The Kona Bronco All-Star team swept visiting Hilo in the Big Island PONY Sectionals at Old Airport Park Saturday afternoon. Kona took the best-of-3 game series, winning 9-5 and 12-2.
“This was a team effort and offensively we got use to the pitching, got our timing down, and got more aggressive at the plate,” Kona head coach Jerry Hiraishi said. “My kids were ready to play and hopefully they will be ready for states next week.”
The opening game was much closer than the final score indicated, as Kona pulled away late. The west side team jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning when leadoff hitter Kainoa Jones walked. Two outs later, Isaac Kaku stepped to the plate and sent a pitch over the left field fence for a two-run home run.
Kona added three runs in the second, one in the third and one in the fourth to go up 7-0. In the bottom of the fourth, Hilo scored all five of their runs to make it a two-run ball game, but Kona added a pair of insurance runs in the sixth inning to hold on for the win.
The second game was a blowout as the bats came alive for the west side team. Kona spread its runs out, scoring one in the first, four in the second, five in the third and two in the sixth to win by run rule.
Jones scored three times for Kona after reaching base on a walk and two singles to left. Noah Furchner also had a multi-hit day and scored two runs.
Kona will now advance to the state tournament which will start on June 26 in Hilo.