Pearl City head coach Mitch Yamato didn’t expect to call on Sumi Pruett to pitch early in Wednesday’s game against Mid-Pacific. But he wasn’t surprised with how the senior responded.

"He’s one of the guys I’ve coached since he was small," said Yamato, who began working with Pruett when Pruett was 10. "He was always the happy-go-lucky guy, nothing rattles his cage. So perfect for a pitcher."

An injury to Pearl City starter Sean Milan forced Pruett to the mound in the second inning in a Division I•quarterfinal game in the Wally Yonamine Foundation/HHSAA State Baseball Championships. Pruett then held second-seeded Mid-Pacific to two hits and the Chargers advanced to the semifinals with a 3-1 win at Les Murakami Stadium.

Pearl City, the defending Division I state champion, faces third-seeded Waiakea today at 4 p.m.

Mid-Pacific, the Interscholastic League of Honolulu champion, fell into the fifth-place bracket and faces Castle at 7 p.m at Hans L’Orange Park.

Pruett started the game at first base and pitched the final 51/3 innings in relief of Milan, who left the game with tightness in his throwing shoulder.

"Lucky thing they let me warm up and they let me say when I was ready. It was like I got to throw a bullpen out there, so it was good," Pruett said. "I was comfortable enough, I have a lot of faith in my defense."

Pruett induced 10 ground-ball outs, including two double plays started by second baseman Jason Komoda and turned by shortstop Tyler Tokunaga.

"We wanted to give him confidence to throw strikes knowing we have his back," Tokunaga said.

Tokunaga also gave the Chargers a spark offensively with a double to lead off the bottom of the first. He advanced on a sacrifice bunt and scored when his brother Tanner laid down a bunt single. Tanner Tokunaga later scored on Noah Derby’s RBI single.

Pruett doubled in the fourth inning and Pearl City took a 3-0 lead when Brock Honda, the courtesy runner for Pruett, scored on a passed ball.

"We just came out ready to play today, put the bat on the ball and made things happen," Tyler Tokunaga said.

Pruett held the Owls without a hit into the fifth inning until Bryce Asao drilled a single to center to score Skyler Tengan from second. Daniel Fentriss singled to lead off the seventh, but was erased on a double play and Pruett ended it with a strikeout.