Wild win sends ‘Iolani to states

It was all delirium, depression, then more delirium for the ‘Iolani Raiders and Saint Louis Crusaders.

It also took a baserunning error to help save ‘Iolani’s state-tourney hopes, and the Raiders cashed in with a run-scoring single by Joshua Inouye in the top of the 13th inning for a miraculous, bizarre 2-1 win over Saint Louis at Ala Wai Community Park on Saturday afternoon.

With the win, No. 6 ‘Iolani (8-9) claimed the ILH’s second and final state-tourney berth. Fifth-ranked Saint Louis finished the season 7-9.

It was a wild battle for two teams that originally met on Friday, when the game was postponed by rain during the fourth inning. The umpires’ ruling was that the game would be suspended — resumed — on Saturday afternoon. But a protest by Saint Louis led to a reversal by the ILH, and Saturday’s game started from scratch.

Saint Louis appeared to have Saturday’s game won in the bottom of the 12th when Devon Stubblefield’s opposite-field single to left brought home D.J. Dureg from third for the winning run. But as the Crusaders celebrated on the infield, the Raiders’ bench instructed Inouye, the left fielder, to step on second base. Apparently, Saint Louis’ courtesy runner at first base, Ricky Ahlo, never stepped on second, which meant he didn’t advance.

The play was still "alive," and once Inouye got over a moment of confusion, he stepped on the bag and an umpire ruled Ahlo out — ending the inning with no run for the Crusaders.

"I saw the hit and the guy running in. We’ve told our guys about (the rule), but there’s so much confusion going on," Raiders coach Brent Shimokawa said.

"I had the ball and I was walking toward the infield," Inouye said. "Then Bronson tells me to step on second base. I was confused, but I walked to second and stepped on it. The umpire was waiting."

The elation turned into shock for Saint Louis and a hearty Crusaders crowd.

When it was all said and done, Saint Louis coach George Gusman, with 22 years of coaching experience, had never seen a game quite like this.

"It was pretty obvious. It was unfortunate," he said of the baserunning error in the 12th. "I saw it and I tried to scream at (Ahlo), but we’ve got players on the field, jumping around. He went three-fourths of the way (to second base). But everybody left the bench. It was a game of momentum."

The Raiders survived thanks in large part to Javin Nohara, who pitched 82/3 innings of scoreless relief. He went 72/3 innings before giving up a hit and wound up with two strikeouts, no walks and one hit batter. He gave up two hits in the 11th, but got through before yielding to Bronson Ichimura in the 12th.

Then came the bizarre 12th inning. ‘Iolani had Max Look at second base when Austin Darmawan singled, but Gribbin, the center fielder, fired a strike to the cutoff man, pitcher Pono Anderson, who threw a bullet to catcher Iolana Akau to nab Look at the plate.

After Saint Louis’ heartbreaking turn of events in the bottom of the 12th, the Raiders got to Anderson for a run in the 13th. Christian Donahue singled to right, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Corey Nakakura, and scored on Inouye’s big hit.