Aloha Stars run away with Sugar Mill Classic

The ILH/neighbor island team wins the annual All-Star game in a romp

There was no shortage of offense at Hans L'Orange Park yesterday as the Aloha Stars routed the Hawaiian Stars 22-6 in the eighth annual Sugar Mill Classic All-Star baseball game.

The contest gave 58 of Hawaii's top high school seniors the opportunity to showcase their talent for the last time at the prep level in front of numerous scouts and coaches from both collegiate and professional organizations across the country.

The Hawaiian Stars featured players from the Oahu Interscholastic Association, along with Mana Silva from Kamehameha-Hawaii. The victorious Aloha Stars were made up of players from the Interscholastic League of Honolulu and all the other neighbor island leagues.

Iolani's Chris Johnson and Waimea's Isaac Castillo took home co-MVP honors for the Aloha Stars after the pair provided some early power at the plate. Johnson cranked a two-run homer in the first inning, and added a two-run double in the fifth. Castillo had a bomb of a home run in the second inning that sailed over the left-center-field fence, landing well over 400 feet away.

"I was just looking for fastballs to hit, and (opposing pitcher Mike Goodman of Radford) left one right there so I went with it," said Johnson, who is deciding between San Diego and Southern Utah as his college options. "I couldn't ask for anything more. Just to be invited is an honor."

For players from the neighbor islands, such as Castillo, yesterday was a chance for more exposure than is usually afforded them.

"On Kauai, we don't have all these (scouts and coaches) who come in, so we have to fly somewhere else (to be seen)," said Castillo, who is still trying to find a junior college to play ball at. "To me, it's an honor to play ball with guys from the other islands.

"We don't have that much exposure, so that gives me the drive to work extra hard. I was the only one from Kauai, so I feel like I have to prove more than the other guys."

The Aloha Stars scored four runs in each of the first, fifth and seventh innings, and added six more in the ninth. The team pounded out 21 hits and took advantage of eight walks and five Hawaiian Stars errors in the convincing victory.

Travis Nishioka (Iolani) drove in three runs, and Jimmy Legsay (Baldwin) and Bucky Aona (Punahou) had two RBIs each.

"It was very impressive," said Aloha Stars coach Mitchell Moran of his team's performance. "When I first came out (to the field) I was really impressed by the strength and size of these kids. There was a lot of unbelievable talent, and the balls were being crushed. We tried to let these guys show the scouts what they've got."

Tripper Chung led the way for the Hawaiian Stars with two singles and two RBIs.

Both squads had nine pitchers each, so each hurler threw one inning. Kailua teammates Anthony Stovall and Mike D'Alessio were the only Hawaiian Stars pitchers to hold the opposition scoreless.

Legsay, Carl Graves (Punahou), Aaron Correa (Kamehameha-Hawaii), Logan Kanamu (Baldwin) and Daren Takasaki (Waiakea) all threw scoreless innings for the Aloha Stars.

The Sugar Mill Classic was first played in 1999 as a way, according to organizer Eric Tokunaga, "to allow Jerome Williams of Waipahu the chance to pitch against guys from the ILH."

(Williams went on to pitch for the San Francisco Giants and Chicago Cubs).

"Hats off to Eric Tokunaga for putting this together," Hawaii-Hilo head coach Joey Estrella said. "It's a good thing for the kids from Hawaii. For us as college coaches, it's the last chance to see some of the seniors, and to find out where they're going in the future so we can follow (their progress).

"It's a great thing for the kids, the competition and the friendship, and for the parents, the chance to see their kids play one more time ... it's wonderful."

While the game was the last at the high school level, many of the players have commitments to play in college. One is Hawaiian Stars second baseman Peter Arakawa (Moanalua), who is headed to Sacramento State.

"I'm just trying to continue my career," Arakawa said. "Playing with these guys, I mean the best (in the state), it's just fun. We compete against each other all year, so to come out and play in this type of friendly environment, it's just good fun."

At Hans L'Orange Park

Hawaiian Stars	210	200	001	--	6	8	5
Aloha Stars	412	140	406	--	22	21	2

Mike Goodman, John Olley (2), Ryne Miyamoto (3), Devin Okinaga (4), Ande Kuakini (5), Anthony Stovall (6), Derek Grace (7), Mike D'Alessio (8), Darius Fuller (9), Peter Arakawa (9) and Tripper Chung (1,4,7), Hao Kamahiai (2, 5, 8), D'Alessio (3, 6, 9). Wally Marciel, Kalaika Kahoohalahala (2), Jimmy Legsay (3), Cameron Bayne (4), Carl Graves (5), Aaron Correa (6), Logan Kanamu (7), Daren Takasaki (8), Scott Hiramoto (9) and Kalehua Moniz (1, 4, 7), Kanamu (2, 5, 8), Justin Doane (3, 6, 9). W--Legsay. L--Goodman.

Leading hitters--HS: Chung 2-2, 2 RBIs. AS: Chris Johnson 2-3, HR, 2b, 4 RBIs; Isaac Castillo 2-2, HR, 2b, RBI; Travis Nishioka 2-3, 3 RBIs; Legsay 2-2, 2b, 3b, 2 RBIs; Bucky Aona 2-3, 2 RBIs.