29
Jul, 2019
The PONY West Zone Champions, Hilo, Hawaii (USA) win the 2019 Pony-13 World Series with a win over Johnstown, Pennsylvania (USA) at York Field in Whittier, California Monday night. Hilo was down two late in the game, but their bats exploded for six runs in the sixth inning to secure the 10-6 win.
Johnstown drew three walks in a row to start the game off. After a couple flyouts, Zackery Petree came up to bat and singled, bringing in Pace Prosser and Connor Yoder. Petree’s two-RBI single gave Johnstown the early 2-0 lead.
Hilo struggled to get things going in the first two innings. That changed in the third. Isaiah Justo and Bubu Kawelu drew walks, then a Brayden Malani single loaded the bases for Hilo.
The next batter, Journey Leialoha hit into a fielder’s choice to bring in Hilo’s first run of the game. Eddin Kitagawa followed that up with a double to bring around Leialoha and Malani for Hilo’s second and third runs to take the lead at 3-2.
Hilo extended their lead to two later on in the game. It was inning number five when Shane Sale-Silva torched a ground ball between Johnstown’s short stop and third baseman. Sale-Silva’s single brought in Kawelu for Hilo’s fourth run of the game.
Hilo took the 4-2 lead into the sixth inning. That lead quickly disappeared, though. Johnstown started the sixth off with a couple singles from Ethan Janidlo and Ben Ryan. Petree came up and hit another two-RBI single. The single knotted the game up at four.
Johnstown wasn’t done there. They added one more run on an error, and another on a passed ball to take the 6-4 lead. Johnstown remained with 6-4 lead until the bottom half of the sixth.
Hilo notched two singles and a walk to load the bases, then Kawelu came up to bat once more with two outs. Kawelu smacked a ball passed Johnstown’s right fielder. The throw in went passed the Johnstown third baseman, and Kawelu was able to speed home along with the three runners who were on base.
Hilo added three more runs later in the inning off of Dominic Christensen and Legend Lancaster singles. Hilo left the sixth inning with the 10-6 lead.
Hilo was able to hold on to the victory and are now crowned the 2019 Pony-13 World Series Champions.
Bubu Kawelu led the way for the Hilo bats the entire tournament. Kawelu finished the tournament batting .428 in 21 at-bats, with six RBIs and eight runs scored.
This is Hilo, Hawaii's (USA) first Pony-13 World Series title. Hilo runs a solid baseball program and will look to come back to the Pony-13 World Series next year.