The classic was classic.
Stocked with talent in both dugouts, the Aloha Stars edged the Hawaiian Stars, 9-8, in 10 innings. The story is in Saturday’s edition of the Honolulu Star-Advertiser (online only on Saturdays). Here’s the rest of the story that was much too long to make the publication cut.
In the top of the 10th, Treyden Chong Kee began at second base, following the exhibition game’s “automatic runner” rule for extra innings. Kaleb Wada walked Justin Kubojiri (KS-Hawaii). Nainoa Begonia’s grounder to shortstop was botched by Bubu Sarono (Campbell), allowing Team Aloha to load the bases.
Chong Kee then scored from third base on a passed ball for an 8-7 lead.
Dillon Andres (Kamehameha) sent a sacrifice fly to center, bringing Kubojiri in for a 9-7 lead.
The Hawaiian Stars scored a run in the bottom of the 10th, but Osbun got three outs for the win.
Pitching prevailed for both teams early on. Mililani’s Kai Hirayama stuck out two of the three batters he faced in the top of the first inning. Jayden Hunt of Kailua also faced the minimum three batters as Team Aloha’s next pitcher in the second inning.
The Hawaiian Stars had solid single innings from Kamehameha’s Fukunaga and Kai Kaneshiro.
Aloha then reached Overbeek for five runs in the bottom of the third inning. Ethan Higashionna’s bases-loaded triple broke the ice.
Chong Kee drilled a two-run triple, scoring Kaneshiro (single) and Osbun (single), bringing Aloha within 6-3 in the top of the fifth inning.
The annual event, organized by longtime baseball guru Eric Tokunaga, gave players from across the state a chance to shine. Kauai pitcher Kapono Sullivan, throwing 91 mph, had a strong performance with two strikeouts in a 1-2-3 third inning for Team Aloha.
Hilo right-hander Jayden Geraci needed just seven pitches in a 1-2-3 sixth inning for Aloha. His team then came up with three runs in the top of the seventh to tie the game at 6-all.
A two-run opposite-field double by Ethan Lee (Pac-Five), scoring Aaron Rapoza and Geraci.
Kaneshiro, one of the state’s top pitchers, showed more of his hitting chops with a chopper over first base, scoring Zak Komeiji from third base to tie the game at 6. On the same play, Lee was tagged out on a head-first slide at home plate by Nashiwa, who made a diving tag to make the play.
Rapoza, a shortstop and pitcher, took the mound for Aloha in the bottom of the eighth. He retired the first two hitters, but walked two before Kaleb Wada (Mililani)å lined a single to left, scoring Hirayama from second base for a 7-6 Hawaiian lead.
Wada took the mound in the top of the ninth, when Chong Kee led off with a single to left. Chong Kee then stole second base. Logan Sanchez followed with a single through the hole at shortstop and Aloha had runners at the corners with no outs.
With out out, Sanchez stole second base, and Nashiwa, now playing second base, made a diving catch on the throw, then rifled the ball home to throw out Chong Kee for the second out.
After Wada plunked Kaili Kane (Saint Louis), Ivor Brooks (Waiakea) reached base on a dribbler to third base for an infield single. That loaded the bases.
Adan Kobayashi (Mid-Pacific) then walked on five pitches, forcing in Sanchez from third base to tie the game at 7-all. Wada then struck out Chase Sutherland (Saint Louis) for the third out.
Shojinaga led off the bottom of the seventh with a grounder to shortstop, but the throw to first base was high by Brooks. Osbun, the new pitcher for Hawaiian, retired the next two batters. Jayson Au Hoy sent an opposite-field blooper to left for a single, keeping the inning alive. Osbun then retired Ryne Yoshimura (Mililani) on a forceout at third base, sending the contest into extra innings.
Former Damien coach Timo Donahue led the Aloha Stars, assisted by sons Christian and Jordan.
“This game here really means a little more to all of us. We’re friends with the Numata family,” Timo Donahue said. “These guys grew up watching (Chace) play so this was a little different from just coaching. I’m glad Toku (Eric Tokunaga) brought this game back.”
A day on the diamond still fills coach Numata’s cup, long after Chace, 27, died in a skateboarding accident in 2019 in Erie, Penn. Watching Higashionna go opposite field for a bases-clearing triple was pure joy.
“Awesome, I was proud, They put in the work. They’re good players,” he said of his former players.”
Tokunaga’s close ties to the Numata ohana has kept the fire going.
“He’s been doing this for a long time. When he was scouting here, I had the privilege of being on one of his coaching staffs for a showcase way back when they had Jerome Williams and Shane Victorino. He’s been back out there pretty much scouting this season.”
Coach Homey Numata and wife Cheryl give Tokunaga their blessing and then some. Coaching is Homey Numata’s form of therapy.
“Giving back to these young guys, coaching at Damien, coaching my grandkids in tee ball,” he said. “I haven’t put up our batting cage ever since (Chace’s death). The cage is going back up. If not for my grandson (5), then for his his sister. She’s 2. If they want to do it’s there for them.”
His message to all players encompasses life.
“Good luck in the future. Baseball is just a tool for you guys, just teaching you what it takes to be successful in life, You put in the work, you never know,” he said. “Sometimes, even that fails, but you keep grinding. They’re all good kids. I love this sport. It teaches a lot of life lessons. The perseverance. Not everybody is going to make it, but you’ve always got your path along the way. There’s always softball after that.”
Players had a midsummer Christmas upon arrival, receiving a Mizuno duffle bag, and batting gloves donated by Mike and Jordan DeKneef.
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