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The top-ranked Mid-Pacific Owls scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth — all unearned — to rally past No. 5 Saint Louis 5-3 on Tuesday at MPI’s Damon Field.
With two games left to play, MPI sealed the ILH regular-season baseball title, its second in as many years. It also guarantees a state-tournament berth.
“It means we get to go to Maui,” winning pitcher Daniel Fentriss said. “But right now, we’re focused on winning the ILH.”
Senior Bryce Asao sparked the rally with a two-out, opposite-field single off Pono Anderson in the fourth inning, scoring Marcus Doi and Fentriss.
An inning later, there were two outs with a runner on board when Anderson clipped Isaiah Kiner-Falefa. Quintin-John Collier then followed with a line drive to short center, where Jacob Gribbin raced in and stabbed his glove at the sinking shot.
But the ball caromed free and got behind him, allowing Cal Muramaru and Kiner-Falefa to score, and MPI led for the first time, 4-3.
The next batter, Doi, tried a bunt on a 2-0 pitch. After coach Dunn Muramaru’s quick encouragement, the Owls’ No. 3 hitter in the lineup swung away and socked a line-drive single to left, scoring Collier from second base for a 5-3 lead.
