LIHU‘E — “This is a bum.”
Those were the only words Kaua‘i All Stars Mustang 10 and under boys head coach Henry Ibia had Tuesday afternoon when the team gathered for practice at the Lihu‘e County Park Mustang field.
“I just found out this morning,” Ibia said. “I’m having a parents meeting later on in practice. The Protect Our Nation’s Youth West Zone Championships for the Mustangs is canceled. We were going to bring three teams — the Mustangs for youth 9 and 10, the Broncos for youth 11 and 12, and the PONY team for youth 13 and 14. According to what we found out, all those tournaments are canceled, too.”
Earlier, a team parent, Jolleen “Sweetie” Abreu, said the Kaua‘i All-Star Baseball Team Mustang Division was invited to California to the PONY League West Zone Championships that were scheduled to start July 22, the team leaving Kaua‘i on July 20.
“This takes place as Hawai‘i was under strict COVID-19 restrictions,” Abreu said. “The league was able to present safety guidelines that were approved, and allowed the players to have a successful baseball season. This opportunity comes as a surprise to many of us with the short notice for training and traveling. We have pulled together to accomplish as much fundraising as we could in a month’s time.”
Ibia explained that the Kaua‘i All-Stars were invited to the big games because not all of the islands had baseball seasons.
“The boys worked really hard — especially the last two weeks,” Ibia said. “We played our short season and formed the Lihu‘e All-Stars that beat out West Kaua‘i in two out of three games, where we added a Kalawai player to the team to earn the island title. Because not all the islands played this year, the PONY officials waived the Hawai‘i title and we were invited to not just the state title, but to the big game. If we got past the zone, it would’ve been off to Louisiana for the International World Series.”
Ibia said the cancellation comes following the team’s prepayment for fees.
“This is something we need to work on,” he said. “Our fundraising plans are all canceled, except for Sunday when we partner with Reel Nauti Kaua‘i to do a food booth for the Fishing for Charity tournament weigh-in benefiting the 42nd Kaua‘i Charity Walk at Vidinha Stadium. They have to have a food booth, and I think our guys can do it.”
Ibia, who coached the team with sons Schyler Arakaki and Hank Ibia, said he had a good feeling about these boys.
“They worked really hard,” Henry Ibia said. “They would’ve done well at the zone, and what a feeling to see these boys playing in the International World Series. This is the big game.”
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
Bummers. They canceled the tournament. This has something to do with DOH and the funding at Kauai Memorial convention center.
They playing in California would have some toll on this clinic. Coronavirus. What if someone gets sick? The vaccines are not placibos. There are slight chances that the health of people at the tournament could be in jeopardy. It was a state choice Mede by Dr. Janet Berreman or someone close up to her recognition towards health for Hawai’i. Very sorry to hear.
Come on Kauai? Think. Are you going with Jed Somit? Kimball Shinkoskey? Or Bernard P. Carvalho jr. ? That is the idea. A county council makes no sense. So DOH closes you down. This is on health issues.
We all know Jed Somit is backing up Donald Trump. He’s rich. Or someone like ji xjipping of China. Do you think the community cares? Yes. Health wise. As much as I like Kimball Shinkoskey’s explanation, give this to Jed Somit. Never heard of Bernard p Carvalho jr.
But the writing still stands. Why? Because Jed Somit makes more money than Bernard.
And who might you be? McCarthy. This is a true saying.