Mid-Pac beats Punahou in wild game
POSTED: Sunday, March 28, 2010
A must win in March?
The Mid-Pacific baseball team had that mind-set yesterday afternoon when six-time defending state champion Punahou paid a visit for an Interscholastic League of Honolulu game.
At stake for the Owls was an opportunity to continue their quest for an automatic state tournament berth from the ILH first round of league play.
The Mid-Pacific players proceeded to outhustle Punahou by never giving up when it seemed like they had little hope. Eventually that persistent drive was rewarded, as the Owls handed Punahou a 13-12 defeat in a slugfest that wasn't determined until the bottom of the seventh inning.
With the bases loaded and two outs, freshman Marcus Doi became the winning pitcher when he hit a bloop single into right field. It brought home Tyler Yoshizawa and kept the Owls in a first-place tie with Saint Louis in the ILH standings.
Mid-Pacific will battle the Crusaders for that state berth at 3:30 p.m. tomorrow at Ala Wai Field. Saint Louis won its afternoon game yesterday, beating Damien 2-0.
With two rounds of play and no league tournament, the campaign to gain a state berth becomes increasingly crucial with each game, says Mid-Pacific coach Dunn Muramaru.
“;This was a pretty wild game,”; Muramaru said. “;Our players really wanted to win. And I am proud of them for performing up to their potential. But the game came down to who batted last. I guess that is what home field is supposed to provide.”;
Mid-Pacific had to fight from behind all game long.
The turning point was the pitching of Doi. He was dazzling after he came to the mound in the third inning in relief. Over the last four innings, Doi held Punahou to one run and helped give Mid-Pacific the motivation to mount a comeback.
“;That was the biggest hit in my life,”; Doi said. “;I'm glad that I was able to come through for my teammates.”;
Punahou wasted no time getting on the scoreboard, with Michael Suiter knocking a solo home run over the center-field fence. From there, the visitors added four more runs for a commanding 5-0 lead.
But Mid-Pacific refused to yield. The Owls scored one run in the bottom of the first and four more in the second to knot the game at 5.
The third inning was equally explosive for Punahou. The Buffanblu produced six runs on a combination of singles and walks. At that moment it appeared Punahou would run away with the game. Mid-Pacific failed to score in the bottom of the third inning.
In the fourth inning the Owls' offensive weapons came to life once again. Highlighted by Jordan Obata's double, which brought in two runners, Mid-Pacific took advantage of the Punahou pitching staff for five runs to trail 11-9.
Mid-Pacific took its first lead of the game in the sixth inning with two runs to go in front 12-11.
Punahou stages its own rally, knotting the game at 12 in the top of the seventh, but Yoshizawa led off with a single in the bottom half and scored on Doi's single, setting off a celebration by the home fans.
“;My thoughts were somehow to get on base,”; Yoshizawa said. “;I knew that if I got on base we would have a chance. The pressure was on them (Punahou) to stop us. And we just kept playing hard.”;
| Punahou | 506 | 000 | 1 | — | 12 | 8 | 4 |
| Mid-Pacific | 140 | 502 | 1 | — | 13 | 16 | 3 |
Peter Harris, Tyler Kanazawa (1), Jacob Ellis (2), Scott Peters (6), Alaka'i Aglipay (6) and David Eldridge. Ryan Muraoka, Lawrence Chew (1), Marcus Doi (3) and Dane Fujinaka. W—Muraoka. L—Aglipay.
Leading hitters—Pun: Michael Suiter 2-4, , HR, 3 RBIs; Ryan Yamane 2-2, 2 RBIs. MPI: Justin Protacio 3-4, 2 runs; Jordan Obata 3-4, 2 RBIs; Tyler Yoshizawa 3-4, 3 runs; Marcus Doi 2-4, 2B, 3 RBIs.
Pac-Five 13, Maryknoll 1
| Pac-Five | 051 | 007 | — | 13 | 11 | 0 |
| Maryknoll | 001 | 000 | — | 1 | 5 | 3 |
Landry Kiyabu and Bryson Kihara. Aaron Tom, Craig Shoji (2), Matthew Hara (5), Brandon Hinck (6), Tyler Todd (6), Jarren Chun (6) and David Nishiki. W—Kiyabu. L—Tom.
Leading hitters—Pac: Aaron Nagamine 3 RBIs; Ryan Uenten 2-4, 4 RBIs; Keenan Shigematsu 3-3; Royce Yamaki 2-3; Noa Okinaka 2b. Myk: Kyle Hirata 2b; Trevor Saiki 2-3.
No. 2 Saint Louis 2, Damien 0
| Damien | 000 | 000 | 0 | — | 0 | 2 | 5 |
| Saint Louis | 001 | 010 | X | — | 2 | 6 | 1 |
Isaac Ventura and Alan Mohika. Kalei Contrades and Moses Samia. W—Contrades. L—Ventura
Leading hitters—StL: Nakasato 2b.
OIA baseball
No. 6 Kailua 9, Kalaheo 1
| Kailua | 104 | 111 | 1 | — | 9 | 12 | 1 |
| Kalaheo | 100 | 000 | x | — | 1 | 3 | 5 |
Ramseyer-Ho, Iaea (6) and Baldwin. Chris Palmer and Justin Pagan. W—Ramseyer-Ho. L—Palmer.
Leading hitters—Kail: Daymond 2-4, 3b, HR; Monaco 3-4, 3 runs; Sasaoka 3-3, 3b, 2 runs; Rams-Ho 2-4, 3b; Baldwin 3b, 2RBIs. Kalh: Palmer 2-3
No. 6 Kailua 14, Kalaheo 4, 5 inn.
| Kalaheo (0-6) | 013 | 00 | — | 4 | 4 | 2 | |
| Kailua (4-2) | 030 | 92 | — | 14 | 12 | 1 |
Luke Pauli, Nathan Milca (4), Dylan Schmeding (4) and Justin Pagan. Dymond, Choy-Foo (3), McMonigle (5) and Baldwin. W—Choy-Foo. L—Pauli.
Leading hitters—Kalh: Pagan 2b. Kail: McMonigle 2-3, 2 2b, 3RBIs, 2 runs; E. lono 2-3, 2 runs; Matsumoto 2-3, 2b, 2 rbi, 2 runs; Dymond 2-4, 2b, 2rbi, 2 runs.
Radford 5, Waialua 1
Game 1
| Waialua | 000 | 000 | 1 | — | 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Radford | 100 | 400 | x | — | 5 | 4 | 3 |
Justin Tantog and Christian Whittaker. Dustin Phelps and Troy Evans. W—Phelps. L—Tantog.
Leading hitters—Wail: Whittaker 2-3, 3b. Rad: none.
Radford 18, Waialua 8, 6 innings
Game 2
| Radford | 831 | 105 | — | 18 | 20 | 3 | |
| Waialua | 000 | 053 | — | 8 | 9 | 6 |
Stephen Horton, Jaenne-Brad Fontenot (6) and Troy Evans. Christian Whittaker, Kekai Rivera-Albeso (2) and Mykal Guigui, Whittaker (2). W—Horton. L—Whittaker.
Leading hitters—Rad: Christian Espenshade 2-2; Fontenot 2b; Roscoe Kalilikane 2-2; Jesus Tenorio Jr. 2 runs; Jobe Fontenot 2 runs; Rylee Moore 3-4, 2 RBIs, 2 runs; Zachary Lagier 2-2, 3 RBIs; Evans 3-3, 3b; Zachary Jeavons 2-3. Wail: Guigui 3-4; Justin Tantog 2-3, 2b, 2 RBIs; James Onizuka 2 RBIs; Whittaker 2-3, 2 runs.
Kapolei 11, No. 10 Campbell 2
| Campbell | 002 | 000 | 0 | — | 2 | 7 | 0 |
| Kapolei | 331 | 004 | x | — | 11 | 14 | 0 |
Robert Kahana, Kaeo Kapana (5) and Po'o Kaalekahi. Cody Kamei and Brandon Damas. W—Kamei. L—Kahana.
Leading hitters—Camp: Don Gallano 2-4; Kahana HR, 2RBIs. Kap: Michael Filio 2-3, 3b, 2 RBIs; Damas 3-4, 2b, 3b, 3RBIs; Kamei 3-4, 2 RBIs; Christian Estabillo 2-3, HR.
Castle 11, Kalani 5
| Kalani | 003 | 002 | 0 | — | 5 | 5 | 3 |
| Castle | 003 | 413 | — | 11 | 8 | 2 |
Kial Odo, Devin Lee (3), Joey Asumcion (7) and Chase Sumida. Semus Yoneshige and Brade Kochi W—Yoneshige. L—Lee.
Leading hitters—Kaln: Gavin Okada 2-3; Matthew Murikami 2b. Cas: Tyler Kon 3b, 2 RBIs; Garrett Perades 3b, 2 RBIs; Keola Jarrett 2b; Froy Smith 2b.
Castle 6, Kalani 3, 10 inn.
| Castle | 001 | 101 | 000 | 3 | — | 6 | 12 | 4 |
| Kalani | 300 | 000 | 000 | 0 | — | 3 | 6 | 0 |
Nick Oreata, Keola Jarrett (5) and Robert Fran. Bryson Shiraish, Cal Sumida (4), Chase Sumida (10) and Kial Odo. W—Jarrett. L—Sumida.
Leading hitters—Cas: Jarrett 3-5, 2b, 2 RBIs; Brandon Higa 3-4, 3b; 2 RBIs; Tyler Kon 2-4, Thans Reppuhn 2b. Kaln: Odo 2-3, Ryan Ige 2-5; Devin Lee 2-4, 2 RBIs.
Leilehua 11, Waianae 10
| Waianae | 090 | 000 | 1 | — | 10 | 10 | 3 |
| Leilehua | 111 | 031 | 4 | — | 11 | 12 | 2 |
Alan Ibanes, Daniel Medrano (5), Jobe Cabral (7) and Austin Reece. Kenan Fadanaga, Cyrus Ah Quin (7) and Aaron Higa. W—Ah Quin. L—Cabral.
Leading hitters—Wain: Ibanes 2b; Medrano 2-5, 2 RBIs; Josh Naki 2-4, 3 RBIs; Chrenfton Kaui 2-4, 2b, 3 RBIs, Reece 3-4, 2b, 2 RBIs. Lei: Bronson Smite 2b, 2 RBIs; Cyrus Aquin 2-3; Jeremy Sugitan HR; Higa 2-4, 4 RBIs, 2b.
