The 23rd annual Stanley Costales Sr. Memorial Baseball Tournament drew a strong field, featuring the BIIF’s best in host and Division I league champion Hilo and its three competitive friends.
There’s BIIF D-I runner-up Waiakea, four-time defending Division II champion Kamehameha-Hawaii and runner-up Konawaena.
The host Vikings also invited Kealakehe and Hawaii Prep, two others from the Big Island, and out-of-towners Kamehameha-Maui, and Oahu’s Leilehua and Pac-5.
Hilo, Waiakea, Kamehameha-Hawaii, Konawaena, and Pac-5 all played at the HHSAA state tournament last year.
There was little sense, as far as competition’s sake, in inviting Campbell, the Division I state champion, because the Sabers graduated their ace Ian Kahaloa, a fifth-round pick in the MLB draft by the Cincinnati Reds.
Maryknoll, the three-time Division II state champion, is not coming. But at least, the three-day tourney got the next best thing in ILH runner-up Pac-5. The Wolfpack got bounced in two games at states last year.
The Vikings finished fifth at states with an inexperienced group last season. Pretty much everybody is back, including ace pitchers/shortstops Joey Jarneski and Josiah Factora.
“Everybody is a little stronger and bigger,” Hilo coach Tony De Sa said. “Last year, we were really young. We’re seeing maturity in the boys.”
The Viks have the luxury of two catchers in senior Josh Breitbarth and junior Chase Costa-Ishii, who received All-BIIF honorable mention along with Jarneski and Factora last season.
Sophomore center fielder Micah Bello was an All-BIIF first team pick. Austin Aina, a senior, is another returning starter in left field. The right field spot will be an open audition.
Around the infield, it’s junior Nick Antony and sophomore Ryan Ragual on the corners and freshman Stone Miyao at second base.
It’s an even-numbered year, so if history is followed it’s Waiakea’s turn to win the BIIF title. It was Hilo in 2015 and ’13, and Waiakea in ’14 and ’12.
Leilehua is better known for football, although the Mules last qualified for the state tournament in 2011, when they beat Kealakehe 35-24.
Former UH-Hilo baseball coach Joey Estrella can proudly point out that the No. 2 seed Mules beat No. 1 Saint Louis 20-16 for the state championship in 2007. Leilehua’s coach is Nolan Tokuda, a former Vul second baseman.
The Leilehua baseball team last advanced to states in 2013 and fell to Waiakea 14-3 in the first round. Kean Wong, then a senior, batted 3 for 5 with three runs scored; Kodi Medeiros was 4 for 4 with three RBIs and Caleb Freitas-Fields went 3 for 5 with four RBIs.
That year, Waiakea lost to Mid-Pacific in the quarterfinals 5-1 and later fell in consolation. But it was a good springboard for then freshman Freitas-Fields, who’s now a senior.
As a third baseman, Freitas-Fields, pitcher Makoa Andres, shortstop Taylor Mondina and outfielder Nate Minami landed on the All-BIIF first team last season.
Waiakea will be good again this season, just like Hilo. One or the other has pocketed every BIIF Division I title since 2006, when Kamehameha won it. (Kamehameha dropped to Division II in 2010.)
“The tournament should be good. It’ll be fun competition,” said De Sa, not needing to mention it’s always better than good when his Vikings and Waiakea meet in any championship.
Preseason baseball
Thursday
Wong Stadium
KS-Maui vs. Konawaena, Noon
KS-Hawaii vs. Kealakehe, 2:30 p.m.
Leilehua vs. Waiakea, 5 p.m.
Opening ceremonies, 7:30 p.m.
Pac-5 vs. Hilo, 7:45 p.m.
