Champs crowned at LBL Bash – Cardinals nip Nationals, homers fuel Windward

Two Mustang championship teams battled for the crown in the finale of the 2007 Bash hosted by the Lihu‘e Baseball League yesterday.

The Kalawai Cardinals nailed three runs in the first and second innings to take a 6-5 win over the Lihu‘e Nationals in what one of the umpires described as a very good contest.

In the Bronco division, the Windward Pony Broncos hit two home runs en route to a 5-0 victory over Aiea to claim that division’s trophy.

Nakoa Ibaan and Kurt Rapozo opened the Mustang championship with hits that led to scores.

But Kalawai answered back with three runs for a 3-2 lead as Brayden Perez, Lopaka Ventura and Kalawaia Judd crossed the plate with only one out.

The Cardinals upped the ante in the second inning by scoring Perez, Ventura and Donald Traller for the early 6-2 lead after two innings.

Ibaan, getting first base on a walk, answered with his second of three scores for the Nationals in the third inning.

His final score came in the fifth inning as the Cardinals’ pitching shut down the second and third outs on strikeouts in that inning.

That Kalawai win, a comeback from the 3-1 loss it suffered from the Nationals on opening day, sets the stage for the Mustang All-Star showdown that will feature Lihu‘e hosting West Kaua‘i on June 8 starting at 4:30 p.m.

Mitchell Grisbrook whacked a two-run homer in the second inning to drive his brother Clark across the plate to pace the Windward Pony Bronco victory over Aiea in the Bronco championships.

Mitchell’s feat was repeated with a solo shot by Brighten Baoy in the fifth inning.

Tyler Takata and Sheldon Kohatsu also scored for Windward to round out that victory.

With some players heading to the airport to catch flights back home, one of the coaching staff said the team will be back on Kaua‘i for the Bronco state playoffs later this summer.