WAILUKU—Maui Division hosted the ILWU’s 10th Annual Slowpitch Softball tournament which was played at Keopuolani Park in Wailuku on September 28, 2002.

The first place team from Kauai included MVP Ronald “Blackie” Viquelia (front, second from left) and Most Homeruns and Most Runs winner Wendall Nonaka (standing, fourth from left).

The first game between Kauai and the “All Bust” Maui team got off to a slow start. Kauai scored one run in the first inning which was topped by Maui’s two runs. The second inning was quick and scoreless. 

In the third inning, Maui got really got “busted up” as Kauai scored 8 unanswered runs to bring the score to 9-2. The next four innings were more evenly played with both teams scoring runs to match the other team’s runs. Maui, however, was never able to recover from the beating in the third inning and Kauai emerged the winner by a final score of 19 to 10.

Game Two 

The second game was between a veteran Big Island team from the Mauna Lani Bay Hotel and a newly organized Oahu team from Pepsi-Cola. The game was also quiet in the first inning as both teams got used to the very strong winds blowing through the park, which is located right near the ocean. 

In the second inning, the Big Island team showed why they often win the championship as they scored 8 runs with 12 players at bat, and then repeating the performance in the third inning by scoring 9 runs with 13 players at bat. The score would be 17 to 0 at the top of the fourth. 

Oahu’s team put up a valiant struggle and managed to score 5 runs while holding the Big Island scoreless in the fourth inning. But it was a losing struggle as the game ended early in the 5th inning with the Big Island over Oahu by 17 to 5.

Consolation Game 

After a ten minute break, Oahu faced Maui to decide the third and fourth place teams. Maui took the lead in the first inning with 2 runs and never looked back. They scored 6 runs in the second, 2 runs in the third, and 2 runs in the fourth. Oahu scored a single run in the first and that was all they would score. 

The game ended in the 5th inning due to the ten-run rule with Maui over Oahu by a final score of 12 to 1.

Championship Game 

The championship game was a face-off between the Big Island and Kauai. In the earlier games, the Big Island had scored 17 points against Oahu and Kauai scored 19 points against Maui. Would the championship game be a high scoring slug-fest or would it be a game of defense? 

First to bat, the Big Island took an early lead with scores by Shannon and Sonny, while Kauai managed to score only one run. 

In the second inning, solid defensive work by Kauai held the Big Island scoreless and sent them packing after only four batters. With their turn at the bat, Kauai changed their hitting technique and picked up four runs with wellplaced grounders and costly errors by the Big Island defenders. The score at the end of the second was Kauai over the Big Island by 5 to 2. 

Kauai’s defense would frustrate the Big Island for the next three innings. The Big Island defense improved somewhat and held Kauai to a single run in the fourth. The score at the end of the 5th inning was Kauai over the Big Island by 6 to 2. 

Hawaii scored two runs early in the 6th and held Kauai to a single run. Hawaii was only trailing by 3 points and still had a chance at the championship. But Kauai’s defense proved to be impenetrable and Hawaii was held scoreless in the 7th, ending the game with Kauai over the Big Island by a final score of 7 to 4.

All-Stars and Individual Awards 

The teams gathered at the Maui Division ILWU Hall for lunch and the presentation of awards. The winners of the individual awards were: Most Home Runs and Most Runs - Wendall Nonaka from Kauai; Most Hits - Ivan Sombelon from Maui; Most RBI’s - Chad Rita from Kauai; Most Valuable Player - Blackie Viquelia from Kauai; and Best Defensive Player Adam Harrison from the Big Island. 

Named to the All Star Team were: Wendall Nonaka, Chad Rita, Blackie Viquelia and Darrell Borrero from Kauai; Adam Harrison, Ray Alnas, and Chris Drake from the Big Island; Ivan Sombelon, Darren Opunui, and Roland Valez from Maui; and Hans Sua and Kelii Johnson from Oahu. 

Thanks to Maui Division sports coordinator Delbert DeRego, his assistant Doug Cabading, and scorekeepers Victoria Cabading and Frank Torres, who did a great job. Both the Cabadings and Torres are from Unit 2306 - Maui Pineapple Company (Cannery).

2002 ILWU Slow Pitch Tournament All-Stars: (front) Blackie Viquelia, Wendall Nonaka, Chad Rita, Maui Sports Coordinator Delbert DeRego, Kelii Johnson, and Hans Sua. (Back) Roland Valez, Ivan Sombelon, Darrell Borrero, Adam Harrison, Ray Alnas, Chris Drake, and Darren Opunui.