Kailua kicks out Saint Louis
For the first time in 27 years, the Interscholastic League of Honolulu won’t be represented in the semifinals of the state baseball tournament.
Kailua pulled off the shocker of the day, upsetting No. 1 seed Saint Louis 3-2 in the last of four quarterfinal games of the Wally Yonamine Foundation State Baseball Championships last night at Les Murakami Stadium.
Hours after No. 3 seed Baldwin defeated Mid-Pacific 2-1, the Surfriders knocked off the ILH champion Crusaders to end a string of 10 straight state championships won by ILH teams.
Kailua (15-1-1), which will play Pearl City in the first semifinal game today at 4, is the last non-ILH team to win a state championship, in 2001.
The Crusaders trailed 3-0 in the seventh when pinch hitter Lee Jay Kalawaia singled to start. With two outs and after a 10-minute rain delay, Kaeo Aliviado reached on an infield single and Travis Shaw singled to right to score Kalawaia. Kalei Contrades, who started the game on the mound for Saint Louis, drilled an RBI single up the middle to score Aliviado to make it 3-2.
Kailua intentionally walked Blaze Tom to load the bases for Dallas Tuumalo, who bounced into a fielder’s choice to end the game.
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Kailua broke a scoreless tie in the fifth, scoring three runs off Contrades. Two singles and a walk loaded the bases, and all three runners came in to score on two more walks and a hit batter.
The Surfriders missed a chance to add to their lead when Kila Zuttermeister was tagged out at the plate trying to steal home on a 3-1 count.
Bryson Dymond walked consecutive batters in the bottom of the inning with one out, but got Aliviado, who will play at Hawaii next season, to ground out. Ryan McMonigle came in with two outs and forced Travis Shaw to bounce out to third to end the inning.
Kory Sasaoka had two hits for Kailua and Aliviado doubled for the only extra-base hit of the game for either team.
Baldwin will face Oahu Interscholastic Association champion Moanalua in the other semifinal.
The last tournament not to feature an ILH team in the semis was 1984. Baldwin, Waimea, Aiea and Molokai were the final four teams left, with the Bears beating the Menehunes for the title.
The OIA has three teams in the final four for the first time since 1994, when Kalaheo, Aiea and eventual champion Castle made it.
Kailua (15-1-1) | 000 | 030 | 0 | — | 3 | 6 | 4 |
Saint Louis (16-3) | 000 | 000 | 2 | — | 2 | 8 | 0 |
Bryson Dymond, Ryan McMonigle (5) and Alan Baldwin. Kalei Contrades, Joshua Garcia (6) and Iolana Akau. W—Dymond. L—Contrades. S—McMonigle.
Leading hitters—Kail: Kory Sasaoka 2-3. StL: Kaeo Aliviado 2-4, 2b, run; Travis Shaw 2-4, RBI.