Shon Malani’s Hilo Mustang 9s All-Stars hadn’t expected to open play against their hometown brethren at the state PONY League Baseball tournament.
When they drew Hilo’s “B” team on Thursday, Malani told his youngsters not to take their foe lightly, and clearly they didn’t.
Ivor Brooks hit a three-run home run Friday and Hilo Gold picked up where they left off last season at states, beating Hilo Silver 21-0 in Lihue, Kauai.
Brooks, Clemson Julian, Brayden Malani, Quinn Waiki and Jaziah Oili each finished with multiple hits for Gold, which faces Kauai at 11:30 a.m. Saturday in the six-team tournament. Kauai drew a bye.
Hilo Gold has a championship pedigree.
Waiki is new to the squad, but all the other players wereon Malani-coached teams that claimed state Pinto (ages 7-8) titles last season in coach-pitch and player-pitch.
“We still have a lot of baseball to play, but we like our chances,” Shon Malani said. “We like what we see.”
Julian worked the first inning and three other pitchers went an inning apiece for Hilo Gold.
Hilo Silver plays an elimination game Saturday on a busy weekend of baseball on Kauai, which is hosting four state tournaments simultaneously.
In the Pony Division (ages 13-14), Hilo’s second-team All-Stars beat Waianae 10-4 and advanced to face Central Oahu on Saturday.
“The boys played well, and they did what they needed to do,” said Hilo Blue coach Layne Nakayama.
Hilo “A” is coaches by Earl Moses and played Kauai on Friday in a game that ended after the Tribune-Herald’s deadline.
The three-time defending champion Hilo Broncos All-Stars got off to a tough start, losing to Windward “B” to end their 12-game winning streak in the ages 11-12 division. Hilo faces an elimination game Saturday.
West Hawaii was losing to Windward “A” 8-2 when their game was postponed by darkness in the fifth inning. The game will resume Saturday.
In ages 9-10, the Hilo Mustang All-Stars lost to Windward and will play an elimination game Saturday.