The blur of red and black streaking toward the plate caught Jordan Yamamoto by surprise, but not completely off guard.
With the tying run on third and two out in the bottom of the seventh, the Saint Louis right-hander went into his windup and caught just a glimpse of ‘Iolani’s Austin Jim On breaking for the plate.
That instant was just enough for Yamamoto to adjust his delivery to give catcher Taylor Meilleur an easy pitch to handle and drop the tag for the stunning final out of the Crusaders’ 4-3 win over the host Raiders on Wednesday.
"Out of the corner of my eye I saw him coming, so I just tried to get the ball on the outside corner low so my catcher can just tag the runner," Yamamoto said.
Yamamoto struck out 11, walked two and gave up six hits in a complete-game performance that helped keep Saint Louis (10-3) in second place in the ILH baseball standings and still within reach of first-place Mid-Pacific (10-2-1) in the chase for the regular-season title. The Crusaders and Owls meet on Tuesday at MPI.
"I thought he was much better today (than his previous two outings)," Saint Louis coach George Gusman said. "He wasn’t overthrowing, his composure was better, his head was better, everything was just better with him. He wasn’t forcing stuff. The last two games he was forcing."
Saint Louis closes the regular season on April 19 with its third regular-season meeting with ‘Iolani
(7-6). Even though the top spot in the league could still hang on that result, it’ll be tough to match the drama of Wednesday’s meeting.
Saint Louis had taken a
4-1 lead on Jacob Gribbin’s home run to center in the top of the first inning and a three-run fourth, when the Crusaders were aided by four ‘Iolani errors.
"(Gribbin) has been struggling and we talked about a few things in batting practice and he adjusted and I’m happy for him," Gusman said.
The Raiders answered with Corey Nakakura’s RBI single in the bottom of the fourth and put the tying runs on base in the seventh on a single and an error.
Both runners advanced into scoring position on a balk and Caleb Duhay scored on Max Look’s groundout to shortstop to bring the Raiders to within a run. With Jim On at third, Yamamoto got a strikeout for the second out of the inning, bringing Christian Donahue to the plate.
Donahue had driven in ‘Iolani’s first run with a line-drive single to right in the third inning and singled to left in the fifth. But the attempted steal on Yamamoto’s first pitch of the at-bat ended the game.
"We had our best hitter up, we had a good opportunity, we miscommunicated. I take responsibility," ‘Iolani coach Brent Shimokawa said. "It’s my fault."
Gusman said he’d talked with Yamamoto about taking a look at third when the senior right-hander works from a windup rather than from the stretch.
"I’ve told Jordan time and time again, ‘You’ve gotta peek,’ " Gusman said. "He didn’t peek on that one, but did see him out of the corner of his eye."
"That’s my usual routine, but I guess I have to change it up," Yamamoto said. "My coach has been talking to me about it, so I have to change it sooner or later. The later is now."
At ‘Iolani
| STL (10-3) |
100 |
300 |
0 |
— |
4 |
8 |
1 |
| ‘Iolani (7-6) |
001 |
100 |
1 |
— |
3 |
6 |
4 |
Jordan Yamamoto and Taylor Meilleur. Bronson Ichimura, Ezra Heleski (4),
Reid Kimura (7) Kainoa Fong (7) and Joshua Inaba.
W–Yamamoto. L–Ichimura.
Leading hitters–StL: Jordan Mopas, 2-4, 2b; Jacob Gribbin, 2-3, HR, 2 RBIs; Devan Stubblefield, 3-3. Iol: Max Look RBI; Christian Donahue 2-2, RBI; Inaba 2b; Corey Nakakura RBI.
OIA RED EAST
No. 8 Kailua 11, Kalaheo 3
Dalton Kalama and Brandon Odo had two hits apiece and the Surfriders took advantage of four errors, four walks and five wild pitches by the Mustangs to win going away.
At Kailua District Park
Kailua (8-2) 103 030 4 — 11 10 3
Kalaheo (0-10) 000 030 0 — 3 5 4
Royce Kometsu, Pilipo Kupahu (5), Dustin Imanaka (6) and Dalton Kalama; Iokepa Latera, Kaliu Latera (7) and Brandon Burton. W–Kometsu. L–I. Latera
Leading hitters–Kailua: Kalama 2-3, 3b; Brandon Odo 2-4. Kalah: Jack Bell 3b, 3 RBIs.
Roosevelt 11, Kalani 4
Riki Kobayashi drove in four runs to help the Rough Riders beat the Falcons. Ryan Sato had three hits for Kalani.
At Stevenson Middle School field
| Kalani (6-4) |
101 |
101 |
0 |
— |
4 |
8 |
2 |
| RHS (6-2) |
000 |
371 |
X |
— |
11 |
8 |
2 |
Reece Kakugawa, Reo Hasanuma (5), Logan Scott (6) and Brandon Roberts. Jarron Maemori, Riki Kobayashi (7) and Aaron Emoto.
W–Maemori. L–Kakugawa.
Leading hitters–Kaln: Payton Awaya 2-4, 2 RBIs; Ryan Sato 3-4, 2b, RBI; Reyn Shitanishi 2-4, RBI. Roos: Riki Kobayashi 2-4, 2b, 4 RBIs; Reece Okura 2-3, 2 runs, RBI; Brandon Leong 2b, 2 RBIs.
Kaiser 4, Moanalua 3
Kamalu Simeona struck out six batters to help the Cougars hold off Na Menehune.
Mark Kuga had two hits for Moanalua.
At Hans L’Orange Park
| Kaiser (4-4) |
310 |
000 |
0 |
— |
4 |
8 |
1 |
| Moanalua (6-3) |
300 |
000 |
0 |
— |
3 |
5 |
1 |
W–Kamalu Simeona. L–Tanner Inouye.
Leading hitters–Kais: Aaron Oda 2 RBIs.
OIA RED WEST
No. 1 Campbell 7, Kapolei 2
Dewayne Sprinkel hit two triples to help the Sabers beat the Hurricanes. Dylan White hit a two-run homer for Kapolei.
At Kapolei
| Campbell (9-0) |
021 |
300 |
1 |
— |
7 |
11 |
0 |
| Kapolei (3-6) |
200 |
000 |
0 |
— |
2 |
4 |
2 |
Dorrien Hermosura, Markus Ramos (7) and Tryzen Patricio. Ty-Noah Williams, Jace Barayuga (5) and Tyler Hao.
W–Hermosura. L–Williams.
Leading hitters–Cam: Jobe Ibana 2-4; Dewayne Sprinkel 2-3, 2 3b; Wayne Bucao 2-4, 2 runs; Zachary Recolan 2-3. Kap: Dylan White HR, 2 RBIs.
Mililani 6, Leilehua 0
Trevor Inouye pitched a two-hit shutout and struck out four to lead the Trojans over the Mules.
At Mililani
| Leilehua (2-6) |
000 |
000 |
0 |
— |
0 |
2 |
4 |
| Mililani (5-5) |
110 |
310 |
X |
— |
6 |
7 |
0 |
Micah Takashige and Jarred Chai. Trevor Inouye and Sean Sonognini.
W–Inouye. L–Takashige.
Leading hitters–Mil: Jarrin Morikawa 2 RBIs.
Waipahu 4, Pearl City 1
Dylan Sugimoto pitched a five-hitter and struck out five to help the Marauders beat the Chargers.
At Pearl City
| Waipahu (6-3) |
100 |
012 |
0 |
— |
4 |
4 |
3 |
| Pearl City (3-7) |
010 |
000 |
0 |
— |
1 |
5 |
4 |
Dylan Sugimoto and P. Villanueva. Dane Kaneshiro and Shaye Higa.
W–Sugimoto. L–Kaneshiro.
Leading hitters–Waip: Sugimoto RBI. PC: Kaneshiro 2-3.
OIA WHITE
Waianae 11, Mckinley 1, 5 innings
Kekoa Kaluhiokalani Jr. pitched a three-hitter and struck out six to help the Seariders beat the Tigers. He also went 2-for-3 with a triple and four RBIs.
At Waianae
| Mckinley (2-7) |
001 |
00 |
— |
1 |
3 |
7 |
| Waianae (8-1) |
065 |
0x |
— |
11 |
11 |
0 |
Noah Diaz, Landon Rita (3) and Chevas Pacheco. Kekoa Kaluhiokalani Jr., Ioane Kaluhiokalani (5) and Ejay Kuakini.
W–K. Kaluhiokalani Jr. L–Diaz.
Leading hitters–McK: Rakeem Estrella-Clark 2b. Wain: Jerzey Ramento-Acosta 2-2, 2 RBIs; K. Kaluhiokalani Jr. 2-3, 3b, 4 RBIs, 2 runs; Tavita Lalau 2-2, 3b, 2 RBIs; Dayson Bailey 2-2, 2 runs.
Waialua 8, Kahuku 7
Joshua Muniz’s two-out single scored Keaka Cleveland in the bottom of the seventh as the Bulldogs beat the Red Raiders.
At Waialua
| Kahuku (0-9) |
002 |
030 |
2 |
— |
7 |
5 |
9 |
| Waialua (6-3) |
121 |
201 |
1 |
— |
8 |
9 |
3 |
Ronald Hurlburt and Josaiah Vea. Caelan Alejandro, Logan Onizuka (5), Mila Lele (5), and Kebi Dellatan.
W–Lele. L–Hurlburt.
Leading hitters–Kahu: Vea HR, 2 RBIs. Wail: Lele 3-4, 2b.
Nanakuli 11, Kaimuki 0, 6 Innings
Brayden Ramaila threw a six-hit shutout and struck out nine to lead the Golden Hawks over the Bulldogs.
At Kaimuki
| Nanakuli (7-2) |
012 152 — 11 11 1 |
| Kaimuki (3-6) |
000 030 — 0 6 3 |
Brayden Ramaila and Kahekili Barrozzo. Keoni Umeda, Tyler Fujita (5), Kevin Malignon (5) and KB Palsis, Umeda (6).
W–Ramaila. L–Umeda.
Leading hitters–Nana: Josh Lincoln 3-5, 2b, 2 RBIs, 2 runs; Ronson Vea 3-3, 3b, 3 RBIs, 2 runs; Ramaila 3b; Barrozzo 2-3, 2b, 3 RBIs, 2 runs. Kaim: Malignon 2b; Umeda 2b.
Also
BIIF
No. 6 Waiakea 12, Keaau 1
Kamehameha-Hawaii 14, Pahoa 2
MIL
No. 4 Baldwin 9, No. 10 Maui 0
King Kekaulike 6, Lahainaluna 1
