It had even veteran coaches and watchers of Oahu Interscholastic Association baseball shaking their heads in awe.

Kailua outlasted Pearl City 2-1 in 12 innings in the OIA Red quarterfinals at the Surfriders’ field on Thursday, a thrilling result that nearly became a subplot even with Kailua sealing a berth in the state tournament.

All anyone could talk about afterward was the iron man performance of Pearl City starting pitcher Sean Milan. The senior left-hander lasted 10 innings — three frames beyond the typical high school game length — and gave the Chargers every opportunity to advance to today’s semifinal against No. 2 Campbell.

"I don’t know how to take it in right now. We just got lucky," Kailua coach Corey Ishigo said. "I think Milan pitched" — he paused — "that was probably the best high school performance I’ve seen as a coach in 14 years. I’ve never seen nothing like this. It was unbelievable. The amount of pitches he threw, and keeping the batters off balance for that long, it was probably one of the best high school pitching performances I ever saw."

Milan threw a whopping 141 pitches by the Star-Advertiser’s count, and had 10 strikeouts without a walk (though he did hit three batters) for a no decision. The Surfriders managed only six hits against him over the 10-inning span.

Ishigo said Kailua’s strategy was to outlast Milan; it was clear he wasn’t going to allow the game-winning run. He got a round of applause from fans of both teams when Dane Kaneshiro finally took the mound in relief (and to Kailua’s relief) to open the 11th.

"Sean pitched a hell of a game. Hats off to him," Pearl City coach Mitch Yamato said. "We looked at his pitch count, we kept talking to him, he wanted the game. He’s been in shape."

Milan said the longest he’d gone before was 82⁄3 innings this season against Campbell.

"I knew my defense could make all the plays, so what I did was just give them the best chance I can to get the guy out," said Milan, who went vigorously to his inside fastball and cutter. "I believe we can get to states. It’s a good team right here. I believe in each and every one of these players."

Kailua (9-4) meets Campbell (12-1) in the second of two semifinals at Hans L’Orange Park. Pearl City (9-5) hosts Kaiser (8-6) at 3:30 p.m. with a state berth on the line.

Kailua won it just as the sun was descending behind the Ko‘olaus. With runners on first and second and one out, Wyatt Dalessio hit a chopper to second base. Pearl City had issued an intentional walk to the previous batter for just such an occasion, but its throw from second to first for the double play was low and pinch runner Pilipo Kupahu scooted home with the winning run.

"I just ran hard and tried to dive and take out his (the first baseman’s) legs," said Dalessio, who got the win with six strikeouts in six innings of relief of starter Bryce Ah Sam. "I seen the ball pop up and after I just stood in the way and let my runner score."

At Kailua
Pearl City 010 000 000 000 — 1 4 3
Kailua       000 100 000 001 — 2 7 1

Sean Milan, Dane Kaneshiro (11) and Kamalu Neal. Bryce Ah Sam, Wyatt Dalessio (7) and Royce Komesu. W—Dalessio. L—Kaneshiro.

Leading hitters—Pearl City: None. Kailua: Corey Louis-Soares 2-5; Ah Sam 2b; Komesu 2-4.