KAILUA-KONA — It seemed only appropriate the Lil Soljahs would be the top team on Memorial Day.
The Kona squad went deep three times, including a three run blast in a seven run fifth inning and Paa Elarionoff struck out 11 batters in a dominating 13-2 mercy-ruled victory over the Waimea Broncos on Monday at Old Airport Park.
The Lil Soljahs managed to shake off a devastating loss in last year’s Bronco Division championship game after losing a 6-1 lead to visiting KC from Oahu. This year, the Lil Soljahs were the favorite heading into the 18th annual Kona PONY Memorial Day Tournament and it showed from the first pitch to the last.
“This was a good tournament and it was a good outcome,” said Lil Soljahs head coach Kallen Hiraishi. “There were about 12 teams coming from Hilo, Kona, Maui and Oahu, so it was good competition.”
The team of Kona all-stars were led by Elarionoff on the hill. The 12-year old pitcher used three pitches to work his way through the visiting Waimea squad in the title game. Leading with a dominating fastball, Elarionoff blew pitches by the overmatched Broncos batters, averaging two strikeouts per inning.
“My stuff was working today,” a very modest Elarionoff said after the game. “I usually only go three innings but I think the coaches wanted to ride me today.”
“This is my first championship victory in this tournament and it feels good,” the pitcher added.
Through the first three innings, Elarionoff faced the minimum of batters, striking out six and allowing three groundouts. In the top of the fourth inning, the Lil Soljahs pitcher ran into his only bit of trouble in the game.
Relying more on his breaking stuff than his heater, Waimea managed three hits in the inning — all singles — two of them soft bloopers that dropped in front of the Lil Soljahs’ outfielders. Waimea’s Elijah Scadina made good contact for the third hit, singling to center to knock in two runs.
“My boys put their heart out there and practiced every day, we just came up short against one hell of a team from Kona,” said Waimea head coach Andrew Akau Jr. “We have played in this tournament for the last three years and Kona PONY puts on a great tournament.”
The three hits and two earned would be the only damage Waimea could do to Elarionoff during the game. The pitcher managed to strike out the side in the fourth inning, despite the troubles, and then faced only three batters in the final inning, striking out two and forcing another groundout.
“Paa wanted the ball and he was just amazing,” Hiraishi said. “He handled the pressure well.”
On offense, the Lil Soljahs were led by the long ball off the bats of Xaige Lancaster, Tooku Hook and Wailele Kane-Yates.
Lancaster gave the Kona team a comfortable 4-0 lead with one out in the bottom of the third inning, taking a fastball the other way for a two-run home run. Later in the inning, Hook pulled a hanging curve over the left field fence for two more runs.
Up 6-2 heading into the bottom of the fifth, the Lil Soljahs ended the game by pushing seven runs across the plate. The final three crossed when Kane-Yates went after a high fastball, hitting a moonshot well over the left field fence to put his team up by 11. Kane-Yates had no doubt the ball was gone as soon as it left the bat as he tossed the bat and took a hop out of the box.
“Our kids just starting hitting, they were hot all tournament,” Hiraishi said. “The team jelled really well together and just unloaded.”
Elarionoff, the Lil ’ ace, picked up the victory. He did not walk a batter and the defense was solid behind him, playing flawlessly.
Waimea starting pitcher Lopaka Akau took the loss. He allowed six runs, five earned, off seven hits. Akau walked two and struck out one. Kama Muruki threw two innings in relief, allowing seven runs off eight hits. He struck out three and walked two.
The Broncos defense committed two errors.
Mustang Division
The younger Lil Soljahs squad made it a clean sweap in the tournament, defeating Oahu’s Bushido 13-4 in the Mustang Division championship game.