The Owls simply survive.
Top-ranked Mid-Pacific built a 13-4 lead, then endured a late rally by No. 6 ‘Iolani before pulling out a 14-9 win on Wednesday at the Owls’ Damon Field.
The victory pushed MPI (13-3) into the final of the ILH double-elimination tournament. ‘Iolani (7-8) took its first loss in the league tourney, but can earn a state-tourney berth by winning today’s game, which will be played at MPI again.
Should MPI win the game and the ILH tourney, the second state berth would be determined by a playoff between ‘Iolani and Saint Louis, which means Crusaders fans are rooting for the Owls this week.
Three ‘Iolani errors and seven walks issued by the visitors made it tough.
“You can’t give Mid-Pacific second and third chances,” Raiders coach Brent Shimokawa said. “I can’t micro-manage situations. I’ve got to let guys make plays.”
MPI coach Dunn Muramaru wasn’t satisfied with the inconsistency of his pitchers.
“We walked too many guys, fell behind in the count. That’s not how we play,” he said. “We didn’t throw strikes with a nine-run lead.”
Still, even through his struggles late in the game, unorthodox reliever Deric Valoroso Jr. was key. He solidified MPI’s pitching by retiring seven of eight hitters through the middle innings before getting roughed up in the sixth. He threw 61 pitches, but fatigue wasn’t a factor, pitching coach Craig Hayashi said.
“Sometimes when you just have to throw strikes, it’s tough to do. He throws every day. He’s in good shape,” Hayashi said.
The Raiders came up empty in the top of the first after getting the first two batters on base. Leadoff man Max Look was thrown out by catcher Marcus Doi on a steal attempted after a Daniel Fentriss pitch bounced to home plate.
In the second, though, No. 9 hitter Joshua Inaba socked a deep, two-out double to left to bring home Jonathan Ide, who had singled, to give ‘Iolani a 1-0 lead.
The Owls responded in deliberate fashion moments later, scoring four runs in the bottom of the second. Bronson Ichimura struggled to bring his pitches down, issuing two walks. Cameron Igarashi socked a single for MPI’s first run, Ryne Saiki walked with the bases loaded and Cal Muramaru’s sacrifice fly to right scored Brent Sakurai for a 3-1 MPI lead.
After Isiah Kiner-Falefa grounded into a fielder’s choice to score Igarashi, the home team had a 4-1 cushion.
The visitors wouldn’t lay down. After Austin Darmawan led off the top of the third with a walk, Tanner Nishioka belted a two-run home run to left, and ‘Iolani trailed by just one run.
Christian Donahue singled, ending Fentriss’ stint on the mound. Donahue advanced on a couple of wild pitches by sophomore Nicholas Bottom and scored on Corey Nakakura’s bloop single to center, tying the game at 4.
After the Raiders loaded the bases, Bottom was gone and Valoroso, the sidearmer, took the mound. He got Max Look to ground out, ending a long inning.
The Owls reached Ichimura for three more runs in the bottom of the third. Igarashi came through with a double to deep left, scoring Bryce Asao and Sakurai for a 6-4 lead.
Saiki then lined a single to center, bringing Igarashi home for a three-run Owls lead.
The Owls added two runs — one earned — in the fourth off reliever Javin Nohara. Doi’s double down the left-field line scored Kiner-Falefa for an 8-4 lead. Errors by shortstop Donahue extended the inning, allowing Doi to score and give MPI a five-run margin.
Meanwhile, Valoroso hit his stride and Doi continued his hot hitting, stroking a two-run double inside the bag at third to extend MPI’s lead to 11-4 in the bottom of the fifth against ‘Iolani’s third hurler, Kelleq Miyama.
“I look for that one pitch, spot up and keep being aggressive,” said Doi, a senior.
Fentriss followed against new pitcher Reid Kimura with a single to center, scoring Quintin-John Collier and Doi for a 13-4 lead.
After MPI came within one run of ending the game on the 10-run mercy rule, the Raiders made it interesting in the sixth. Darmawan’s run-scoring double and a three-run homer by Donahue over the center-field fence 333 feet away brought the visitors within 13-9.
Valoroso, who had allowed just one hit and walked none, issued three bases on balls in the sixth before yielding to southpaw Ryan Murata.
‘Iolani missed pitcher Caleb Duhay, who missed his turn on the mound due to a sore arm, Shimokawa said. Nakakura will likely start today.
At Damon Field
‘Iolani (7-8) 013 005 0 — 9 13 3
Mid-Pac. (13-3) 043 241 x — 14 11 0
Bronson Ichimura, Javin Nohara (4), Kelleq Miyama (5), Reid Kimura (5), Drew Ichikawa (6) and J.R. Matsuura. Daniel Fentriss, Nicholas Bottom (3), Deric Valoroso Jr. (3), Ryan Murata (6) and Marcus Doi. W—Valoroso. L—Ichimura.
Leading hitters—‘Iolani: Austin Darmawan 2-3, 2 runs, RBI; Christian Donahue 3-4, HR, double, 3 RBIs, 2 runs; Joshua Inaba 2-3, RBI, run. MPI: Doi 2-4, two doubles, 3 RBIs, 2 runs; Fentriss 2-5, 2 RBIs, run; Brent Sakurai 2-3, 2 runs; Cameron Igarashi 2-4, double, 3 RBIs, 2 runs.
