GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM
Mid Pacific's Michael Nagamine scored a run against Saint Louis yesterday at Iolani Field.
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Owls warm up with Crusaders
The Mid-Pacific Owls paid Saint Louis a measure of respect by bringing their best arm to the mound yesterday.
Matthew McDaniel fired a three-hitter as No. 2-ranked Mid-Pacific blanked fifth-ranked Saint Louis 4-0 at breezy Iolani field. Mid-Pac coach Dunn Muramaru could have saved his ace for today's noon showdown with No. 1 Punahou, but a prolific Crusader hitting attack required the savvy junior hurler.
"I mixed my speeds and stayed away most of the time. They have a lot of pull hitters," said McDaniel, who didn't allow a runner past first base after the second inning. In one stretch, he whiffed seven of eight batters.
He finished with seven strikeouts and three walks for MPI, now 2-0 in Interscholastic League of Honolulu play (19-1 overall). Saint Louis slipped to 2-1 (10-5 overall).
"We prepared for (McDaniel). We threw lefties in batting practice," Crusaders coach Duane Fraticelli said. "He had us off balance, and we helped them with our baserunning (mistakes)."
The Owls struck with two outs in the top of the first inning. Aaron Fujiki walked and Easton Torigoe singled to center before Michael Nagamine socked a fastball on a 1-2 count for a single, scoring courtesy runner Bryson Chang.
The Crusaders threatened in the bottom of the second, loading the bases with just one out. However, McDaniel induced Grant Gabriel into a double play to end the threat.
Mid-Pac added three runs in the third. Fujiki reached base on a one-out bunt single and a fielding error by Crusader third baseman Kaden Kamoe allowed Torigoe to reach base. Nagamine followed with a single to left to score the courtesy runner, Chang, one more time.
Derek Tan then drilled a line drive into the right-center-field gap to bring in two more runs for a 4-0 Owls lead.
The Owls are ready for Punahou, the four-time defending state champ.
"We're really clicking," Nagamine said.
Saint Louis will meet No. 4 Kamehameha this afternoon at Iolani's field.
At Iolani School
Mid-Pacific (3-0) |
103 |
000 |
0 |
-- |
4 |
9 |
1 |
Saint Louis (2-1) |
000 |
000 |
0 |
-- |
0 |
3 |
1 |
Matthew McDaniel and Aaron Fujiki. Kyle Gonzaga, Kamakani Usui (6) and Keoni Haina.
W--McDaniel.
L--Gonzaga.
Leading hitters--Mid-Pacific: Easton Torigoe 2-4, run; Michael Nagamine 2-2, 2 RBIs; Derek Tan, 2B, 2 RBIs. Saint Louis: Gonzaga 1-2; Lucas Gonsalves 1-3; Josh Saio 1-2.
ILH
|
W |
L |
Punahou |
3 |
0 |
Mid-Pacific |
3 |
0 |
Saint Louis |
2 |
1 |
Kamehameha |
2 |
1 |
Pac-Five |
1 |
1 |
Iolani |
0 |
2 |
Damien |
0 |
3 |
Mareyknoll |
0 |
3 |
Yesterday's Late OIA result
Leilehua 8, Pearl City 5
At Pearl City H.S.
Leilehua (1-2) |
211 |
013 |
0 |
-- |
8 |
10 |
2 |
Pearl City (1-1) |
030 |
010 |
1 |
-- |
5 |
5 |
3 |
Brett Nakasone, Edieson Dumlao (6), Desmond Ontai (7) and Jayson Cabalce. Kahana Neal, Chase Kumata (6) and Carlton Tanabe.
W--Nakasone.
L--Neal.
Leading hitters--Leilehua: Dumlao 2-4, 3b, RBI, 2 runs; Darren Baccay 3-4, 2 2bs, RBI, run; Ontai 3-4, 2 HRs, 2 runs, 5 RBIs. Pearl City: Ryno Acosta HR, 3 RBIs; Kurt Poentis 2-3, RBI; Bryson Namba 2b; Duane Kiyota 2b.