Thursday, May 20, 1999

Molokai stuns
defending champ

The young Farmers show
maturity beyond their years in
the 10-inning, 6-3 victory
over Iolani

By Cindy Luis
Star-Bulletin

Wow.

Who would have thought that David would slay Goliath on the slingshot of an arm belonging to a freshman?

Molokai reliever Ikaika Lester didn't have a problem with the scenario. The 15-year-old right-hander relied on a sidearm pitch he learned in the past few months as the Farmers lived up to their No. 2 seeding by stunning three-time defending state champion Iolani, 6-3, in 10 innings last night.

The Farmers used a three-run 10th and an ice-water-in-the-veins performance by Lester in front of 1,568 in the nightcap of the Hawaii High School Athletic Association State Baseball Championship at Rainbow Stadium. The freshman entered the game with no outs in the bottom of the fifth, runners at second and third and a 1-1 count on Iolani's leading power hitter, Kainoa Obrey.

Lester struck out Obrey and the next two batters to retire the side. He finished with eight strikeouts and yielded two hits over the final six innings.

"I was a little nervous, with a runner at third and a tie game," said Lester, who gave up one run in the bottom of the seventh. "But it was OK. All season long we've never given up.

"We've had some good wins, but this is the best."

The victory by Molokai capped a very successful day by neighbor island teams. For only the second time in the 41 years of the state baseball tournament, three of the four semifinalists are not from Oahu.

It started yesterday with Kauai's 4-2 upset of fourth-seeded Pearl City and was followed by No. 3 seed Hilo's 7-0 win against Waipahu. When the smoke cleared, only Mid-Pacific, the top seed, was left to carry the Oahu banner, via a 4-0 win over Baldwin.

The last time three neighbor island teams made it to the final four was 1984, when Baldwin defeated Waimea in the only title game in tournament history without an Oahu team. Coincidentally, that was the only other time Molokai has made it to the semifinals.

The Farmers will take on Big Island champ Hilo at 7:35 p.m. tonight. In the other championship semifinal, Mid-Pacific faces Kauai at 5:05 p.m.

Molokai 6, Iolani 3

It ranks right up there with McKinley's upset of a Derek Tatsuno-led Aiea team in the 1976 OIA tournament.

The Farmers withstood several challenges by the Raiders while also capitalizing on several Iolani miscues for their final four runs.

With two outs and the score tied at 2-2 in the top of the seventh, Iolani left-fielder Matt Braig misjudged a ball hit by Kaina Alcon that allowed Detrick Rawlins to score.

The Raiders rallied to tie it in their half of the inning when Brent Wong singled in Douglas Jackson to make it a 3-3 game.

It fell apart for Iolani in the 10th. Seldom-used senior Kendall Wong, subbing at first when Kainoa Obrey relieved starting pitcher Erik Yamamoto, made two errors that led to Molokai's three runs.

There was one controversial call that could have changed the outcome. In the bottom of the first with Molokai ahead, 2-1, and the bases loaded, Farmer starter Ikaika Faraon hit Tyler Kimura.

That would have forced in Obrey with the tying run. Instead, home plate umpire Curtis Cho called Kimura back, saying he didn't make any effort to get out of the way.

"That's one of those things that happens," said Iolani coach Dean Yonamine. "That was so early. Over 10 innings, you can't pinpoint any one thing. We had our chances.

"But you've got to give Molokai a lot of credit. Their coaching staff prepared them for the pressure. We thought that if we had any advantage, it was that we were playing a young team."

Molokai coach Ken Nakayama had also been concerned with his youthful roster (two seniors and 14 underclassmen, including four freshmen).

"They're young, but they come through," said Nakayama. "They're not afraid."

Molokai		200	000	100	3--6	6	0
Iolani		100	010	100	0--3	7	2

Ikaika Faraon, Ikaika Lester (5) and Apana Nakayama; Erik Yamamoto, Kainoa Obrey (9) and Travis Mitsuda. WP--Lester. LP--Obrey.

Leading hitters--Mol: Keiki Albino 2-4; Bradford Kaahanui 2b, RBI; Kaina Alcon 2b, RBI; Xavier Bicoy RBI. Iol: Brad Takamori 2-4, 3b, RBI.

HHSAA STATE BASEBALL

At Rainbow Stadium

Today's games
9:15 a.m.
Mililani vs. Kailua
11:30 a.m.
Pearl City vs. Baldwin
2 p.m.
Waipahu vs. Iolani
5:05 p.m.
Kauai vs. Mid-Pacific
7:35 p.m.
Hilo vs. Molokai

Yesterday's results
Aiea 5, Waiakea 0
Kauai 4, Pearl City 2
Hilo 7, Waipahu 0
Mid-Pacific 4, Baldwin 0
Molokai 6, Iolani 3

Mid-Pacific 4, Baldwin 0

Jacob Flick drove in Garrett Kuwahara three times as the top-seeded Owls (16-7) continued their Cinderella season by gaining a berth in the championship semifinals with a win over the Bears (13-6). The Owls, 6-1 in their last seven games, won three state titles from 1990-92.

Owl starter Brandon Fujimoto gave up just two singles, both to Bears leadoff hitter Nolan Wada.

Mid-Pacific	001	010	2--4	7	0
Baldwin		000	000	0--0	2	1

Brandon Fujimoto, Bryan Lee (7) and Jacob Flick; Keoni Aloy, Davin Moria (3) and Kurt Suzuki. WP-Fujimoto. LP-Morita.

Leading hitters--MPI: Lance Takaki 2-4, run; Jacob Flick 3 RBI; Garrett Kuwahara 3 runs; Rex Rundgren RBI, run.

Hilo 7, Waipahu 0

Daniel Murray's three-run double with two outs in the third was all the Vikings (13-1) would need in shutting out the Marauders (10-5).

Hilo also used four walks and a wild pitch by Waipahu's Joseph Moananu to help manufacture three runs in the fifth.

Waipahu		000	000	0--0	6	1
Hilo		004	030	x--7	4	1

Joseph Moananu, Michael Menor (5) and Cedric Crisostomo; Chuck Segawa and Rusty Kawachi. WP--Segawa. LP--Moananu.

Leading hitters--Waip: Jennsen Rivera 2-3. Hilo: Daniel Murray 2b, 3 RBIs; Sheldon Kamohai RBI.

Kauai 4, Pearl City 2

The Red Raiders (10-5) rallied for four late runs, needing two hits and two Charger errors in upsetting the OIA champions (11-4).

Robyn Miyataki homered to left to highlight Pearl City's two-run first. Kauai tied it in the fourth on Les Lovell-Obatake's run-scoring sacrifice bunt and an error that scored Jason Koga.

The Red Raiders took the lead in the fifth with two unearned runs.

Pearl City	200	000	0--2	7	2
Kauai		000	220	x--4	4	1

Brandon Kameoka and Tyler Lee; Les Lovell-Obatake, James Prem (3) and Kwinton Estacio. WP--Prem. LP--Kameoka.

Leading hitters--PC: Gavin Concepcion 2-3; Robyn Miyataki solo HR. Kau: None.

Aiea 5, Waiakea 0

Arien Williams scattered six hits and struck out six as Na Alii (11-4) eliminated the Warriors (11-4).

Aiea took advantage of four Waiakea errors to help push single runs across in five different innings.

Aiea		011	101	1--5	7	2
Waiakea		000	000	0--0	6	4

Arien Williams and Paul Yoshida; Greg Kagawa, Ryan Hanohano (7), Shannon Otani (7) and Chad Watanabe. WP--Williams. LP-- Kagawa.

Leading hitters--Aiea: Skip Saito 3-3. Waia: Ryan Hanohano 2-3.