Jacob Maekawa’s timing is impeccable.

The sophomore came through with his second clutch pitching performance in as many games as Mid-Pacific fought off Saint Louis 10-8 on Thursday to win the ILH baseball tournament at Patsy T. Mink Central Oahu Regional Park.

Coach Dunn Muramaru’s Owls (14-3-1) entered the game with some wiggle room as the only unbeaten entry left in the double-elimination event. The Owls jumped to an early three-run lead, lost it and then rallied with a three-run fourth inning.

Saint Louis (14-5) made it interesting with a rally in the bottom of the seventh, but got no closer. The Crusaders, who won the regular season, will meet Mid-Pacific on Monday at ‘Iolani’s field for the ILH championship. Both teams have already clinched state-tournament berths.

It was a bit of deja vu for the right-handed Maekawa. On Tuesday, he helped hand the Crusaders their first defeat in the tourney by relieving Noah Sills and throwing 3 1/3 scoreless innings for a save in a 6-2 win at Goeas Field.

This time, he followed two pitchers and went the final 4 2/3 innings. After surrendering a run in the fourth inning, he tossed three scoreless innings before Saint Louis erupted in the seventh. Maekawa threw 37 of his 104 pitches in that final frame, hanging on for the victory.

"I definitely didn’t expect to pitch that much. It was damage control, mainly," said Maekawa, who relied on his curve and fastball. "I was getting a little shaky at the end, but I tried to keep my composure and throw strikes."

In all, Maekawa gutted it out against a potent Crusaders attack, allowing four runs on nine hits. He struck out one, walked one and hit two batters.

"He throws strikes and he competes," Owls pitching coach Craig Hayashi said. "Today, he showed resiliency against a good hitting team. He had to get tougher and he did a good job. He earned it."

It was a sloppy game at times. Each team committed four errors and had double-digit hit totals. The Crusaders left 11 men on base. The Owls stranded nine.

Saint Louis pitcher Noah Abreu returned from an injury and made his first start of the season. The junior was effective, but didn’t get a lot of defensive support.

"He pitched his heart out. He deserved a lot better. We just needed to make some plays," Crusaders coach George Gusman said. "Early in the preseason, we would struggle when we got down like this, so if I’m going to take a positive out of this game, it’s our fight, and that’s very encouraging."

MPI led 3-0, then 4-1, only to see Saint Louis take a 5-4 lead after three. The Owls then added three runs in the fourth, two in the fifth and one in the sixth for a 10-5 lead.

Maekawa retired seven of eight batters during one stretch, but the Crusaders nearly pushed him to the limit in the bottom of the seventh. Ryder Kuhns and Jordan Yamamoto singled to begin the rally. After a throwing error in right field by Bryce Nagata (on a flyout) allowed the runners to advance, Maekawa was called for a balk, permitting Kuhns to score from third.

Brendan Uchima, who finished 3-for-4, then singled to center, bringing Yamamoto home, and Saint Louis was within 10-7 with one out. Maekawa hit the next batter, Tanner Atiburcio, and Taylor Meilleur singled to load the bases.

Maekawa then struck out Rayson Romero on an inside fastball, then got Jacob Gribbin to ground out on a come-backer for the final out.

Now both squads look ahead to the league title game.

"We’re going to take (today) off," Gusman said. "We have all kinds of events going on at Saint Louis and right now I don’t have a practice field. We’ll get a good practice on Saturday and get ready for Monday."

At CORP 

Connor Zalewski, Grant Doi (2), Jacob Maekawa and Noah Shackles. Noah Abreu, Jacob White (4), Mana Manago (5) and Taylor Meilleur. W—Maekawa. L—Abreu.

Leading hitters—MPI: Bryce Nagata 3-4, triple, 2 runs; Cameron Igarashi 2-3, SF, 2 RBIs; Tyler Yamaguchi 3-4, double. Saint Louis: Jordan Mopas 2-5, RBI, run; Brendan Uchima 3-4, 3 RBIs, run; Meilleur 2-2, 2 BB.

ILH DIVISION II

MARYKNOLL 2, ST. FRANCIS 0

Justin Ushio and Joshua Muneno had two hits each as the Spartans defeated the Saints to capture the Interscholastic League of Honolulu division II championship.

At CORP 

Tyler Apuna and Royce Torres. Chase Uyema, Justin Ushio (5) and Neal Nakasone.

W—Ushio. L—Apuna.

Leading hitters—Mryk: Ushio 2-3; Joshua Muneno 2-3.

OIA RED PLAYOFFS

NO. 2 CAMPBELL 3, KAISER 2, 9 INN.

Ian Kahaloa pitched a complete game and struck out 16 batters as the Sabers defeated the Cougars.

Dorrien Villanueva-Hermosura doubled in the bottom of the ninth inning to break the tie.

Campbell will face Roosevelt in the semifinals.

At Campbell

Kamalu Simeona, Shawn Miyashiro (9) and Kelan Yoshioka. Ian Kahaloa and Tryzen Patricio.

W—Kahaloa. L—Miyashiro.

Leading hitters—Kais: Aaron Oda 1-3, 2 RBIs. Camp: Dirk Patrick Himan 2-3, run; Dorrien Villanueva-Hermosura 2b, RBI; Zachary Recolan 2-3, HR, 2 RBIs.

NO. 6 KAILUA 14, WAIPAHU 4, 5 INN.

Joseph Buyers tripled in the bottom of the third inning and drove in three runs to lead the Surfriders past the Marauders.

At Kailua

Jordan Ballesteros, Jaron Sugimoto (2) and Patrick Villanueva. Royce Komesu and Dalton Kalama.

W—Komesu. L—Ballesteros.

Leading hitters—Kail: Peter Kanoho 3-4, 2b; Noah Auld 2-3, RBI; Joseph Buyers 2-3, 3b, 3 RBIs; Brandon Lono 2b, 2 RBIs.

MILILANI 2, AIEA 1

The Trojans scored in the bottom of the sixth inning to top Na Alii in the quarterfinals of the OIA red playoffs.

Mililani advances to face Kailua today at Hans L’Orange field.

At Mililani

Jared Uyeda, Shae Ishimoto (6) and Makana Ah Yo. Trevor Inouye and Sean Sonognini.

W—Inouye. L—Ishimoto.

Leading hitters—Aiea: Chaz Quebral-Acosta 2-3. Mil: Inouye 2-3, RBI; Kaimana Souza-Paaluhi, 3b, run; Jarrin Morikawa 3b, run.

ROOSEVELT 13, LEILEHUA 8

Kainalu Pitoy had three doubles with two RBIs and scored three runs to lead the Rough Riders past the Mules.

At Stevenson Middle School

Trayson Kubo, Jared Academia (2) and Mikah Takashige. Reece Okura, Riki Kobayashi (7) and Aaron Emoto.

W—Okura. L—Kubo.

Leading hitters—Lei: Academia 2-4, 3b, 2 RBIs; Dustin Ancheta-Maeda 3-4, run, RBI. Roos: Dustin Tsukano 2-5, 2b, 2 runs; Kainalu Pitoy 3-4, 3 2bs, 3 runs, 2 RBIs; Keola Tamanaha 4-4, 2b, 2 runs, 3 RBIs; Jonah Sasahara 3-4, run, RBI.

OIA WHITE PLAYOFFS

WAIALUA 9, FARRINGTON 8

Virgilio Bareng reached base on an error to bring in Jarret Felix for the winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning as the Bulldogs squeezed past the Governors.

At Waialua

Paul Madamba, Jace Baguio (6) and Austin Riley-Echiberi. Joshua Muniz, Caelan Alejandro (4), Mila Lele (4), Taleon Lele (5) and Kebi Dellatan.

W—T. Lele. L—Baguio.

Leading hitters—Farr: Ponifasio Sio 2-3, 3b; Riley-Echiberi 2-3, 3b. Wail: Virgililo Bareng 2-3, RBI; Dellatan 2-3, 2b.

NANAKULI 13, KAIMUKI 3, 6 INN.

Josh Lincoln had two hits and scored four runs as the Golden Hawks routed the Bulldogs in six innings.

At Nanakuli

Kevin Maligon, Tyler Fujita (3), Austin Inouye (5), JC Salik Palsis (6) and Palsis, Keith Matsui (6). Ronson Vea, Brayden Ramaila (3) and Kahekili Barrozzo, Lawrence Tokioka (3).

W—Ramaila. L—Fujita.

Leading hitters—Kaim: Inouye 3-4, 2 3bs, RBI. Nan: Josh Lincoln 2-4, 4 runs, RBI; Vea 2-5, run, RBI; Zayn Vasconcellos 2-4, run; Noah Lono-Soares 3b.

Also
MIL
Division I
Baldwin 9, King Kekaulike 0
Division II
St. Anthony’s 12, Seabury Hall 0

ILH SOFTBALL

MARYKNOLL 5, ‘IOLANI 3

Shearyan Labasan struck out four batters as the Spartans defeated the Raiders to capture the third berth to represent the ILH in the state tournament, joining Kamehameha and Mid-Pacific.

At Sand Island 

Katie Yuu, Taylor Garcia-Perreira (4) and Cassie Ho. Shearyna Labasan and Kasey Magdadaro.

W—Labasan. L—Garcia-Perreira.

Leading hitters—Iol: Brielle Asato 2-4, 3b, 2 RBIs. Mryk: Tamina Hirano 2-4, 2 RBIs.