LIHU‘E – The Lihu‘e Baseball League Mustang runner-up had a second shot at the reigning champion Astros during the Mustang division championship at the Lihu‘e Baseball Bash, Monday. But, the outcome on this matchup was different from the league championship
LIHU‘E – The Lihu‘e Baseball League Mustang runner-up had a second shot at the reigning champion Astros during the Mustang division championship at the Lihu‘e Baseball Bash, Monday.
But, the outcome on this matchup was different from the league championship where the Astros’ hitting relegated the Yankees to a runner-up berth.
Cody Takasaki and Shane Iwata teamed up on the mound to share a 13-7 victory for the first Mustang title at the Lihu‘e Baseball Bash.
In the batter’s box, Iwata led the Yankee sticks with five RBI, including driving Takasaki home for all three of Takasaki’s plate crossings.
Takasaki, who finished with a pair of runs driven in from the batter’s box, joined with Koa Luce-Yamamoto in scoring three times in their win.
With the Yankees jumping out to an early 7-2 lead, the Astros came back in the third inning as Nicholas Sloggett brought the contest to a 7-7 deadlock, scoring on a Cody Juarez RBI hit.
But, the Yankee mound stiffened and kept the Astros scoreless for the remaining three frames while the Yankee batters continued their romp in the lumberyard.
Kalechi Young opened the third frame with a single and crossed the plate on a Luce-Yamamoto RBI double, Luce-Yamamoto crossing on an Astro throwing miscue.
The Yankee bats continued to sizzle with Iwata putting the icing on the win in the final frame with a two-RBI bang that scored Randen Valenciano and Pono Tokioka.
In the Bronco championship, Ewa Beach Twins pitcher Lance Macias threw a one-hitter as the visitors wrapped up a 9-0 victory over the LBL Bronco champion Mariners, Monday.
“This was one of his best, if not the best games he’s pitched,” said Gil Macias, the winning pitcher’s dad following their shutout of the Mariners.
“He’s had some bad games, too. But, this was just awesome.”
The elder Macias explained that this was Lance’s first year playing in the Broncos after pitching for two years in the Mustangs. Gil said that Lance was part of the state championship team that went to the Regionals in California, the then-9-year-old getting the nod as a starter.
At the Lihu‘e Baseball Bash, Macias was part of the see-saw battle against the Kalawai Cardinals on opening day, where he pitched for three innings. He kept himself going on the second day with another three innings spread out over two more games leaving him with about five innings eligible for the championship showdown, his dad explained.
“Normally, they don’t start the young ones,” Gil said.
Lance combined with short-stop Brennan Doane to limit the Mariners to just two hits in the Twins’ victory, Doane getting hit in the final frame by John Das, the losing Mariners’ hurler.
On the mound, Macias allowed no Mariner runs, one hit, and finished with one walk allowed on five strikeouts.
Jaykob Pacheco, the Twins thirdbase, led their offensive showing with a 4-4 performance in the batter’s box while scoring four times in the win.
With the victory, the Twins become the first Bronco champions, joining the LBL Mustang Yankees in what will hopefully become an annual event.
Following the loss, both teams gathered around home plate for some post-game comradiere, announcer Jill Chow noting, “This is what Warren Koga, the LBL President, envisioned when he said he wanted a tournament so the kids could play,” she said. “Too bad he’s not here.”
Koga is off-island attending a mainland graduation, but left the tournament in capable hands in the guise of tournament directors Craig Koga and Wayne Wakumoto who amassed a crew of tournament helpers that kept everyone entertained through the three days of baseball and fun.
