For the Hilo Pinto All-Star’s first tournament away from the Big Island, coach Cliff Silva stressed effort – not results.
However, after three relatively easy games in which the outcome matched the effort, it’d be only natural if the 7- and 8-year-olds started to think big picture: state title.
Hilo White beat Kona 14-0 on Saturday at the state PONY coach-pitch baseball tournament, moving into the semifinals at Central Oahu Regional Park.
“These kids have responded well to some pressure situations and bonded well over these past couple of days,” Silva said. “The effort has been fantastic.”
While the Pintos face their share of pressure, so to does assistant coach Desmond Wery. As the pitcher in the coach-pitch equation, he has up to six overhand pitches to groove a hittable ball to his players before an out is called. Previous to this season, PONY coach-pitch utilized underhand.
On Friday, Hilo opened play with a 13-3 victory against West Oahu and it followed that up with a 10-5 victory against Kauai. Hilo plays Maui A, a fellow unbeaten, on Sunday for a spot in Tuesday’s final.
Silva said the team’s top hitters so far have been Jaydan Borling-Lewi, Cole Silva, Boston Kobayashi and Kameron Agpalza.
“We tell the kids not to get nervous,” Cliff Silva. “Instead, be excited.
“No matter what happens over the next couple of days, this has been a great educational baseball experience.”
Kona opened with an 18-7 victory against Maui B on Friday, and will try to stay in title contention with a win Sunday. With loses to Maui A and Mililani A, Hilo B fell to the consolation bracket.
In the Pinto player-pitch tournament, Kaleb Wada came on to get the final out as Hilo beat Kapolei 8-5 to remain in contention. It faces West Oahu in another elimination game Sunday.
Zayvin Fujioka started on the mound and was relieved by Dreyston Saltiban and Xavier Silva, and coach Donovan Akau lauded Kawohi Hui Hui for his day at the plate.
“The defense played really hard, and with the help of the whole team we came out with a victory,” Akau said.
Windward beat Hilo 12-1 on Friday.
In Broncos 11, Mililani beat Hilo 4-1 to sweep a best-of-three series. Hilo lost 14-4 on Friday.
“We had one bad inning,” Hilo coach Kyle Wada said. “We hit the ball well, but it was straight at people.”
Courtesy of teams coached by Shon Malani, Hilo won state titles in both Pinto divisions and Broncos 11 last season.
