HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL
Mid-Pacific stays alive in ILH tournament
In the win-or-go-home world that is the Interscholastic League of Honolulu's postseason double-elimination baseball tournament, Mid-Pacific showed it is not ready to call it quits just yet.
The No. 4 Owls (11-5) put an end to Saint Louis' campaign with an 11-6, come-from-behind victory yesterday afternoon at Ala Wai Field.
The Crusaders held a 6-3 advantage after a four-run third inning, but thanks to the gutsy effort of Mid-Pacific reliever Austin Sloan, the Owls stopped the bleeding and rallied to bring home eight unanswered runs in the next two frames.
Sloan, who earned the victory after striking out six in 4 2/3 innings of scoreless relief, stranded two Crusader runners in scoring position to end the third inning after inducing Lucas Gonsalves to ground out to second base. The effective damage control kept the Owls in the game, and Mid-Pacific took advantage of 10 walks issued by four Saint Louis pitchers. The lack of control proved costly as six of those who reached on free passes eventually scored.
"In that (third) inning, they scored a lot of runs, and had runners on second and third," said Mid-Pacific coach Dunn Muramaru of his squad's precarious situation. "So, I went out to the mound and told (Sloan), 'This is the season right here, you've got to get (Gonsalves) out.' So, he got him out, and they helped us out with some walks and we came though with some clutch hits which we haven't had all season. I guess they're getting better, and I think everybody's fatigued, so we just have to grind it out."
The Owls reclaimed the momentum in the top of the fourth inning, and despite managing just three singles, brought home six runs -- four of which came with two outs. Easton Torigoe drove in two runs on a clutch single, and Wade Tamura added an RBI single of his own. The Crusaders (4-12) had a chance to get out of the inning with the score notched at 6-6, but third baseman Kaden Kamoe's error with two down extended the inning, and allowed Torigoe -- who also picked up an RBI double in the first inning -- the chance to drive in the go-ahead runs.
Todd Nagamine and Russell Doi each drove in runs in the fifth frame, and provided enough insurance to allow Sloan to pitch with a comfortable lead.
"The hitters really came through, stayed through the ball, and kept us in the game so we could take the lead," Sloan said after receiving some well-deserved ice for his shoulder. "I wanted to continue on, and try to make states. It's going to be tough, but we'll try our best, and I think we can do it."
With the win, Mid-Pacific advances in the tournament to face Punahou today at 10 a.m. at Ala Wai Field. The winner of that game will proceed to Monday's matchup with Iolani -- the lone undefeated team remaining in the tournament -- for the championship. Due to the tourney's double-elimination format, the winner of today's game must not only beat the Raiders on Monday, but will have to repeat the feat on Wednesday to move on.
At Ala Wai Field
Mid-Pacific (11-5) |
300 |
620 |
0 |
-- |
11 |
9 |
3
|
Saint Louis (4-12) |
024 |
000 |
0 |
-- |
6 |
7 |
1 |
Matthew McDaniel, Austin Sloan (4) and Aaron Fujiki. Jayson Fukumoto, Kyle Gonzaga (4), Jordan Akau (6), Kamakani Usui (6) and Keoni Haina. W--Sloan. L--Gonzaga.
Leading hitters--MPI: Fujiki 2b, RBI; Easton Torigoe 2-4, 2b, 3 RBIs; Robert Dittrick 2-3, RBI, 2 runs. StL: Cole Shidaki RBI, 2 runs; Moses Samia 2b, 2 RBIs.
OIA EAST
McKinley 6, Kalani 2
Roger Kramer struck out seven batters as the Tigers defeated the Falcons.
Jonathan Ho had three hits and drove in two runs for McKinley.
At Kahala field
McKinley (4-6) |
020 |
031 |
0 |
-- |
6 |
8 |
2
|
Kalani (7-3) |
000 |
101 |
0 |
-- |
2 |
5 |
2 |
Roger Kramer, Mike Estes (7) and Kelsen Ganeku. Shamus Kumashiro, Dillon Matsuda (5), Tyler Matsuda (7) and Jason Lee, Bryce Tomatani (2), Lee (5). W--Kramer. L--Kumashiro. S--Estes.
Leading hitters--McK: Jonathan Ho 3-4, 2 RBIs; Kaimana Balanon 2-3, 2 RBIs; Kramer 2 RBIs. Kaln: Jordan Sumida 3b.