Oshiro helps Saint Louis advance

A downpour a few weeks ago washed out Peyton Oshiro’s first opportunity to pitch against ‘Iolani.

When a second chance rolled around on Wednesday, the Saint Louis senior helped keep the Crusaders afloat in the ILH baseball tournament.

Making just his second start of the season, Oshiro held ‘Iolani to five hits in a solid five-inning performance and Saint Louis survived an elimination game with a 4-2 win over the Raiders at Central Oahu Regional Park.

"The story of this game was Peyton Oshiro," Saint Louis coach George Gusman said.

With the win, Saint Louis advanced in the double-elimination bracket and faces Mid-Pacific on Thursday at 3:45 p.m. at CORP.

The Crusaders fell into the loser’s bracket with a 6-2 loss to the Owls on Tuesday and their win on Wednesday assured MPI a state tournament berth.

Saint Louis clinched one of the ILH’s two Division I state tournament spots as the regular-season champion, while the Owls finished second. Now that those two teams are the tournament finalists, MPI is guaranteed a place in the state tournament as well. Their order of finish will be decided by at least two more duels over the remainder of the week.

MPI needs one win over Saint Louis to wrap up the tournament and force a single-game playoff for the league’s overall championship. If Saint Louis can beat the Owls twice in the next two days to win the tournament, the Crusaders will be the ILH champion.

"We want to get some momentum," Gusman said. "Our momentum got derailed a little bit (Tuesday) with how we played and just our whole mind-set. … We told ourselves we’re not going to back off and we’re just going to play hard for three games."

Oshiro was scheduled to start against ‘Iolani on March 29, but the game was rained out by a heavy shower less than an hour before game time.

Given another opportunity, Oshiro walked three and struck out two in five innings, and freshman Dawson Yamaguchi closed out the game with two innings of shutout relief.

"We worked hard this season in bullpens and I just had faith in my offense and defense," Oshiro said.

"We have a good pitching staff and I just have to play my role."

Jordan Mopas ignited the Saint Louis offense with a triple in the bottom of the second inning and scored the game’s first run on Jacob Gribbin’s groundout. The Crusaders added another run in the second on Taylor Meilleur’s RBI single.

Saint Louis put runners on second and third with two out in the fourth inning when Rayson Romero chopped a grounder to shortstop. The throw pulled the first baseman off the bag and the umpire ruled the swipe tag missed Romero and both runners came around to score, giving Saint Louis a 4-0 cushion.

‘Iolani loaded the bases in the fifth inning and cut the lead in half when a balk on Oshiro allowed Matt Campos to score and a wild pitch brought in Aaron Nakasone. But Oshiro preserved the lead with a called third strike to end the inning with the tying runs in scoring position.

Yamaguchi retired ‘Iolani in order in the sixth and gave up a leadoff walk in the seventh. With two out, Mopas, Saint Louis’ first baseman, knocked down Christian Donahue’s hard grounder and scrambled in time to tag Donahue for the game’s final out.

"We’re looking for starters. We’re looking for guys we can depend on and (Oshiro) made a big statement today. Both guys (did)," Gusman said.

Joshua Inouye, Ezra Heleski (5) and Joshua Inaba. Peyton Oshiro, Dawson Yamaguchi (6) and Taylor Meilleur. W–Oshiro. L–Inouye.

Leading hitters–Iol: Christian Donahue, 2-3; Matt Campos, 2-3. StL: Jordan Mopas, 3-3, 3B; Jacob Gribbin, RBI; Meilleur, RBI.

ILH DIVISION II PLAYOFFS

St. Francis 11, Damien 10

Kreighton Tsuruda-Gaspar’s walk-off three-run double helped the Saints rally past the Monarchs.

Sean Fernandez had three hits and two RBIs for St. Francis, which plays Maryknoll on Thursday with the ILH title on the line. The Spartans can wrap it up with a win. St. Francis needs two victories.

Trevor Caspillo had two hits and two RBIs in the loss.

W–Sean Moniz. L–Grayson Bueno.

ILH SOFTBALL PLAYOFFS

‘Iolani 5, Punahou 4

Cassie Ho’s walk-off double down the left-field line scored Taylor Garcia-Perreira in the seventh to help the Raiders beat the Buffanblu.

Garcia-Perreira got on base with a double in the seventh and also earned the win in the pitching circle.

Nicole Nishizawa and Sara Buck. Taylor Garcia-Perreira, Vevesi Liilii (6), Garcia-Perreira (7) and Cassie Ho.

W–Garcia-Perreira. L–Nishizawa.

Leading hitters–Pun: Zoe Hernandez 2-3, 2 2b, 2 runs; Elyse Nakamoto 2-3, RBI. Iol: Garcia-Perreira 2-4, 2b, 2 RBI; Ho 2-4, 2b, RBI.

Maryknoll 15, Sacred Hearts 1, 5 Inn.

Jerae Keliikoa and Erica Inagaki each drove in three runs to help the Spartans beat the Lancers. Maryknoll plays ‘Iolani on Thursday at Sand Island to determine the league’s third and final berth to the state tournament.

Kaua Huihui-Awa, Makea Kaluau (3) and Jamie Toler. Shearyna Labasan and Kasey Magadadaro.

W–Labasan. L–Huihui-Awa.

Leading hitters–Mryk: Tamia Hirano 2-3, 2b, RBI; Bree Soma 2-2, 2 RBIs; Bri Ryan 2-2, 3b, 2 RBIs; Labasan 3 runs, 3 RBIs; Jerae Keliikoa 2-2, 2 2b, 3 RBIs; Erica Inagaki 3 RBIs.