In the past, baseball coach Baba Lancaster has been more than willing to play small-ball. Bunts, hit-and-runs, stolen bases, safety squeezes – whatever gets a run home.
Or he can do as he did the past three games at Walter Victor Stadium, where he essentially stood down the third-base line and put his hands in his pockets, leaving the Hilo All-Stars to do what they do best.
“Grip and rip,” Lancaster said.
Hilo hammered four more home runs, two by Xaige Lancaster, and Joshua Ward gave the All-Stars another fine pitching performance in a 14-4 victory against North Hawaii to clinch the Little League District 4 championship for the Majors division (ages 11-12).
“Don’t try to overpower it, just stroke the ball,” slick-fielding shortstop Wailele Kane-Yates said.
Kane-Yates and Kaynan Kaku each finished with a home run and three hits.
“Smooth strokes,” Kane-Yates said.
Not to mention pitching and defense.
North Hawaii showed well in going 2-2 to finish runner-up at a third tournament in the past five weeks, including PONY League sectionals and the Kona Memorial Day tourney. Many of the All-Stars from Waimea-Kohala have a chance to be a boon for schools such Hawaii Prep, Kohala and Honokaa in the years ahead in BIIF play.
They just ran into a hot team from Hilo, which advances to the state tournament, July 21-25 on Oahu, with big goals in mind.
Ward gave up a three-run home run to Elijah Scadino in the bottom of the first inning, but he got stronger and pitched a five-hitter with two strikeouts and no walks in the five-inning TKO.
“I was supposed to pitch (in relief), but Josh pitched fabulous,” Kane-Yates said.
Ward retired the side in the second, third and fifth inning, and as a result, Hilo needed just three pitchers in its three wins, outscoring the opposition 55-10 with nine home runs.
“Really, 1-14 can hit the ball, “Lancaster said. “I’ve got 13 pitchers out of 14 players, and that says it all. Especially at the next level, we need a lot of pitching.”
Hilo is one step closer to the famed Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa., and a national TV audience.
“That’s our goal, to win that thing,” Kane-Yates said.
Hilo Blue takes Minors
Hilo Blue’s Little League District 4 tournament largely was devoid of the “little league” plays that can be characteristic for 9- and 10-year-olds playing baseball.
But matters got a little hairy in the fourth inning Tuesday, when an infield hit for West Side was as effective as a game-tying two-run home run.
Faced with adversity for the first time, Hilo Blue came through with a big league response, bouncing right back to claim the championship with an 8-2 victory that capped an unbeaten run at Walter Victor Stadium.
“We just tried our best and said, ‘We got it,’” left fielder Kanu Tolentino said. “Keep on doing your best until we got it.”
Hilo Blue reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the fourth as singles by Shiloh Santos and Talus Sato and a pair of walks produced one run, setting the table forKamaka Ili’s two-run double off the temporary fence in left and a 5-2 lead.
Ili finished with three hits for Hilo Blue, which advances to the Minors state tournament July 21-25 on Oahu.
“I’m looking forward to seeing family,” said Tolentino, who gave Hilo Blue the lead with a two-run single in the first.
He helped sustain the advantage with a running catch to secure the third out with two runners aboard in the second.
“The best part of playing on this team is we’re friends,” he said.
Santos and Kiai Yasso each pitched three strong innings, combining on a three-hitter.