The 23rd annual Stanley Costales Sr. Memorial Baseball Tournament drew a strong field, featuring the BIIF’s best in host and Division I league champion Hilo and its three competitive friends.
There’s BIIF D-I runner-up Waiakea, four-time defending Division II champion Kamehameha-Hawaii and runner-up Konawaena.
The host Vikings also invited Kealakehe and Hawaii Prep, two others from the Big Island, and out-of-towners Kamehameha-Maui, and Oahu’s Leilehua and Pac-5.
Hilo, Waiakea, Kamehameha-Hawaii, Konawaena, and Pac-5 all played at the HHSAA state tournament last year.
There was little sense, as far as competition’s sake, in inviting Campbell, the Division I state champion, because the Sabers graduated their ace Ian Kahaloa, a fifth-round pick in the MLB draft by the Cincinnati Reds.