ISLE FILE
Hilo advances to Little League Juniors World Series
Advertiser Staff
Hilo won the Little League Juniors (ages 13-14) Western Regional yesterday by routing Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif., 12-2.
It was a fitting end to a tournament dominated by Hilo, which finished 6-0 and outscored its opponents 69-14 at Upland, Calif.
"They did what we planned to do," said Hilo coach Kaha Wong. "They worked hard and everything fell into place."
Hilo advances to the World Series, Aug. 10 to 16 at Taylor, Mich.
Taylor Goo batted 2 for 3 with five RBIs, and Ekolu Martens and Jayce Carvalho both blasted two-run homers in the first inning against Rancho Santa Magarita (5-1).
"Just coming out and hitting those two first-inning homers closed the door on California," Wong said. "They weren't used to being behind in a game."
Ridge Hoopii-Haslem and Martens each had three hits, and Koa Matson drove in three runs for Hilo.
Martens picked up the win with four solid innings and Hoopii-Haslem worked the fifth in a game shortened to five innings because of the mercy rule.
Four of Hilo's victories ended by 10-rule mercy rule.
RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA 100 01— 2 6 0
HILO 411 42—12 12 2
Evan Cook, Mitchell Holland (5) and Parker Anderson. Ekolu Martens, Ridge Hoopii-Haslem (5) and Chase Kaaua, Dean Hosaka (2), Kaaua (4). W — Martens. L — Cook.
Leading hitters—RSM: Joey Conte double. Hilo: Hoopii-Haslem 3-5; Martens 3-4, two-run homer; Taylor Goo 2-3, 5 RBIs; Jayce Carvalho two-run homer; Koa Matson triple, 3 RBIs.
WAIPI'O LOSES FIRST AT MAJORS REGIONAL, 4-1
Waipi'o dropped its first game at the Little League Majors (ages 11-12) Western Regional yesterday behind a brilliant pitching performance by Las Vegas' Michael Blasko.
Blasko struck out 15 in 5 1/3 innings as Las Vegas beat Waipi'o, 4-1, at San Bernardino, Calif.
Waipi'o completed pool play with a 3-1 record. It will be the No. 2 seed in the semifinals, which start Friday.
Waipi'o scored its only run in the second when Jedd Andrade scored from first when the Las Vegas center fielder misplayed a ball hit by Pikai Winchester.
Las Vegas improved to 3-0 in pool play.
WAIPI'O 010 000—1 3 3
LAS VEGAS 210 10X—4 7 2
Trevor Ling, Keelen Obedoza (4), Kainoa Fong (5) and Ionana Akau. Michael Blasko, Tyler VanStone (6), Stevie Farmer (6) and Josh McCollum. W — Ling. L — Blasko.
Leading hitters—Waipi'o: C-Boy Donahue double. Las Vegas: Jesse Keiser 2-3; Derek Clelan solo homer.
P.O.N.Y.
MILILANI PONY LOSES, ELIMINATED IN FULLERTON
Mililani was eliminated from the P.O.N.Y. Pony (ages 13-14) West Zone Tournament after losing to Victoria, Calif., 7-1, yesterday at Fullerton, Calif.
Victoria, which got a three-run homer from John Davis in the top of the fourth, beat Mililani (2-2) twice in the tournament. Mililani beat Victoria once.
VICTORIA, CALIF. 000 340 0—7 9 4
MILILANI 000 001 0—1 4 2
Mililani battery: Tyler Tokunaga, Travis Shaw (6) and Dallas Correa.
Leading hitters—Mililani: Tokunaga 2-4; Jake Baptista double.
TENNIS
HITS DOUBLES EVENT SET FOR SEPT. 9 TO 12
Entries are available for the annual HITS doubles tournament, benefitting The American Cancer Society, Sept. 9 to 12 at Ala Moana.
Cost is $90 per person ($65 if not attending the banquet) until the Sept. 1 deadline. Application requests after Sept. 1 will be $100 ($75 without the banquet). Fee covers balls, trophies, T-shirts, prizes, banquet and a donation to The American Cancer Society.
Format is round robin, with eight-game pro sets. There are open, 4.5, 4.0, 3.5 and 3.0 divisions for men and women, and 9.0, 8.0, 7.0 and 6.0 divisions for mixed.
Requests for doubles partners will be filled on a first-come, first-serve basis.
For more information, e-mail cybersonny@aol.com.
