Play in the Pinto Division of the Lihu‘e Baseball League is drawing to a close this week, in a season that has seen lots of excitement with the launch of a “Junior Umpire” program. This afternoon, the Reds will tangle
Play in the Pinto Division of the Lihu‘e Baseball League is drawing to a close this week, in a season that has seen lots of excitement with the launch of a “Junior Umpire” program.
This afternoon, the Reds will tangle with the Giants at the Pinto Field while the Astros go against the Yankees at the Main Diamond. Both games start at 4:30 p.m.
The Reds, coached by Brian Kohatsu holds the lead in the Pinto league with a 10-2-0 record for 20 points.
They are followed by a three-way bottleneck for second by the Astros, Mariners, and Marlins who all share 8-4-0 records for 16 points.
Kaleo Smith coaches the Astros, Jimmy Tokioka handles the Mariners, and Ferdi Marcelino coaches the Marlins who played the White Sox on Tuesday afternoon at the Lihu‘e County Park.
The Giants with Rich Mendoza at the helm follows with 5-6-0 for 10 points with the Dodgers holding eight points with a 4-8-0 record. Henry Hee coaches the Dodgers.
The White Sox (2-10-0), coached by Lane Tokita, and the Yankees (1-11-0) with Alton Amimoto at the helm make up the rest of the Pinto league, the Sox holding four points, and the Yankees clutching a pair.
Closing ceremonies and a homerun derby will be held Saturday, February 19, beginning at 9 a.m. at the main diamond.
“We were glad to see the Pinto players learn so much this season, and to see our Pony players get experience as junior umpires,” said LBL President Warren Koga.
In an effort to recruit new umpires and provide mentoring opportunities for the youth, LBL Board members worked in teams with players from the League’s Pony Division to officiate the games. Each game was officiated by one Board member and one Pony player. “It was great experience for these kids and you could really see their confidence grow as the season went on,” said Koga. Junior umpires were: Kaylen Wakumoto, Egan Kouchi, Jessica Iwata, Christian Largo, Rysan Sakamoto, Taran Tani, Dalston Miyasato, Dustin Julian, Chysen Nagao, and Clifton Mission. Board members serving as umpires were: Warren Koga, James Largo, Craig Koga, Wayne Wakumoto, Edward Doi, Jason Iwata, David Nagao, Layton Tani, and Dean Oshiro. Kirk Correa and Danny Miyasato also volunteered as umpires.
Registration for the Mustang (ages 9-10) and Bronco (ages 11-12) Divisions will be held from February 22 – 28 (excluding Saturday and Sunday), from 5 p.m – 6 p.m. at the portable building adjacent to the main diamond. Registration forms and additional information can be picked up at the park or online at www.lihuebaseball.org.
Tryouts for the Mustang Division will be held March 1-2, and for the Bronco Division March 3-4. All players and parents will be required to attend a 30-minute anti-drug educational session immediately following tryouts, sponsored by the County of Kaua‘i through a program created by Councilman Jimmy Tokioka and the County’s Anti-Drug Coordinator, Roy Nishida. For more information, contact Beth Tokioka at 652-4190.
The LBL was born in 1952 to “instill the ideals of good sportsmanship, honesty, loyalty, courage, and reverence in the boys of the community.”
Over the years, the program has grown to where it currently boasts nine Shetland teams, eight Pinto teams, four Mustang teams, three Bronco teams, and one Pony team.
Working with parental support, the LBL staff has brought the program to where no less than four games were being played on the fields at the Lihu‘e County Park on Tuesday afternoon. Sponsor banners bring the big-league flavor to the game as they proudly display their messages above a field filled with colorfully-garbed youngsters striving to do the best they can for an appreciative audience.
