MORENO VALLEY, Calif. — The Kaua‘i Protect Our Nation’s Youth Bronco All-Stars will be leaving California for Laredo, Texas, on Wednesday to participate in the PONY World Series.
Under the leadership of Coach Stanton Yoshimori, Managher Gino Pegeder and Business Manager Shay Yamase, the Kaua‘i Bronco Under 12 team captured the Zone championship pennant after going undefeated from July 18-21.
The Kaua‘i Bronco All-Stars beat the Placentia Punishers 12U 11-5 on the opening day of the Zone play, Placentia being a previous World Series title winner in 2022.
On July 19, the Kaua‘i Broncos trounced West Seattle 12U and on July 20 the team survived a 4-3 skirmish against the Marina Bronco All-Stars 2024. A 12-6 win over the WSB All Stars on July 21 kept the Kaua‘i Broncos perfect with no losses.
During the state tournament that earned the team eligibility to the Zone tournament, the Kaua‘i Broncos finished 3-0 in Hilo after beating the Maui Bronco All-Stars 12U,11-0, the Hilo PONY Bronco All-Stars 12U 9-3, and clinching the state pennant after a repeat win over Maui 12-1.
The 2024 Bronco League World Series will play in Laredo, Texas, from July 26-29. The Kaua‘i Bronco All-Stars, described in the tournament tree as “Lihu‘e, Hawai‘i,” is scheduled to take the field in Game 1 against Cleveland, Ohio.
Also participating in the World Series are teams from the Dominican Republic, Mexico and Japan.
The Kaua‘i Bronco All Stars feature 14 members — Gerald Aceret-Coloma, Aries Arruda, La‘akea Chang Wo, Jacoby Dotario, Pi‘ikea Furuta, Logan Gonsalves, Keith Haraguchi, Bronsen Ka‘auwai, Kaeden Kelekoma, Kimo Matsushima, Makoa Mizumoto-Perez, Knox Pegeder, Shay Yamase, and Taj Yoshimori.
According to PONY World Series records, the last Hawai‘i World Series winner in the 12U division hailed from Ewa Beach on O‘ahu that won in Monterey, California.
Poised to take steps onto the biggest 12 Under diamond, the Kaua‘i Bronco All-Stars helped get to Moreno Valley by selling Meadow Gold-provided ice cream during the recent Kaua‘i Hospice “Concert in the Sky” at Vidinha Stadium.
For people wishing to contribute to the team’s expenses, donations can be made to the team’s GoFundMe website at www.GoFundMe.com/kauai-bronco-12U or contacting Ashley Yoshimori at ashyosh@live.com, or 808-651-3172.
