Hilo played its best baseball when it mattered most against Waiakea, its crosstown rival that always puts up a good fight and makes the history between the two so interesting. ADVERTISING Hilo played its best baseball when it mattered most
Hilo played its best baseball when it mattered most against Waiakea, its crosstown rival that always puts up a good fight and makes the history between the two so interesting.
Behind a well-rounded game, the Vikings defeated the Warriors 7-2 to sweep the BIIF Division I championship series on Saturday night at Wong Stadium, following the duo’s tradition.
Since 2012 when Waiakea won the HHSAA state title, the Viks have captured the BIIF crown in odd-numbered years: 2013, ’15, and this season.
It’s the first year of the mandatory pitch count under the National Federation of State High School Associations, which implemented the ruling last July. And pitch counts are all the rage.
Taking the BIIF Division I title carries a heavier weight because Hilo will receive a first-round bye, which saves a pitching staff for a day, to the HHSAA tournament, which runs from April 27-30 on Oahu. The state seeding will be released next Sunday.
And it was really pitching that carried the Vikings (14-2), who lost twice to the Warriors in the regular season but swept them in the playoffs.
Hilo junior right-hander Ryan Ragual fired five innings of two-run ball for the win. He allowed four hits and two walks and struck out one.
Senior right-hander Toa Barclay closed the door with two scoreless innings.
After three scoreless innings, the action for both teams started to heat up in the fourth, briefly for the Warriors and a barrage for the Vikings, who scored five runs on four hits and one unfortunate error.
“It was a duel, back and forth. They scratched for a run, and we came back for five. That set the tone and changed the complexion of the game,” said Hilo coach Tony De Sa, who had no answers for the BIIF title trading. “It’s weird. I don’t know why it’s like that.”
In the fourth, Waiakea’s Trayden Tamiya hit a chip shot over shortstop Stone Miyao, and Nate Minami followed with another single that sent runners to the corners. Jacob Igawa was intentionally walked to load the bases for a double play.
Makoa Andres hit a sacrifice fly to break the ice for a 1-0 lead. Then Ragual escaped with a flyout, and Hilo’s bats got hot in the bottom of the inning.
Miyao doubled off Waiakea starter David Nakamura, who dove for Joey Jarneski’s sacrifice bunted ball but booted it past catcher Curren Inouye for a two-base error. Nick Antony, who singled earlier, was intentionally walked.
Waiakea had two putouts at home. On a grounder, first baseman Khaden Victorino gunned a throw to Inouye, and later second baseman Casey Yamauchi whipped a throw home for another forceout.
But Ragual hit an RBI single, and Donald Saltiban Jr. and Noah Kalaola-Richardson, the No. 8 and 9 hitters, walked with the sacks packed for RBIs. Micah Bello capped the rally with a two-run double. Bello went 2 for 4 with two RBIs.
Nakamura pitched 3 2/3 innings, allowed five runs (one unearned) on three hits and two walks in the loss. Devin Midel tossed 1 1/3 innings of one-run relief, and Yamauchi threw a frame and gave up a run.
Yamauchi and Tamiya each batted 2 for 4.
Hilo only had a harmless fielding error in the seventh. De Sa credited his team’s diligence to defense and the senior leadership for steering the Viks in the right direction.
“Every day before practice, they would show up and take ground balls,” he said. “They came together. We were close before but the seniors got everyone even closer. They made a commitment to work and put the time in. They earned it.
“Ryan’s changeup was off the table. It was the first time he had a pitch count that deep. He’s a gamer. And Toa got into a senior rhythm. He’s been a huge surprise for us. It’s well-earned because he’s worked hard.”
Ragual has a distinctive pitching style. He’s straight over the top, which gives his pitches downward movement. He almost resembles a javelin thrower, and his pitches produce outs.
But that’s secondary to his calm mindset.
“I came in feeling normal, like it was another game. I had no stress,” he said. “I just wanted to focus, get ahead with strikes and hit my spots. My changeup was working, my curveball not too much. It was my offspeed stuff, my change and splitter that were working better.
“I used to throw three-quarter. But my arm used to hurt when I threw that way. I throw over the top and did that on my own.”
Maybe the Vikings will be pegged as the BIIF title favorite next year. They lose several key senior starters in ace Jarneski, catcher Chase Costa-Ishii, first baseman Antony, outfielder Kalaola-Richardson, and Barclay.
Of course, Hilo wants to make a nice run at states, but there’s this BIIF title trading history that hangs over everyone’s head.
“I think that’s weird,” Ragual said. “I want to break that next year.”
Waiakea 000 110 0 — 2 5 2
Hilo 000 511 x — 7 6 1
