LIHU‘E — Nicholas Sloggett came up with a two-run in-the-park homerun in the fifth inning as the Lihu‘e Baseball League (LBL) Mustang Astros put the lid on a 15-1 win over the Jays for the title of the LBL Mustang
LIHU‘E — Nicholas Sloggett came up with a two-run in-the-park homerun in the fifth inning as the Lihu‘e Baseball League (LBL) Mustang Astros put the lid on a 15-1 win over the Jays for the title of the LBL Mustang division, Saturday.
“He was so happy,” said the LBL scorekeeper who happened to be the mother of Nicholas Tabura, who also helped in the victory by scoring twice. “It was the best game of his season!”
Sloggett, who crossed the plate twice, finished the day with a pair of singles before his ITP homer that brought home Markie Martinez who got aboard after being hit by a pitch. Sloggett also marked a pair of RBI in the outing.
Alternating between starting pitcher Lucas Gushikuma and Kellen Aquino, the Astros allowed just one run on no Jay hits in the game shortened by the 10-run rule after five innings. Gushikuma shared the win with Aquino, allowing just one run that scored on a passed ball while striking out two and walking two before Aquino took over.
But, it was the Astros lumber that fueled the victory with Aquino leading the charge with a pair of singles, and following it up with a three-run RBI triple in the fourth inning.
The Astros notched three runs in the first, added one in the third, and sealed the victory with five runs in the fourth, and six in the fifth frame.
Aquino also topped the Astros scoring, crossing the plate four times in the win while taking over for Gushikuma to close the game by striking out three Blue-Jay batters.
Gushikuma, Sloggett, Cody Juarez, and Tabura each scored twice in the victory, Gushikuma coming up with a double and an RBI in the batter’s box.
Juarez finished with two singles, and Tabura ending with a bunt single.
Martinez, who scored once in the win, was joined by Justin Reyes, Reggie McFadden, and Gushikuma to round out the Astros’ scoring.
Reyes finished the day with a pair of RBI on two singles while McFadden ended with an RBI on a double.
The Jays’ only run came on Astros’ miscues as Jensen Koga got aboard on an error, stole second and third base, and scored on a passed ball in the third inning.
Both the Astros and Jays finished the day with four errors apiece.
An outfield spectator noted the dramatic comeback by the redshirt Astros, noting that earlier in the season, the BlueJays had the lead, but the Astros’ comeback put them in a situation where a single win would give them the title.
