Punahou still unbeaten in ILH playoffs
POSTED: Saturday, April 25, 2009
The Punahou baseball team sent a message to all potential challengers yesterday from its ILH playoff game against 'Iolani. If you're looking to knock off the five-time defending state champions, you'd better be ready for a surging Buffanblu team that won't give up its title easily.
'Iolani split the regular-season series with the Buffanblu and earned the top seed in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu playoffs. But the third-ranked Raiders were given a rude reminder of Punahou's dominance, as the visitors walloped the host Raiders 19-6 in five innings yesterday.
“;Punahou's a great team,”; said a clearly disgusted 'Iolani coach Dean Yonamine. “;They're the five-time defending state champs. And until somebody beats them this year, they're still the five-time defending state champs.”;
“;I think that if we keep it up, we'll be the No. 1 team in the state again,”; said Punahou junior Jeremy Ioane, whose monster two-run homer in the first inning set the tone for the rest of the game.
In a game shortened to just five innings because of the mercy rule, Punahou's offensive explosion—its best performance at the plate all season, according to coach Eric Kadooka—was impressive from every possible standpoint.
The Buffanblu, the seventh-ranked team in the state, had 26 of 39 batters reach base. Through the first two innings Punahou racked up 12 runs, and 14 of 18 batters reached base.
Three Punahou hitters—Ioane, leadoff hitter Michael Suiter and third baseman Tyler Hanzawa—slugged home runs. Hanzawa's home run was a grand slam that capped an eight-run second inning.
Punahou pounded 14 hits in 28 at-bats. Every starter reached base, and all but one starter scored at least one run.
“;We swung the bat well today,”; Kadooka said. “;It's the first time we hit the ball that way (this season).”;
Starting pitcher Marcus Yoshii worked all five innings to earn the win for Punahou. He held the Raiders' 2-3-4-5 hitters to a 2-for-11 afternoon with two strikeouts and one walk.
Despite the horrific performance yesterday, the Raiders still have a chance to win the ILH tournament crown thanks to the double-elimination format. Also, with the ILH regular-season title under its belt, 'Iolani has already secured a state tournament berth. And that might have been the only silver lining in yesterday's thumping.
“;They just kicked our butts,”; Yonamine said. “;That's all you can say about it. We didn't play well. They played great.”;
No. 2 Kamehameha 4, No. 4 Mid-Pacific 2
Down 2-1 with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning, the Warriors rattled off three runs with a two-run homer by Jacob Meyer to escape the Owls.
Chis Pascual picked up the win at the mound and Josh Wong also added a homer to lead Kamehameha.
| Mid-Pacific (10-5) | 000 | 110 | 0 | — | 2 | 6 | 1 |
| Kamehameha (13-1) | 001 | 000 | 3 | — | 4 | 7 | 1 |
Matthew McDaniel and Dane Fujinaka. Bryson Kenolio, Chris Pascual (5) and Keanu Carmichael. W—Pascual. L—McDaniel.
Leading hitters—MPI: Wade Tamaru 2-3, RBI; Daner Fujinaka 2-3, 2b; McDaniel RBI. KS: Jacob Meyer 2-4, HR, 2 RBIs; Josh Wong HR, RBI.
Volleyball
ILH
Varsity boys
Punahou def. Kamehameha 25-18, 25-9, 25-17
