Double-elimination baseball tournaments usually mean heavy work loads for star pitchers.

That's what KAC's David Torigoe was faced with yesterday in the P.O.N.Y. Pony (ages 13-14) Hawai'i Region Tournament at Central O'ahu Regional Park, and he delivered a couple of solid performances.

Torigoe pitched the final three innings in an 11-2 win over Maui, then came back about 30 minutes later and pitched the first four innings in a 4-1 victory over Hilo.

The incoming freshman at Punahou School didn't allow a run in either appearance.

"The tournaments before when I was younger prepared me," Torigoe said.

KAC will face Hilo again today in a winner-take-all final at 2 p.m.

Against Hilo, Torigoe faced the minimum 12 batters through four innings with three strikeouts. He couldn't pitch further because of an innings-limit rule.

Torigoe allowed two singles, but one runner was thrown out by catcher Tyris Tominaga trying to steal third and the other was erased on a ground-ball double play.

Torigoe left with a 2-0 lead thanks to Kyle Obana's run-scoring groundout in the top of the second and a sacrifice fly in the fourth. Tyler Lau scored on both plays.

Brandon Ikeda came on for KAC to start the fifth and allowed one run — Korin Medeiros' homer in the seventh — over the final three innings for the save.

"The real hero is Brandon Ikeda," said KAC coach Frank Butcher Sr. "He hadn't done much (previously in the tournament), but he was lights out for three innings."

KAC made it 3-0 in the sixth on a single by Kaipo Oamilda-Scholtz and a fielding error by the center fielder. Lau followed with an RBI single to right.

Today's winner advances to the West Zone Tournament, July 31 to Aug. 3 at Fullerton, Calif.

HILO 000 000 1—1 4 2

KAC 010 102 X—4 4 0

Kaimana Durantis-Moike, Davy Camacho (6) and Dean Hosaka. David Torigoe, Brandon Ikeda (5) and Tyris Tominaga. W — Torigoe. L — Durantis-Moike. S — Camacho.

Leading hitters—Hilo: Korin Medeiros solo homer; Durantis-Moike double. KAC: Tyler Lau 2-2, 2 runs; Kyle Obana 2 RBIs.

MUSTANG (AGES 9-10)

Many players on Lihue's Mustang baseball team hadn't even traveled off Kaua'i prior to the P.O.N.Y. Hawai'i Region Tournament.

They spent the past four days on O'ahu, and now they're heading to the Mainland as state champions.

Lihue wrapped up an undefeated run through the Mustang tournament with a 13-9 victory over KAC yesterday at CORP.

"This is an unbelievable feeling," said Lihu'e coach Kevin Gokan. "These kids here, a lot of them, it's their first time even to O'ahu."

Lihu'e (4-0) advances to the West Zone Tournament, July 30 to Aug. 2 at Chino Hills, Calif.

Against KAC, Lihue scored six runs in the first on three hits and two errors.

KAC (4-2) got within 10-9 in the fifth and had runners at the corners, but reliever Blaise Gokan, the coach's son, got a strikeout to end the inning.

Nick Penzetta and Gunner Vallantini both scored three runs for Lihue, which stole 15 bases over the first four innings.

In the Mustang division, the bases are 65 feet apart and the pitcher's mound is 44 feet from home plate.

In yesterday's first game, KAC beat Hilo, 18-11.

LIHU'E 611 113—13 14 3

KAC 231 120— 9 9 7

Brayden Abreu, Blaise Gokan (5) and Keala Iwasaki. Pinao Awai, Ashlyn Okamura (1), Nick Materazzo (6) and Ethan Siegfried. W — Abreu. L — Awai. S — Gokan.

Leading hitters—Lihu'e: Nick Penzetta 2-3, 3 runs; Doug Miyasato 2-3; Abreu 2-4, double; Kobey Dias 2 runs; Gunner Vallatini 2-3, double, 3 runs; Jared Killeen 2-3, 2 RBIs; Sam Nakata 2 runs. KAC: Jacob Maihui 2-2, 2 runs; Jack-Eli Thompson-Tufono 3-4, 2 RBIs; Keoni Pangan triple, 2 runs; Reyn Sato 2 runs.

LIHU'E ROSTER

Players: Brayden Abreu, Kobey Dias, Patrick Esteban, Tayedyn Francisco, Blaise Gokan, Chase Ibia, Keahi Ilae, Keala Iwasaki, Jared Killeen, Kekai Leanio-Balagat, Doug Miyasato, Sam Nakata, Nick Penzetta, Gunner Vallatini. Coaches: Kevin Gokan, Rory Ellamar, Vincent Killeen.