For half the season, the Saint Louis Crusaders played great baseball without the burdens of pressure and expectations.

Now, they've learned to win in the face of all headwinds. Behind a three-hitter from ace Christopher Chung, Saint Louis rallied past Mid-Pacific 6-2 to win the Interscholastic League of Honolulu baseball crown at the Owls' Damon Field.

The Crusaders (26-4, 16-2 ILH) were stifled by MPI pitcher Lawrence Chew for most of five innings before Moses Samia belted a go-ahead, three-run homer in the sixth. Jordan Fukumoto added a two-run shot in the seventh for insurance.

“;We just knew this game meant a lot to our alumni and our parents,”; Samia said. “;We gave them what they wanted.”;

Chung was often brilliant, mixing a hard curve, sharp splitter and well-placed four- and two-seam fastballs on point all afternoon. He struck out five and walked just one, relishing the opportunity to bring a title to Kalaepohaku.

“;1989 was the last time Saint Louis won the (ILH) championship,”; said Chung, who was a sophomore two springs ago when the Crusaders lost to Punahou in the league and state-tourney finals. “;I feel really confident in this team. As long as we play the way we can, we have a chance at winning.”;

A two-out single by Tyler Nishimoto, aided by a bad hop that nearly struck Saint Louis shortstop Kini Enos in the head, gave MPI a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning. Marcus Doi scored from third and courtesy runner Jordan Doi scored from second, just beating the throw from center fielder Kaeo Aliviado.

The visitors scored in the top of the third on Kyle Watase's double to left-center, plating Jordan Kahalekai-Bermoy from second.

Crusader bats were quiet, however, as Chew found his groove. The junior southpaw struck out four in a row at one point, but Saint Louis reached him in the sixth.

With Derek Nakasato and Aliviado on base, Samia took an 0-1 pitch deep over the center-field fence to give Saint Louis a 4-2 advantage.

“;I knew he was going to throw something hard. It was kind of a cutter. I kept my hands inside the ball and I just drove,”; said Samia, who will play football at UH this fall.

Fukumoto's shot to left in the seventh was a relief.

“;Jordan's home run was huge. That gave us a whole bunch of breathing room,”; Gusman said. “;It takes all the pressure off.”;

Chew's two mistake pitches weren't, he said, the result of fatigue.

“;I wasn't tired. It was just bad pitches,”; he said.

MPI coach Dunn Muramaru agreed.

“;He was all right,”; he said. “;Fukumoto's hitting .580. We got hit by their best guys.”;

Saint Louis and Mid-Pacific also played in a tiebreaker after the first round, a game won by the Crusaders at Ala Wai Community Park that gave them an automatic state berth.