Mid-Pacific closes out ‘Iolani with another rally

‘Iolani can blame Mid-Pacific senior Jacob Maekawa for ending its baseball season.

Maekawa smashed a two-out line-drive double down the left-field line to bring home the tying and winning runs in a 4-3 victory over the Raiders on Friday.

That hit marked the end of the road for ‘Iolani in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu’s double-elimination tournament. The Raiders (6-13) were one out away from ending top-ranked Mid-Pacific’s tournament run and staying alive for a possible state-tournament berth. The Owls (14-4), however, were in no danger of their season ending, having qualified for states by winning the league’s regular-season title.

“Yes, it is a tough way to lose,” said ‘Iolani first-year head coach Kurt Miyahira, whose Raiders were highly competitive while going 2-2 in the postseason. “It didn’t end the way we wanted it to end. They battled. Moving forward, the seniors put our program in the right direction that we want it to go. They set the bar high, so the guys coming up know where the bar stands. It was great for our seniors.”

Mid-Pacific entertains Punahou (11-7) today at noon. With a win in that game, the Buffanblu would wrap up the tournament championship and not only secure a state berth, but also a rematch with the Owls for the overall league championship Tuesday. If Mid-Pacific is victorious today, it will play Punahou again Tuesday for the tournament title, with another possible overall championship game Thursday. If the Owls sweep the regular-season and tournament titles, however, they would be the overall champion, and Punahou would face regular-season runner-up Saint Louis (11-6) for the league’s second state berth Thursday.

“Definitely, the momentum is a huge thing,” Maekawa said. “You don’t want to lose the games before the states.”

Concerning the winning hit, he added, “I was just trying to get the next guy up, so I wasn’t trying to do anything too big. Luckily I got a hit. The way it ended was heart-breaking for ‘Iolani. It’s a tough way to lose and, especially, to end the season.”

ILH DIVISION I BASEBALL

Everett Lau, Ezra Heleski (7) and Keene Tanaka. Ethan Fujikami, Shane Adams (6), Jacob Maekawa (7) and Kyle Layugan.

W- Maekawa L- Heleski

Leading hitters- IOL: Landen Moran 2-3, HR, 2 runs; Kaimana Bartolome 2-3, HR, 2 RBIs. MPI: Maekawa 2b, 2 RBIs; Layugan 2-3, 2b; Trevin Tengan 2-2, 2b; Hunter Hill RBI.

OIA SEMIFINALS

Kalani 3, Waipahu 2, 8 inn.

Michael Price, Gabriel Ballesteros (5) and Cole Phillips. Duke Fujii and Bronson Matsumoto.

W- Fujii. L- Ballesteros.

Leading hitters- Waip: Jaren Sugimoto 3-4, run; Phillips 1-3, 2B; Kobe Russell 2-2, 3B, run, BB; Khaine Viliamu 1-3, BB, SB. Kaln: Hunter Lau 1-4, RBI, run; Jarryn Wee 2-4, RBI; Connor Zalewski 3-4, 2B; Matsumoto 1-2, 2 BB; Kohl Suehiro 2-4, RBI, run.

No. 9 Kailua 9, No. 2 Pearl City 3

Keiki Kanahele-Santos, Kalama (6) and Daniel Thomas. Carson Okada, Trestan Nakamura (4), Trenton Darley (5) and Kaleb Nishijo.

W- Kalama. L- Darley.

Leading hitters- Kail: Noah Auld 2-4, run; Lawson Faria 1-4, 2 runs; Daniel Thomas 3-4, 2 runs; Joseph Byers 1-4, 2 RBIs, run. PC: Colby Hirano 1-3, 2 runs, BB, SB; Davin Kapuras 2-3, 2 RBIs; Christian Onomura 1-3, R, BB.

OIA CONSOLATION ROUND

Campbell 10, Roosevelt 1

The Sabers routed the Rough Riders behind a stellar team offensive effort.

The Sabers scored eight runs in the first three innings and combined for 11 hits. Leadoff hitter Shane Shimizu led the way for Campbell with two hits, two runs and two RBIs.

Dylan Nakatsuka, Shayne Cazinha (1), Hiram Kakikaina (4) and catcher not reported. Jamin Kalaola, Ayzek Silva (4) and catcher not reported

W- Kalaola. L- Natsuka.

Leading hitters- Camp: Shane Shimizu 2-2, 2 runs, 2 RBI; TJ Takahama 1-2, 2 RBI, 2 runs; Justin Fernandez 2-4, RBI.

Mililani 5, Kaiser 2

The Trojans ousted the Cougars behind five strong innings from starter Ryan Ancheta.

Ancheta struck out three while scattering five hits.

Preston Moralles led the Mililani offense with a team-high two hits, while Kaiser’s Lincoln Lima went 2-for-3 with a run scored and a walk.

Steven Miyata, Antonio Omphroy (3), Jace Kaito (5), Chase Asuncion (5), Kamalu Simeona (6) and Emmett Covello. Ryan Ancheta, Shane Griffin (6) and Hunter Kirihara.

W- Ancheta. L- Miyata.

Leading hitters- Kais: Lincoln Lima 2-3, run. Mil: Preston Moralles 2-3, run.

OIA DIVISION II SEMIFINALS

Kalaheo 6, Radford 4

Kekai Smith went 3-for-3 with two runs batted in to lead the Mustangs past the Rams and into the D-II title game against Kapolei.

Kailu Lapera, Tennison Cantrell (2) and Chunky Jr. Chung. Tjader De Alba, Jacob Nishitomi (5) and Dominic Albalos.

W- Cantrell. L- Nishitomi.

Leading hitters-Kalh: Kekai Smith 3-3, 2 RBI; Kailu Lapera 2-4, run. Rad: Nishitomi 2-2, 2 runs, 2 RBI; Dylan Lewis 2-3, RBI.

Kapolei 21, Farrington 0, 5 inn.

The Hurricanes exploded for 15 hits, led by Corey Slade’s two hits and three RBIs.

Kapolei starter Ty-Noah Williams tossed a complete-game gem, giving up only one hit and one walk while striking out nine.

Paul Madamba, Trey Kaawa (1), Brett Walden (2), Bishop Rapoza (3), Chasen Castilliano (3), Derek Lazarus (4) and catcher not reported. Ty-Noah Williams and catcher not reported.

W- Williams. L- Madamba.

Leading hitters-Kap: Corey Slade 2-3, RBI, 3 runs; Joe Uesato 2-2, 2 runs, 3 RBI; Andrei Stoyanow 2-2, RBI, 2 runs; Bradyn Yoshida 2-2, 2 runs, 2 RBI.