Just 24 hours earlier, the ‘Iolani Raiders looked like the best baseball team in the state.
It was No. 1 Mid-Pacific, however, that doused the red-hot Raiders on Saturday, rallying from an eight-run deficit for a miraculous 10-9 win at the Owls’ Damon Field.
Mid-Pacific (8-1) clinched at least at tie for the ILH regular-season title with the win. Another MPI win, or a loss by second-place Saint Louis, will earn the Owls an automatic state-tournament berth.
On Saturday, it was yet another superb performance on senior day for the Owls. Three years ago, there was a stunning win over Punahou. Two seasons ago, MPI rallied from a seven-run deficit for a crazy senior-day home win over Kamehameha.
Then yesterday, with ‘Iolani smoking hot, a full house at Mid-Pacific hung tight as the Owls put on a hit parade. The huge rally — public-address announcer Andy Garcia dubbed it "senior night magic" — ranks with some other big comebacks in Dunn Muramaru’s years as coach.
"The biggest one was in 1992, when we came from behind against Kamehameha in the state final," the coach said. "But in 2001, we were up 8-2 against Kailua in the state final and lost. I know how (‘Iolani) feels."
The Owls scored five runs in the bottom of the sixth, getting a surprise bunt single from cleanup batter Daniel Fentriss to load the bases.
"That’s Daniel being a team guy," Muramaru said of the perfectly placed bunt.
That set up a bases-clearing, opposite-field double by Bryce Asao. After a single by Brent Sakurai, Cameron Igarashi spaced a single to right — MPI’s sixth consecutive base hit — to bring Asao home. That narrowed the margin to 9-5.
After Ryne Saiki delivered a sacrifice fly to right, scoring Sakurai from third, the Owls were within three runs.
MPI then scored four times in the bottom of the sixth, arousing an overjoyed senior day crowd. Quintin-John Collier led off with a single and Marcus Doi (4-for-4) slammed an opposite-field triple down the right-field line to score Collier. After Fentriss brought Doi home with a groundout, the Owls were within 9-8.
Then Asao stepped in and whacked a triple down the right-field line and came in to score on yet another triple, this one by Sakurai, also down the right-field line. That tied it at 9-all, and Igarashi sent a fly ball to right, scoring Sakurai from third for the go-ahead run — MPI’s only lead of the game.
With sophomore Nicholas Bottoms on the mound — in relief of Sakurai and Ryan Murata — the Owls sailed on. The right-hander retired nine of 10 batters — three innings in all –to earn the win.
"Credit to Nick. He was spotting the corners and throwing all four of his pitches for strikes," said Doi, the catcher.
It was a bizarre conclusion to what looked like another scintillating performance by No. 10 ‘Iolani (3-7), which had dominated No. 4 Saint Louis 9-1 on Friday.
"We competed really well. The kids won’t hang their heads," Raiders coach Brent Shimokawa said. "Credit Mid-Pacific. They came up with big hits. It’s a dog-eat-dog league and I’m proud of how we played. These experiences are helping the kids. They know how to battle on every pitch."
‘Iolani has two more regular-season games before the ILH playoff tourney (for the second state berth).
Mid-Pacific got a boost with the comeback win. Just one day before, the Owls lost to Punahou, their first loss in league play.
It was a stellar response on a wacky day when the Owls committed two errors in one inning — a rarity — during ‘Iolani’s big fifth, which included a three-run triple from starting pitcher Corey Nakakura.
It also helped the Owls overcome a third-inning, two-run homer by Tanner Nishioka. The shot sailed to deep center (333 feet), bouncing on the top of the 15-foot fence and over into the trees.
Shimokawa was enthused, win or lose.
"I thought the score was going to be 12-10," he said. "I knew we could hit the ball."
At Mid-Pacific
| ‘Iolani (3-7) |
102 |
060 |
0 |
— |
9 |
9 |
1 |
| MPI (8-1) |
010 |
054 |
x |
— |
10 |
14 |
2 |
Corey Nakakura, Javin Nohara (5), Joshua Inouye (6), Bronson Ichimura (6) and J.R. Matsuura. Brent Sakurai, Ryan Murata (5), Nicholas Bottoms (5) and Marcus Doi. W–Bottoms. L–Nakakura.
Leading hitters–Iol: Max Look 3-4, 2b, 2 runs; Tanner Nishioka 2-3, HR, 3 RBIs, 2 runs. MPI: Quintin-John Collier 3-4, 2 runs; Doi 4-4, 3b, 2 runs; Bryce Asao 2-4, triple, 2b, 3 RBIs, 2 runs; Sakurai 2-4, 3b, 2 runs.
No. 5 Saint Louis 5, No. 9 Kamehameha 4
The Crusaders slipped past the Warriors with three runs in the sixth inning.
Saint Louis’ Jordan Yamamoto earned the win and Zeke Wallace picked up the save.
At Ala Wai Community Park
| KS (3-6) |
001 |
030 |
0 |
— |
4 |
8 |
2 |
| Stl (5-4) |
001 |
103 |
X |
— |
5 |
8 |
4 |
Keenan Lum, Trey Smith (6) and Kekai Rios. Jordan Yamamoto, Zeke Wallace (5) and Iolana Akau. W–Yamamoto. L–Lum. S–Wallace.
Leading hitters–KS: Tyler Meditz 3b; Ethan Rosehill 2-4, 2b; Jason Murakami 2-3. StL: Devan Stubblefield 2-4, 3 RBIs; Ryder Kuhns 2-3; DJ Dureg 2-3.
Pac-Five 12, St. Francis 6
The Wolfpack roughed up the Saints with six runs in the fourth inning.
Pac-Five’s Braxton Kihara went 3-for-3 with two RBIs and three runs scored.
At Ala Wai field
| Pac-Five (9-1) |
230 |
601 |
0 |
— |
12 |
15 |
4 |
| St. Francis (0-10) |
002 |
003 |
1 |
— |
6 |
10 |
2 |
Devyn Uyeki, Matt Reynolds (3), Brayden Yabuki (5), Frank Perkins (6), Chris Andreyka (6) and Ryllen Abeshima.
Sean Fernandez, Laakea Moniz (3), Tyler Apuna (5) and Royce Torres. W–Perkins. L–Fernandez.
Leading hitters–P5: Landon Teramoto 2-3, 2 runs, 3 RBIs; Braxton Kihara 3-3, 3 runs, 2 RBIs; Abeshima 2-4, 2 RBIs; Colin Cody Schmidt 3-4; Kahana Moises 2b, 2 RBIs; Moniz 3b; Brayden Yabuki 3b, 2 runs. StF: Cyrus Murakami 3-5, 2 RBIs.
ILH SOFTBALL
No. 1 Kamehameha 5, No. 10 ‘Iolani 3
Kamalani Dung tossed a three-hitter and the Warriors rallied for four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to beat the Raiders.
Maelia Zablan tripled and drove in three runs for Kamehameha.
At Kamehameha
| ‘Iolani (7-5) |
200 |
100 |
0 |
— |
3 |
3 |
2 |
| KS(9-1) |
010 |
040 |
X |
— |
5 |
5 |
1 |
Taylor Garcia-Perreira, Vevesi Liilii (5) and Cassie Ho. Kamalani Dung and Rachel Ogasawara. W–Dung. L–Garcia-Perreira.
Leading hitters–Iol: Ho HR; Alex Masaquel 2b. KS: Maelia Zablan 3b, 3 RBIs; Kaya Naiwi 2b.
No. 4 Maryknoll 12, West Pac 0
Shearyna Labasan pitched a no-hitter as the Spartans shut out the Wolverines in five innings.
At Central Oahu Regional Park
| Maryknoll (10-2) |
070 |
50 |
— |
12 |
9 |
0 |
| West Pac (0-9) |
000 |
00 |
— |
0 |
0 |
2 |
Shearyna Labasan and Carolann Toyama. Danielle Ford and Shelby Poole. W–Labasan. L–Poole.
Leading hitters–Mryk: Erica Inagaki 2-2, 2 runs; Labasan 2-4, 3 RBIs; Kasey Magdadaro 2-2.
No. 8 Mid-Pacific 14, Sacred Hearts 2
The Owls scored 12 runs in the top of the sixth inning in their win over the Lancers.
At Crane Park
| MPI (6-5) |
101 |
00(12) |
0 |
— |
14 |
14 |
5 |
| SHA (3-7) |
011 |
000 |
0 |
— |
2 |
4 |
0 |
Kayla Au and Nicole Lopez. Jordyn Waracka, Kaua Huihui-Awa (6) and Breanne Flores. W–Au. L–Waracka.
Leading hitters–MPI: Jenna Kumabe 2-4, HR, 3 runs, 2 RBIs; Taylor Oda 2b, 2 RBIs; Lopez 2-4, 2 runs, 2 RBIs; Lindsey Matoi 2-3, 2 runs; Sarah Onishi 2-3, 2b, 2 RBIs; Amanda Kurose 2-2, 2 runs, 2 RBIs. SHA: Waracka 2b.
St. Francis 18, Pac-Five 2
Korrie Matsumura’s three-run home run highlighted an 11-run, third-inning rally that carried the Saints past the Wolfpack.
At Ala Wai Park
| St. Francis (4-6) |
60(11) |
01 |
— |
18 |
14 |
2 |
| Pac-Five (1-9) |
002 |
00 |
— |
2 |
4 |
3 |
Shaye Simms and Kelsie Hee. Kaleihiwa Ah New, Brazzlyn Tovio-Asato (3) and Kailee Russell. W–Simms. L–Ah New.
Leading hitters–StF: Danielle Antolin 3-5, 2 runs, 4 RBIs, 2b, 3b; Rachel Carlos 3-3, 2 runs, 2 RBIs; Rasela Vili 3 runs; Korrie Matsumura 2-3, 2 runs, 4 RBIs, HR. P5: Karley Ann Yoshioka 2-3.
