HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS
Punahou creates 3-way
tie for first placeThe Buffanblu beat Mid-Pac
2-1 to knot the two teams with
Saint Louis and force a playoff
Punahou put a crimp in Mid-Pacific's plan to end the Interscholastic League of Honolulu baseball regular season on time yesterday.
The Buffanblu edged the Owls 2-1 in an errorless game at the MPI field. The victory, coupled with Saint Louis' 14-5 win over Kamehameha, caused a three-way tie at the top of the heap. All three teams finished 11-3 for the season.
Today, the Crusaders and the Buffanblu meet at Iolani's field in a playoff for the right to play the Owls for the regular-season title tomorrow at Ala Wai. Both games start at 3:45 p.m.
MPI won the draw yesterday for the bye in the three-way playoff. The league's postseason tournament starts Friday.
Punahou right-handed pitcher Jared Pate allowed five hits and struck out five in yesterday's complete-game win.
"Pate was outstanding," Buffanblu coach Eric Kadooka said. "He threw a ton of strikes and he kept it down, making them hit a lot of ground balls. And we scrapped for two runs with two outs."
Trailing 1-0, Punahou got four singles for two runs in the fourth to take the lead for good.
Kasey Ko started the rally by crushing a Harrison Kuroda pitch off the fence in center, but was held to a single. Two batters later, with two gone, Landon Nakata came through with a hit before Robert Kurisu and Justin Ariki both singled to drive in the tying and go-ahead runs.
It looked like pinch runner Daniel Cho, who scored Punahou's first run, was in for a close play at the plate, but an Owls infielder was unable to unload with a relay throw.
"This one was super big," said Ariki, a four-year varsity player. "We've only beaten them once in my time here and this is the first time we did it on their home field. This is our best team in my four years. This is the year for us to take it. We have what it takes."
Chris Freshour led off Mid-Pacific's third inning with a double and scored the Owls' only run on Ryan Asato's fielder's choice.
"He (Pate) changes speeds well," Freshour said. "He went to his slider whenever he was in trouble and we had a hard time with it.
"We'll re-group. Thursday is another day and hopefully it will be a better outcome."
Kadooka is anxious to see how his veteran team responds to today's challenge.
"We've had great pitching from the start of the season and this is a team that is confident and has great maturity. We find ways to win and that's what a good team does."
MPI coach Dunn Muramaru was glad his team was able to celebrate yesterday, despite the loss. It was the seniors' last home game and they received leis and took photos with family and friends.
"It kind of takes the edge off the loss," Muramaru said.
At Mid-Pacific Institute Field
Punahou (11-3) 000 200 0 -- 2 6 0 Mid-Pacific (11-3) 001 000 0 -- 1 5 0
Jared Pate and Robert Kurisu; Harrison Kuroda, Jayson Kramer (7) and Kip Masuda.
Leading hitters--Pun: Landon Nakata 2-3, Kurisu 1-2, RBI; Justin Ariki 2-3, RBI. MPI: Chris Freshour 1-2, 2b; Ryan Asato RBI.
Saint Louis 14 Kamehameha 5: Chester Wilson went 4-for-5 with a double, and Danny Lee had three hits, including a double, and three RBIs to lead the Crusaders over the Warriors.
Johnny Gentry added three RBIs and Stuart Kam, Marc Nobriga and Sheldon Santiago each added two RBIs. Nobriga went the distance on the mound, striking out 11 to earn the win.
At Ala Wai
Saint Louis (11-3) 521 120 3 -- 14 17 1 Kamehameha (9-5) 050 000 0 -- 5 8 3
Marc Nobriga and Jowen Murray-Thornton; Kanekoa Texeira, Shige Purdy (5), Josh Antonio (7) and Stuart Kam. W--Nobriga. L--Texeira.
Leading hitters--StL: Chester Wilson, 4-5, 2b; Danny Lee, 3-4, 2b, 3 RBIs; Kelii Zablan, 3-5, 2b; M. Nobriga, 2-3, 2b, 2 RBIs; Johnny Gentry, 2-4, 3 RBIs; Sheldon Santiago, 2-4, 2 RBIs. Kam: Brandon Ogimi, 2-3; Stuart Kam, 2b, 2 RBIs; Ryson Mauricio, 2b.
Iolani 8, Damien 2: No further details reported.