Hilo Seniors rout Nevada at regionals

By BILL O’REAR

Tribune-Herald sports editor

Micah Ka’aukai, Alika Guillermo and Makoa Rosario each drove in two runs to power the Hilo All-Stars to a 13-3 five-inning TKO win over Nevada on Tuesday to open pool play in the Little League Western Regional Seniors baseball tournament.

The nine-team tournament for players ages 15-17 runs through Aug. 7 in Ontario, Calif. with the winner advancing to the Seniors World Series in Bangor, Maine. Hilo is the defending champion.

Ka’aukai went 2 for 4 with a double and two RBIs, Guillermo 2 for 2 with a double and two RBIs, and Rosario 1 for 2 with a triple and two RBIs to spark Hilo’s 13-hit attack. Six of the team’s 13 hits were for extra bases, including a pair of triples.

Tyler Higa-Gonsalves added a triple and Chay Toson had two hits, including a double, in a big day at the plate for the Big Islanders.

“We hit the ball really well today,” Hilo manager Zackery Higa said. “If we can continue to do that, we should be able to play with any of the teams. Arizona and Southern California look strong, but we should be able to play with them.”

Higa also praised right-handed pitchers Austin Ah Hee and Elijah Cruz as well as his squad’s defense in the lopsided win over Nevada (0-1).

“Austin started for us a did really well and Elijah came on strong to finish,” the Hilo manager said. “I also loved how our defense played. We didn’t have any errors.”

Ah Hee started for Hilo and hurled 3 1/3 innings. In picking up the win, he allowed three hits and two runs while striking out four and walking two. Cruz pitched the final 1 2/3 innings, giving up a run with two strikeouts. The pair combined to hold Nevada to four hits.

Higa said a small group of parents and friends from the mainland were at the game, cheering on Hilo.

“We had about 10 people supporting us,” Higa said. “But I also want to say thank you to the Hilo parents who couldn’t make it on the trip. The boys played well and everybody did their jobs today. It was a good team win.”

Hilo plated three runs in the top of the second inning, with Rosario’s triple the key hit to ignite the rally. Then after Nevada scored a run in the bottom of the inning, the Big Islanders scored three runs in the third and exploded for seven runs in the fourth.

Starter Zak Harges took the loss for Nevada.

Hilo (1-0) is in Pool B along with Nevada, Montana, Arizona and Southern California. The Big Islanders draw a bye today and play Montana at noon Hawaii Standard Time on Thursday; Arizona at 3 p.m. Friday; and Southern California at 3 p.m. Sunday.

Pool A includes host Ontario, Washington, Oregon and Northern California.

The two top teams from each pool will advance to the semifinals Monday, with games at noon and 3 p.m. The championship will be played at 3 p.m. Aug. 7.

Members of the Hilo All-Stars include Alika Guillermo, Chay Toson, Kupono Decker, Micah Ka’aukai, Kobi Candaroma, Bronson Pulgados, Ryan Torres-Torioka, Chad Teshima, Makoa Rosario, Tyler Higa-Gonsalves, Kihei Serrao, Elijah Cruz, Tyler Thornley, Evyn Yamaguchi and Austin Ah Hee. Zackery Higa is the manager with assistant coaches Clayton Ah Hee and Gadi Pulgados.

Notes: The Western Regional is being played at Littleton Field, “a beautiful, old-fashioned park where the movie “Field of Dreams” was filmed,” according to Hilo assistant coach Clayton Ah Hee.

“They told us the park is about 80 years old, but it’s really well kept with a grass infield,” Ah Hee said. “The place has a lot of wood and has an old-fashion look. It’s a nice place to play.”…

Higa said the game was “played in beautiful baseball weather,” sunny and in the mid-90s.

“I’d say it was about 95 degrees,” Higa said. “It was a great day for baseball.” …

Last year, Hilo, under manager Kaha Wong, claimed the Western Regional title and went on to win the World Series.

“We’d love to do what Coach Kaha did last year,” Ah Hee said. …

In one other opening day Pool B game, Southern California beat Montana 18-1.

At Ontario, Calif.

Hilo 033 70 — 13 13 0

Nevada 010 20 — 3 4 1