Dawson Yamaguchi fired a two-hitter as Saint Louis stymied Kamehameha 2-0 on Saturday morning in Interscholastic League of Honolulu tournament play at Ala Wai Field.
Yamaguchi primarily used a fastball and slider to throw no-hit ball for 52⁄3 innings. Kamehameha’s Kalamaku Kuewa ended the no-hit bid with a single.
The win kept the Crusaders (14-5) alive in the double-elimination format, giving the Warriors (14-4) their first loss. The teams will meet on Tuesday at Hans L’Orange Park for the tourney title. If Saint Louis beats regular-season winner Kamehameha, the teams will meet yet one more time for the ILH baseball championship. Both teams already have sealed berths in the upcoming Wally Yonamine Foundation/HHSAA State Championships.
For now, the Crusaders are simply glad to still have a shot at the league title and the reward of an opening-round bye in the state tourney. Their three aces are leading the way.
“Chase (Meilleur) gutted out his effort and Dylan (Lum) had a gem,” coach George Gusman said of his aces’ performances earlier in the week. “Dawson pitched very well. We can’t ask for more.”
Yamaguchi, a senior southpaw, was in control from start to finish, snuffing out potential Kamehameha rallies in the fifth and sixth innings. The Warriors had runners on second and third bases in each frame.
“We’ve just got to regroup,” Kamehameha coach Tommy Perkins said. “We struggled at the plate, still overswinging. Dawson did a great job. Our pitcher did just as a good a job. Sometimes it goes your way and sometimes it doesn’t.”
Kamehameha’s Li‘i Pontes scattered five hits in a hard-luck loss. He pitched well enough with men on base; Saint Louis stranded 10 runners.
Yamaguchi was intent on keeping the Nos. 2, 3 and 4 hitters — Logan Salcedo, Nakea Hanohano and Kuewa — under control. The trio combined to hit 1-for-7 with two walks.
“You can’t give them what they want. They’re hot hitters right now,” Yamaguchi said. “When it’s close, I can make the pitches. I like pitching under pressure.”
Saint Louis got its first run in the top of the second inning. Charles Lopez singled to center, advanced on Aaron Renaud’s sacrifice bunt and moved to third base on Kai Perreira-Alquiza’s groundout. Hunter Peneueta then grounded a single through the hole at shortstop to plate Lopez.
In the bottom of the fifth, Kamehameha had Wilhelm Cordes IV at third base and Dylan Salcedo at second with two outs when Chaesten Chon slapped a hard grounder behind the mound. Crusaders shortstop Keith Torres made a diving stop, and Renaud, the first baseman, scooped up the throw on a short hop for the third out.
The Crusaders pushed a second run across in the sixth without a base hit. Renaud reached base with one out, racing to to first when his swinging third strike got past the catcher, Dylan Salcedo. Peneueta walked and Makana Ontai was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Pontes then hit Torres on an 0-1 pitch, forcing Renaud home for a 2-0 Saint Louis lead.
Kamehameha got Logan Salcedo (walk) and Kuewa (single) to third and second bases in the bottom of the sixth, but Yamaguchi got Cordes to line out to third to end the threat.
In six innings, Pontes permitted five hits, fanned three, walked four and hit two batters. He tossed 88 pitches.
ILH DIVISION I CHAMPIONSHIP
No. 4 Saint Louis 2, No. 1 Kamehameha 0
At Ala Wai
>> Saint Louis (14-5) 010 001 0 — 2 5 0
>> KS (14-4) 000 000 0 — 0 2 0
Dawson Yamaguchi and Kai Perreira-Alquiza. Li‘i Pontes, Christian DeJesus (7) and Dylan Salcedo. W—Yamaguchi. L—Pontes.
Leading hitters—StL: Dylan Pagente 2-3; D.J. Stephens 2-3. KS: none.
