KAPAA — Brayden Hiraki and Dacoda Agoto hit homeruns to lead Waipio to an 8-2 win over Honolulu, Friday at the Main Diamond at the Mayor Bryan J. Baptiste Sports Complex in Kapaa. The game opened the Hawaii Little League
KAPAA — Brayden Hiraki and Dacoda Agoto hit homeruns to lead Waipio to an 8-2 win over Honolulu, Friday at the Main Diamond at the Mayor Bryan J. Baptiste Sports Complex in Kapaa.
The game opened the Hawaii Little League Majors State Tournament in Kapaa before an audience that was peppered with enthusiastic supporters.
Led by Hiraki who finished with a single and the homerun, Waipio bats struck the Honolulu mound for seven hits for its eight runs. Agoto added a homerun in the third inning. Joshua Aribal, Trey Apana-Purcel, Ranson Aavino, Micah Yamamoto, and Ethan Nakamura added singles.
Honolulu scored its two runs on three hits, Trey Lieb, Jameson Hussy, and Chance Otsuka each singling.
Tyrus Stephens started on the mound for Honolulu and promptly asserted the power team by striking out five of Waipio’s first four batters, ending two complete innings by striking out five and allowing no hits. In the third inning, Tyrus whiffed the first batter before allowing his first walk to Randon Silva who crossed on the 2-run homer by Hiraki with two away for the 2-0 bulge.
Agoto opened the home half of the fourth on a solo homer that bounced off the centerfield fence, and Aavino walked and advanced to second base on a passed ball before Honolulu struck out the next Waipio hitter. He scored on Nakamura’s RBI single for the 4-0 lead after four innings.
Honolulu answered in the fifth inning with two runs coming in with two outs, Kennedy Hara getting first and scoring on Hussy’s single. Tyrus walked and advanced to third base on an error, scoring on Otsuka’s RBI single for a 4-2 deficit.
Waipio answered in the home half of the fifth with four runs coming on four hits and closed the game in the sixth with two strikeouts.
With the win, Waipio advances to face Kaneohe in a 10 a.m. match, Saturday morning.
The afternoon match featured Central Maui Majors All Stars going up against the West Hawaii Majors All Stars, the winner advancing to Sunday afternoon, facing the winner of the Kaneohe/Waipio match.
The tournament continues through Tuesday.
