball,” Rosario said.
But his was different than most.
“Just skills,” Rosario said of his longest home run.
And he had a message for his big brother Makoa, a former standout catcher at Kamehameha-Hawaii.
“That’s how you hit a baseball,” Rosario said.
Seeking a threepeat, Hilo gets a day off before it takes the field Monday against fellow unbeaten Aiea at 9 a.m. Monday. Kona can still reach the semifinals of the ages 11-12 tournament, too, but it will have to win two elimination games on Sunday, starting with a 9 a.m. matchup against Kapolei.
The task of winning two games might just prove to be easier than facing Hilo’s lineup
“You have to throw to spots and you can’t behind in the count,” Kona coach Jerry Hiraishi. “That’s when they hurt us.”
Zakaia Michaels and Hanalei Warren homered for the second consecutive day, and Hilo showed its depth, too. Keaton McCallum pinch-hit in the fourth and hit a three-run home run and No. 9 hitter Kalia Agustin delivered two hits.
“We have very disciplined hitters, and they make adjustments as the game goes on,” Honda said. “The one thing we work with them on is going to the plate with a plan.”
Kona loaded the bases in the first two innings, but came away with only one run against Nainoa Kane-Yates, who featured a sharp curveball and struck out seven in four-plus innings.
Kona got production from the bottom of its lineup. Benjamin Apilado and Drew Basque, the Nos. 8 and 9 hitters, combined to go 5 for 5 with a sacrifice fly and three RBIs.
Though Kainoa Jones and Apilado did well in relief of Bronson Rivera, that wasn’t enough to keep up with Hilo.
To go along with his three-run shot, Rosario had three hits, including a single in the sixth to end the game. Kane-Yates also had three hits.
“We didn’t give up,” Hiraishi said. “We just have to win two tomorrow and keep on winning.”
