DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARBULLETIN.COM Punahou's Jared Pate was perfect through 4 1/3 innings against Kailua last night.

Pate joins premier pitchers

Glen Goya's sole claim to perfection still stands.

For a nanosecond in Hawaii prep baseball history, Jared Pate was en route to the hallowed grounds where Goya resides as the only hurler to pitch a perfect game in a state championship game.

Pate came close, though, flirting with perfection through 4 1/3 innings in the Buffanblu's repeat state championship victory. The senior hurler earned Most Outstanding Player honors for the Wally Yonamine Foundation Baseball State Championships.

Pate, who threw a five-hit shutout in last year's win over Mid-Pacific, was seamless for some time last night against Kailua before allowing a fifth-inning double to Matthew Kinoshita.

Kinoshita made it as far as third base, but Pate escaped the inning unscathed. He later allowed an infield single in the seventh, when Kailua scored an unearned run.

Pate finished with a two-hitter. He struck out five Surfriders and walked none in a clutch performance -- his second state-title win in a row. For the tourney, he allowed two hits in 9 2/3 innings with seven strikeouts and just one walk.

In two state tournaments, he permitted just two earned runs in 23 2/3 innings -- an ERA of 0.76 -- while picking up four wins without a defeat.

"It's an honor, truly an honor to be mentioned with someone like that," Pate said of Goya and other ace pitchers. "I have to thank my coaches for my preparation and my teammates for helping push me to be my best."

His control was impeccable, and the normally understated hurler admitted it.

"Out of a scale of 10, yeah, my control was a 10 tonight," he said.

In the world of pitching feats in Hawaii state championship games, Pate ranks with the best. Aside from Goya's perfect game, there has been just one no-hitter -- by Baldwin's Glen Oura in the title win over Kauai in 1960.

Sid Fernandez fired a one-hit, 18-strikeout gem for Kaiser against Saint Louis in 1981. Mike Gipaya of Saint Louis locked down Lahainaluna in 1972 with a one-hit, 16-strikeout win.

Kevin Shiraki of Iolani pitched a two-hit shutout of Molokai in 1977, whiffing 16 Farmers.

Punahou coach Eric Kadooka summed it up succinctly.

"Regardless of a no-hitter, Jared threw another perfect game for us," he said. "He was just unbelievable again."