Friday, May 21, 1999

By Dennis Oda, Star-Bulletin
Bryan Tanabe pitched Mid-Pacific past Kauai, 5-1,
and into today's final against Molokai.

Farmers, Owls
advance to final

Molokai is in the championship
game for the first time, while
Mid-Pacific is making its fifth
appearance this decade

By Cindy Luis
Star-Bulletin

Ken Nakayama has seen a lot of baseball in his 25 years as coach at Molokai High.

Good teams, bad teams.

Teams that have gone to the state tournament a few times. Teams that haven't come close.

But never has Nakayama had a team like this.

For the first time ever, the Farmers are in the championship game.

Nakayama was having a hard time believing it minutes after second-seeded Molokai pounded third seed Hilo, 12-2, in last night's second semifinal contest at Rainbow Stadium. The Farmers (17-2), whose previous best showing was a tie for third in 1984, take on Mid-Pacific (17-7), last year's state runner-up, tonight at 7:30 p.m.

"Getting this far was way above my plans," said Nakayama. "I didn't expect it. But I guess sometimes you've got to think big and try to work for it.

"Fundamentally and cohesively, this is my best team ever."

The loss drops Hilo (13-2) into the 4:30 p.m. third-place game against Kauai (10-6). The Red Raiders fell to Mid-Pac, 5-1, in yesterday's first semifinal.

Today's play in the 41st Wally Yonamine Foundation HHSAA Baseball Championship began with the noon consolation championship game between Aiea (11-4) and Mililani (10-6). The Trojans ousted Kailua, 14-4, yesterday in five innings.

At 2:15 p.m., Baldwin (14-6) takes on Iolani (17-6), winner of the past three state titles. The Bears topped Pearl City, 7-1, and the Raiders held on against Waipahu, 2-1, to gain the fifth-place game.

HHSAA STATE BASEBALL At Rainbow Stadium Yesterday's results Molokai 12, Hilo 2 (6 innings, 10-run rule) Mid-Pacific 5, Kauai 1 Iolani 2, Waipahu 1 Mililani 14, Kailua 4 (5 innings, 10-run rule) Today's games Championship Molokai vs. Mid-Pacific, 7:35 p.m. Third place Kauai vs. Hilo, 4:30 p.m. Fifth place Baldwin vs. Iolani, 2:15 p.m. Consolation championship Aiea vs. Mililani, noon.

Molokai 12, Hilo 2 (6 innings)

The Farmers had another freshman on the mound in Kekahi Rawlins, who went the distance for the first time this season.

Rawlins gave up four hits, struck out three and walked four. Two of the hits came in the fifth, when the Vikings (13-2) scored both their runs.

Molokai broke the game open with an eight-run third, sending 13 batters to the plate and taking advantage of three struggling Hilo pitchers. The Farmers used four hits, four walks, a hit batsman, a balk and two errors for eight runs, five coming with two outs.

The big hit in the inning was the two-out, two-run single by junior third baseman Keiki Albino.

"I feel lucky to be here," said Albino. "We didn't expect this, but now we get chance. We'll try to do the same things we've been doing."

The Farmers will again be the visiting team tonight but will again be in what the University of Hawaii considers its home dugout.

"I'd rather be the home team, but this dugout's been lucky so far," said Nakayama.

Molokai		018	003--12	8	1
Hilo		000	020-- 2	4	3

Kekahi Rawlins and Apana Nakayama; Desmond Wery, Peter Paulino (3), Sheldon Kamohai (3), Gary Ahu (5) and Rusty Kawachi. WP--Rawlins. LP--Very.

Leading hitters--Mol: Keiki Albino 2-3, 2 runs; Bradford Kaahanui 2 RBI, run; Johnny Dudoit RBI, 2 runs; Kaina Alcon 2b, RBI, run; Jason Misaki 2 RBI, run; Xavier Bicoy RBI, 2 runs. Hilo: Isaac Goya 2-3, run.

Mid-Pacific 5, Kauai 1

A combination of great defense and a little luck put the Owls into the title game for the second straight year and the fifth time since 1990.

Mid-Pac turned three double plays, including one in the bottom of the sixth when Kauai had the bases loaded with no outs and the Owls leading 2-1. Owl pitcher Bryan Tanabe caught Thomas Shigemoto's popped-up bunt with a diving stab and then threw to second to double up Dustin Moises.

Mid-Pacific 001	100	3--5	8	0
Kauai		000	001	0--1	4	1

Bryan Tanabe, Bryan Lee (6) and Jacob Flick; Jason Koga, Clifton Arakaki (7) and Kwinton Estacio. WP--Tanabe. LP--Koga. Sv--Lee.

Leading hitters--MPI: Garrett Kuwahara 2-3, 2b, RBI, run; Rex Rundgren 2-3, RBI, run; Lance Takaki 2 RBI; Dane Marcouiller 2b, 2 runs. Kau: None.

Iolani 2, Waipahu 1

Senior Douglas Jackson singled to center field with two outs in the fifth, driving in both of the Raiders' runs to eliminate the Marauders (10-5).

Iolani		000	020	0--2	6	1
Waipahu		000	000	1--1	3	1

Ethan Wayne and Travis Mitsuda; Jerome Williams, Michael Menor (7) and Cedric Crisostomo. WP--Wayne. LP--Williams.

Leading hitters--Iol: Douglas Jackson 2-4, 2 RBI. Waip: Andrew Asino 2-3, RBI.

Baldwin 7, Pearl City 1

Nolan Wada was perfect at the plate and nearly perfect on the mound, going 4-for-4 while scattering five hits to lead the Bears (14-6) over the OIA champion Chargers (11-4).

Baldwin		200	311	0--7	13	1
Pearl City	000	000	1--1	5	3

Nolan Wada and Kurt Suzuki; Brandon Hookala, Kaipo Aragosa (5), Kerry Sato (6)), Cory Fijinaga (7) and Tyler Lee. WP--Wada. LP--Hookala.

Leading hitters--Bald: Nolan Wada 4-4, 2b, RBI, run; Lance Fujii 2-3, 3b, RBI; Scott Kaneshina 2-3, run; T.J. Figueroa 2b, 3 RBI, run. PC: None.

Mililani 14, Kailua 4 (5 innings)

Keola Casmina tripled with the bases loaded and two outs to highlight a four-run first inning and the Trojans (10-6) blasted 17 hits against the Surfriders (9-6) in a game called after five innings.

Kailua		013	00-- 4	3	2
Mililani	415	04--14	17	1

Jay Kekaula, Jonathan Torres (3), Keahi Mau (4), Ryan Exstrom (5) and Kawika Kaita; Stephen Terashita and Bryce Watanabe. WP--Terashita. LP--Kekaula.

Leading hitters--Kai: Justin Lui 2b, 2 RBI, run. Mil: Wade Szameitat 3-4, RBI, run; Wayde Murata 3-4, 2b, 3 RBI, 2 runs; Bryce Watanabe 2-4, 2 2b, RBI, 2 runs; Keola Casmina 2-3, 3b, 3 RBI, run; Ben Nitta 3b, 2 RBI, run; Gavin Ng 2-3, RBI, run.