Dennis Fujimoto – TGI Staff LIHU’E – Faced with a big hill to climb, the Aiea All Stars’ bats came alive on Tuesday to effectively eliminate the Mililani All Stars 6-0 and the Waianae All Stars 9-2 to pave the
Dennis Fujimoto – TGI Staff
LIHU’E – Faced with a big hill to climb, the Aiea All Stars’ bats came alive on Tuesday to effectively eliminate the Mililani All Stars 6-0 and the Waianae All Stars 9-2 to pave the way towards Wednesday’s showdown against the Hilo All Stars for the championship berth of the Hawai’i Region Mustang Tournament being played at the Lihu’e County Park.
“They were hitting everything,” Dondi Viquelia, tournament co-chair noted following the 9-2 win over Waianae.
Fueled by a 2-run homerun from catcher Bryson Namba in the second inning, Aiea added four more runs in the third before turning to the solid pitching performance of Alika Pruett to shut down Mililani.
“He (Pruett) had four innings of perfect ball,” Viquelia pointed out after the 6-0 win over Mililani.
Hilo enjoys a 3-0 record entering the ballpark on Wednesday, and should Aiea take the contest, a second game will determine the winner starting at 1 pm.
Of note in the showdown is whether or not Hilo will throw Reggie Chinen, the power pitcher who has struck out 18 batters in his tournament showing.
Viquelia said the Hilo coaches have already conferred on Chinen’s eligibility to pitch the championship game.
With Hilo drawing the bye on Tuesday’s action, Viquelia said the 40-hour rest period has been satisfied, and since it’s the fourth game, he would allow the pitcher on the mound.
The winner of the tournament will advance to the West Zone Regionals in California.
