Dennis Fujimoto – TGI Staff LIHU’E – The Hilo All Stars earned the Hawai’i Region Mustang title by capitalizing on a critical Aiea error and banding behind the pitching of Richard Chinen to shut down Aiea 1-0 in a single
Dennis Fujimoto – TGI Staff
LIHU’E – The Hilo All Stars earned the Hawai’i Region Mustang title by capitalizing on a critical Aiea error and banding behind the pitching of Richard Chinen to shut down Aiea 1-0 in a single game Wednesday morning.
Deadlocked 0-0 in the bottom of the fourth, Likiak Jack got on base on a costly Aiea error as Jack settled at third with just one out.
When Hilo coach Kaha Wong indicated a change in the batting order the Hilo spectators went wild.
So did the dugout.
From the melee, Geonah Ragual tried to conceal the hobble as he took his position in the batter’s box. Taking the signal, Ragual hit away, the ball squirreling down the infield towards second.
The throw went to first as Ragual hobbled his way down the baseline.
Ragual was out, but not before allowing Jack to cross the plate unchallenged to break the 0-0 deadlock.
Jack’s score proved to be the margin of victory with Ragual, saddled by the nagging foot injury throughout the tournament was called upon to deliver the needed RBI.
Aiea outhit Hilo 2-1, but left 7 runners stranded. Bryson Nakamura doubled to leftfield for one of Aiea’s runs with Wade Tamaru singling.
On the mound, Christopher Pascual went the distance in the loss allowing one run on one hit, striking out five, and walking none.
Hilo’s Richard Chinen picked up the win allowing no runs on two hits, striking out eight, and walking two.
Chinen totaled 26 strikeouts in 15 innings pitched in the tournament.
Lihu’e Baseball League was the tournament host.
Hawai’i Region Mustang Tournament
Saturday’s Games
Game 1: Windward All Stars 3, Waianae 8
Game 2: Maui All Stars 18, East Kaua’i All Stars 5
Game 3: West Kaua’i All Stars 3, Hilo 5
Game 4: Aiea 5, Mililani 2
Sunday’s Games
Game 1: East Kaua’i 2, Windward All Stars 10
Game 2: West Kaua’i 1, Mililani 4
Game 3: Maui All Stars 4, Waianae 11
Game 4: Aiea 1, Hilo 7
Monday’s Games
Game 1: Mililani12, Maui 2
Game 2: Windward All Stars 2, Aiea 11
Game 3: Waianae 0,Hilo 2
Tuesday’s Games
Game 1: Aiea 6, Mililani 0
Game 2: Aiea 9, Waianae 2
Wednesday’s Games
Championship: Aiea 0, Hilo 1
