KAPA‘A — A nearly full house welcomed the Hawai‘i Little League Majors State Tournament, Friday as the first pitches got underway between the District 6 Honolulu and the District 4 Hilo contest winners.
“It’s been a long time since we were here,” said Tournament Director Carole Ota who had a ringside seat in the announcer’s and scorekeepers’ booth.
The Hawai‘i Little League state tournament is a big step towards the Little League World Series that will play Aug. 17 through 28 in Williamsburg, Pennsylvania. Winners of the various Hawai‘i Little League districts converge to play for the state title with the winner of the state tournament advancing to the West Regionals that will play in San Bernadino, California. The winner of the West Regionals advance directly to the World Series.
The Kawaihau Community Little League Majors All Stars, winning the District 1 title earlier, enjoy a bye on the tournament’s opening day as tournament hosts.
The boys in purple (representing Kaua‘i’s color) first see action, Saturday morning against the District 6 winners Honolulu. First pitch goes off at 10 a.m. at the Main Diamond.
Honolulu opened the tournament with a come-from-behind 14-4 win over Hilo, the District 4 winner, in a contest where the Honolulu boys pushed 12 runs across the plate in the fourth inning on eight hits, four of which were homeruns.
Overall, Honolulu finished with 11 hits led by Jaron Lancaster who finished with a pair of doubles and a homerun.
Honolulu struck first with two runs after Keko Payanal got first on a walk and scored on an RBI from Jonnovyn Sniffen, and Sniffen crossing on Lancaster’s first double.
Hilo answered when Salota Ofisa, the Hilo firstbase, slugged into a 2-run homer to stalemate the contest.
Working in the hot afternoon sun, Hilo defense took out the Honolulu boys in order in the second frame.
Braden Oda walked first in the second frame, and crossed on a passed ball. Kaimi Keopuhiwa singled, and scored on Hilo catcher Rylen Garza’s RBI single for the 4-2 go-ahead after two complete innings.
Lancaster fired up the scoring machine for Honolulu with a 3-run homer. Other Honolulu batters sending the ball over the fence included Esaiah Wong, Brennan Tomas, and Paganal contributing to the 12-run inning that saw the contest end on the 10-run ruling.
Results of the contest between Pearl City, the District 7 winner, and East Maui Central, the District 3 winner, were not available by press time.
Hilo will play the loser of the Pearl City/Maui encounter, Saturday starting at 1 p.m. at the Main Diamond.
The state tournament will continue until the championship contest that starts at 10 a.m., Tuesday.
