LIHU‘E — Shane Ogata scored four times and finished with two hits, including an RBI bunt single to help the Lihu‘e Baseball League Bronco Braves clinch the Bronco division title, 11-3 over the Mililani Warriors, Monday. Earlier, the LBL Mustang
LIHU‘E — Shane Ogata scored four times and finished with two hits, including an RBI bunt single to help the Lihu‘e Baseball League Bronco Braves clinch the Bronco division title, 11-3 over the Mililani Warriors, Monday.
Earlier, the LBL Mustang Cubs fell victim to a four-run opening inning by the Mililani Poi Pounders who went on to clinch an 8-3 win for the Mustang division title.
Heading into the title game that was delayed due to the Orioles/Mililani match that ran 12 innings before Mililani Warriors advanced to the finals with a 2-1 win, one of the LBL food booth volunteers was hopeful the Braves, a winner in the semifinals over Windward, could pull off the title game.
“Last year, the Braves ended up winning the Bronco title, this year, we have the Braves heading into the finals so hopefully, the Braves will be a good luck name,” the volunteer said.
Following a see-saw first two frames, the Braves began its climb to the trophy, scoring two runs in the third and fourth innings. A four-run fifth frame capped the win despite the Warriors pushing two runs across on a Vonn Shinjo single.
Tyler Smith opened the frame on a single and scored off Keenan’s two-bagger to leftfield. Brevin Ako singled followed by Ogata driving Keenan Kaluahine-Arroyo home on a bunt single. Ako and Ogata followed on Warrior wild pitches.
That was answered by Jace Nakama, walking first, and Dylan Sugimoto, singling, scoring off Shinjo’s bang.
Bryton Lumabao, drawing walks his first two at-bats, picked up the win on the mound, holding the Warriors to three runs on seven hits. He also scored twice and had two singles with an RBI in the box.
Kurt Rapozo finished with two hits and two RBI and Smith finished with an RBI in the win.
Micah “Boogie” Takayama, one of the Poi Pounders with Kaua‘i ties, finished 2-3 in the box with an RBI against the LBL Mustang Mets. Trenton Darley was 2-3 with a double, Jaron Sugimoto finished 2-3. Alex Wong (1-3) and Blaine DeMello (1-3) each marked RBI in the Mustang win.
Tayeayn Francisco led the LBL Mets with a 2-3 showing with Brayden Abreu, Kapena Texeira, Patrick Esteban and Jace Ilae each singling.
The championships wrap up three days of baseball fun and fellowship for 24 teams that took part in Da Bash for 2009.
“We just need to get more facilities,” said Shaylene Iseri-Carvalho whose husband Destry is the coach of the victorious Braves. “If we had the space, we could have gotten 10 more teams and hosted the state Bronco championships.”
Of the 24 teams, 16 teams were visitors, a big boost to the visitor counts here, said Mel Rapozo, former councilman who spent his Saturday emcee-ing Bronco games at Isenberg Field.
Charlene Quinones, enjoying the Bronco championship game, Monday, was relishing watching the youthfulness of Da Bash organizers as they presented the trophies to the winning teams.
“I remember these students when they came to school,” Quinones, a former athletic director for Kaua‘i High School, said. “Now, they’re giving back to the community and I get such a warm feeling seeing them work while I can just sit back and enjoy the games.”
Cory Gokan, the tournament director, said teams are already asking to be notified for next year’s tournament.
