Saint Louis stuns Mid-Pacific

For a moment, it seemed the magic of Mid-Pacific’s early season was putting Saint Louis into a trance.

In the end, it was the visiting Crusaders who pulled out a minor miracle at Damon Field. Kai Perreira-Alquiza’s double brought home Keith Torres with the tying run in the top of the seventh inning, and Matt Wong’s single up the middle scored Perreira-Alquiza with the go-ahead run as No. 3-ranked Saint Louis rallied past No. 1 Mid-Pacific 4-3 on Saturday afternoon.

Relief pitcher Chase Meilleur set the Owls down in order in the bottom of the seventh to preserve a key win for Saint Louis, which is now 2-1 in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu.

“We had two first-year (varsity) players clutch up in Kai and Matt,” Saint Louis coach George Gusman said. “We’ll enjoy it until Monday. Win or lose, we’re not going to dwell on it. We have to get ready.”

Mid-Pacific, which began the week with a comeback win over Punahou, has since lost two close battles and is now 1-2.

“It’s little stuff that comes back to haunt you. They did all the right little stuff,” Owls coach Dunn Muramaru said. “We’re playing OK, but in the ILH you can’t just play OK. You have to play good. You’ve got to make the right pitches. We got a gift (last Tuesday) and today we let one get away. But it’s a long season.”

The seesaw game was a pitchers’ duel for much of the sunny afternoon between MPI southpaw Alex Oley and Saint Louis lefty Dawson Yamaguchi. Oley went 5 innings and allowed two runs on four hits with four strikeouts and one walk. He also led off and went 1-for-4.

Yamaguchi went 52⁄3 innings and allowed two earned runs on six hits with no strikeouts and three bases on balls issued.

The Owls opened the scoring in the bottom of the third inning with a double by Hunter Hill, whose long drive to deep center was snagged, then released by center fielder John Kea on a great effort. With two outs, Zach Gushiken singled to center, and the throw home by Kea was on line to possibly nail Hill, but the ball was cut off by Yamaguchi.

In the top of the fourth, Saint Louis tied the game on another bang-bang play at home plate. Brendan Uchima and Wong singled, and designated hitter Dylan Pagente’s two-out single to center brought Uchima sliding home. The throw by center fielder Breyndon Nakamura was perfect, but the catcher, Isaac Kimura, lost the ball as he attempted to tag Uchima.

Oley’s wicked breaking pitch began to fade by the fifth inning. He walked two batters to start the frame, and Perreira-Alquiza’s grounder up the middle got past a drawn-in infield, permitting D.J. Stevens to score and give Saint Louis a 2-1 lead.

When ace Chase Wago entered — he pitched 5 innings in the win over Punahou four days earlier — the Owls had momentum.

They rallied with two runs in the bottom of the sixth. Wago singled with one out, and after pinch runner Wyatt Young stole second base, Ryne Yamashiro walked with two outs. Trevin Tengan then spanked a single over first base, scoring Young to tie the game at 2.

That was enough to chase Yamaguchi, but Meilleur’s first pitch to Jarrod Infante, a strike, led to catcher Taylor Meilleur’s moment of pain. The veteran catcher saw Tengan dance off first base, and the catcher took the bait. His throw sailed over the head of first baseman Aaron Renaud and into right field, allowing Yamashiro to score easily from third base for a 3-2 Mid-Pacific lead.

Then came a Crusaders miracle in the seventh. Torres fouled off four two-strike pitches before eking out a one-out walk against Wago. Taylor Meilleur then popped out in foul territory, with Kimura making a diving catch near the Owls’ dugout. Torres wisely timed the catch and tagged up.

“That was the play of the game,” Gusman said.

Torres made it to second base easily, and after Uchima was walked intentionally, Wong ripped a single up the middle to score Torres with the go-ahead run.

Taylor Meilleur was grateful, to say the least.

“I thanked Kai boy. I thanked Keith for tagging up. And I thanked Matty Wong,” he said.

ILH DIVISION I BASEBALL

No. 3 Saint Louis 4, No. 1 Mid-Pacific 3

Dawson Yamaguchi, Chase Meilleur (6) and Taylor Meilleur. Alex Oley, Chase Wago (6) and Isaac Kimura.

W–C. Meilleur. L–Wago.

Leading hitters–STL: Kai Perreira-Alquiza 2-4, 2B, RBI, run; Matt Wong 2-4, RBI. MPI: Zach Gushiken 1-3, RBI; Trevin Tengan 1-3, 2 RBIs.

ILH DIVISION II BASEBALL

Damien 18, Hanalani 2, 5 inn.

The Monarchs exploded for nine runs in the fifth inning in a win over the Royals. Jayden Cabbad went 3-for-4 with two runs scored for Damien.

Milton Gainey and Kana Schuman. Max Ares, Tyler Lee (4), Nicholas Garcia-Reed (5) and Reyn Romero.

W–Gainey. L–Ares.

Leading hitters–DMN:Jayden Cabbad 3-4, 2B, 2 runs, RBI; Chase Lundberg 3B, RBI; Dylan Tatat 2b, 2 RBI, Kaimana Cameron 2 RBI. HNL: Chad Wakabayashi 2-3, 2B, 3B, run.

OIA RED EAST BASEBALL

Moanalua 8, No. 8 Kailua 7

Na Menehune rallied to score seven runs in the bottom of the seventh to shock the Surfriders.

Dalton Kalama went 1-for-4 and provided the power for Kailua with a grand slam in the top of the fifth.

Joey Cantillo, Cody Takabuki (6), Dustin Imanaka (7) and Dalton Kalama. Skyler Yamamoto, Randy Tabura (5), Brandon Ikehara (6), Tyler Trim (7) and Kekaulike Kalua.

W–Trim L–Imanaka

Leading hitters–KIL: Kalama 1-4, HR, 4 RBIs; Brendan Odo, 2-3, 1 run. MOA: Kalua 2-3, RBI; Andrew Oasay 1-4, RBI.

Kalani 12, Kaimuki 2, 5 inn.

The Falcons scored eight runs over the third and fourth innings, and cruised to a victory over the Bulldogs.

Payton Awaya powered the Kalani offense, going 3-for-3 with three RBIs and a home run.

Duke Fujii, Devin Omura (4) and Bronson Matsumoto. KB Palsis, Jamon Young (4), Reymundo Gomez (5) and Kobe Hedgar.

W–Fujii. L–Palsis.

Leading hitters–KLN: Payton Awaya 3-3, 2B, HR, 3 RBI; Bronson Matsumoto 2 runs, 3 RBI. KIM: Jaren Feary 1-1, run.

Kaiser 8, Castle 6

The Cougars scored two runs in the fourth and three runs in the fifth to take the lead over the Knights, then held on for the win.

Emmett Garcia led Kaiser, going 1-for-3 with 3 RBIs.

Jonah Moniz-Jones, Kade Kaupiko (5) and Kody Lizama, Maui Gaison (5). Chase Asuncion, Alexio Smith (5), Steven Miyata (6) and Emmett Covello.

W–Asuncion. L–Kaupiko.

Leading hitters–CAS: Hunter Paredes 1-2, 2 RBI; Keoki Gaspar-Takahashi 2-4, RBI. KAS: Emmett Garcia 1-3, 3 RBI; Kainoa Craig 1-2, 3 runs.

OIA RED WEST BASEBALL

Aiea 13, Waianae 7

Na Alii scored four runs in the first, second and fourth innings to win a shootout with the Seariders.

Logan Ho led the way for Aiea with three hits, three runs, two RBIs and a home run.

Tavita Lalau, Quinn Searle (2), Daven Ferreira and Rudyjay Keopuhiwa, Ejay Kuakini, Earl Keamo-Young. Jarred Uyeda, Ty Matsutami (5) and Jake Nakamoto.

W–Uyeda. L–Lalau.

Leading hitters–WAN: Lalau 2-4, run, RBI; Drayden Coyaso 2-4, RBI. AIE: Logan Ho 3-4, 3 runs, 2 RBI, HR; Bronson Nekomoto 2-4, 3 RBI, run, 2B; Jake Nakamoto 4 RBI, Uyeda 2-3, 3 runs.

BIIF baseball

Kamehameha-Hawaii 10, Kealakehe 0

OIA RED WEST SOFTBALL

No. 1 Campbell 9, Waianae 2

The Sabers scored early and often in their season opener, led by Cierra Mariano’s 3-for-3 performance.

Danielle Cervantes, Elisa Favela, catcher not reported. Bailey Pittman, Kamalei Santiago, catcher not reported.

W–Cervantes. L–Pittman.

Leading hitters– CAM: Cierra Mariano 3-3, 3 RBI, 2B; Jocelyn Alo 2-3, run, 3 RBI, HR. WAN: Kayla Hensley 1-3, run.

No. 8 Kapolei 15, Leilehua 5, 5 inn.

The Hurricanes exploded for 14 runs in the final three innings.

Sadie Kapaku-You led the offensive onslaught with three hits, five RBIs, three runs and a home run.

Leilehua’s Staisa Micky went 2-for-3 with a team-high 3 RBIs.

Chasity Stalcup, Kaena Nistal (3), Chelsea Lobitos (4) and Shea Tammamrine, Stasia Micky. Laugatausaia Pedebone (5) and Lilli Kaimi.

W–Pedebone. L–Stalcup.

Leading hitters–LEI: Stasia Micky 2-3, 3 RBI; Mahea Calizo 2-2, RBI, 2 runs. KPO: Sadie Kapaku-You 3-4, 5 RBIs, 3 runs, HR; Makana Meyers 4-4, RBI, 4 runs.

OIA DIVISION II SOFTBALL

Waialua 9, Kalaheo 9, 8 inn.

Nanakuli 15, Radford 1, 5 inn.