Kamehameha hammered Hilo 15-7 to claim the championship at the 21st annual Stanley Costales Sr. Memorial/Hilo High preseason tournament Saturday night at Wong Stadium.
Daylen Calicdan batted 3 for 4 with two RBIs to lead the Warriors, who took a 9-4 lead after two innings. Matt Chun went 2 for 4 with an RBI, Jordan Hirae 1 for 3 with an RBI, Kelii Monitbon 2 for with an RBI while Chay Toson, Micah Carter and Paka Davis each added two hits.
Montibon went two innings for the win. Hirae was the most effective pitcher, firing 2 1/3 scoreless innings, and earned the tournament’s MVP award.
Hilo freshman Toa Barclay recorded one out and got tagged with the loss, even though he exited before the Warriors exploded for six runs in the second inning.
The only innings of convenience were the third, fourth and fifth. Every other frame the offense for either team or both tacked on runs. It made for a wild three-hour plus back-and-forth scoring fest.
Toson, who batted 2 for 3, was the batting champion with a .857 hitting clip (6 for 7). The senior center fielder also made a difficult over-the-shoulder catch look easy in the fifth inning.
In the top of the fifth, Hilo shortstop Micah Kaaukai had his web gem on defense. He ranged far to his right in the hole, set his back foot and rifled a long throw to first to nail Kobi Candaroma, no slow poke, by a half-step.
Kaaukai and sophomore catcher Joshua Breitbarth each batted 2 for 3 to lead the Vikings, who had a chance to cut into Kamehameha’s cushion in the fourth with the bases filled and two out.
But Hirae came on in relief, threw a wild pitch that got Hilo within 13-7, then recorded a strikeout to end the Vikings’ three-run rally and they never scored again. Candaroma closed out the seventh.
Both teams played without their star players. Kamehameha senior catcher Makoa Rosario and Hilo outfielder Jodd Carter each traveled to Oahu for a showcase.