Versatility matters, especially when plans change.

Konawaena got five hearty innings from starting pitcher Jacob Medeiros, who then switched places with shortstop Kyle Sugi. Medeiros got the win and Sugi earned a save with two scoreless innings of relief as Konawaena prevailed 8-6 over Kahuku in the Division II opening round of the Wally Yonamine Foundation/HHSAA State Baseball Championships.

Konawaena, the runner-up from the Big Island Interscholastic Federation, will play No. 2 seed St. Anthony at 2 p.m. today.

“;It feels great. This is the first time we've ever advanced to the quarterfinals,”; said Sugi, a sophomore who also had singles and scored twice in the first two innings.

“;Coach (Lloyd Fujino) always says, we gotta come ready. We were ready,”; Sugi said.

Medeiros allowed just one hit in four innings before Kahuku got hot in the fifth inning.

Under a blistering sun at Hans L'Orange Park, the game was about making do, particularly for Kahuku. Sophomore second baseman/catcher Joseph Nozawa started on the mound because Kahuku's top two pitchers, R.J. Van Ness and Kekoa Kaaihue-Hughes, were ill.

Medeiros drove in a run with a groundout and Duke Akiona hit a run-scoring single as the Wildcats took a 2-0 lead in the first inning.

In the second, Jacob Kuluwaimaka tripled and Jordan Gomes walked, setting up a two-run single by Kolton Yamaguchi. Sugi then brought Yamaguchi home with a single, and Konawaena led 6-0.

Kawika Karratti followed with a twisting triple down the right-field line to score Sugi, and Karratti scored on the play when Kahuku's cutoff man threw to second base instead of home plate.

At Hans L'Orange Park

Joseph Nozawa and Brian Kukahiko. Jacob Medeiros, Kyle Sugi (6) and Bevin Kekoa. W—Medeiros. L—Nozawa. Sv—Sugi.

Leading hitters—Kahuku: St. John Lessary III 1-2, two runs. Konawaena: Sugi 2-3, two runs; Kawika Karratti 1-3, triple.

Molokai 12, McKinley 2

With a potent offense behind him, pitcher Scott Rapanot baffled the Tigers. Rapanot allowed four hits, struck out seven and walked three in 5 1/3 innings.

“;It was the fastball outside and the curve,”; the 6-foot-1 senior said. “;We just gotta work as a team.”;

Jon Ho, Kelsen Ganeku (5) and Cody Reyes. Scott Rapanot, Kaninau Mariano (6) and Kamakana Duvachelle-Andrade. W—Rapanot. L—Ho.

Leading hitters—McKinley: Ganeku 2-3. Molokai: Kamakana Keaka 2-3, 4 RBIs; Rapanot 2-4, 2 RBIs; Kamakaohua Sproat 2-3, 3 runs.

Maryknoll 11, Makua Lani 3

Tyler Todd went 3-for-4 and drove in five runs and Craig Shoji scattered six hits over six innings as the Spartans overwhelmed the BIIF's third-place team. Shoji struck out six, walked just two and permitted two earned runs.

Josh Kaiwi started and went four innings for the Lions (5-8-1), striking out 11.

Josh Kaiwi, Killford Hawkins (5), Ryan Orvis (6) and Hawkins, Alex Dong (5). Craig Shoji, Tyler Todd (7) and David Nishiki. W—Shoji. L—Kaiwi.

Leading hitters—Makua Lani: Hawkins 2-4, 2 runs; Kaiwi 3-4, 1 RBI. Maryknoll: Nathan Choy 2-3, 2 RBIs, 2 runs; Trevor Saiki 2-2, RBI, run.

Honokaa 7, Radford 6

In a wild finish of giveaways, Radford committed three errors in the bottom of the seventh, permitting Honokaa to rally from a 6-3 deficit for a stunning win.

Hans L'Orange Park

Damon Puskarich, Brad Osborne (7) and Troy Evans. Dylan Shiraki, Tyler Ortiz (7) and Josh Umeda. W—Ortiz. L—Osborne.

Leading hitters—Radford: Evans 1-2, RBI, run. Honokaa: Umeda 2-4, RBI, run; Kahale Artuyo 1-4, 3 runs; Joseph Charbonneau 2-3, run.