Chase Uyema scattered five hits over five innings and Maryknoll used a six-run third inning to blow the game wide open in a 12-3 rout of Kauai in the semifinals of the Wally Yonamine Foundation/HHSAA Division II State Baseball Championships. 

"Kauai can really swing the bat. They’re very aggressive and we had to keep them off-balance," Spartans coach Randy Yamashiro said. "Chase did his job. He kept us in the ballgame." 

The win at Les Murakami Stadium propelled the defending champion Spartans (17-3) into the title game. ILH champ Maryknoll will face Kamehameha-Hawaii in a repeat of last year’s final.

"That Nanakuli game opened up our eyes," Uyema said, noting KS-Hawaii’s 28-5 win over the Golden Hawks on Wednesday. 

Against an aggressive hitting team like KIF champion Kauai (10-4), Uyema was armed with a thorough scouting report from his coaches. 

"The game plan was to keep it low and don’t give them anything in the mid-section," said Uyema, who spotted his fastball and change-up well in warm-ups.

"My curve ball wasn’t hitting spots," he noted. 

Even without that bender, Uyema was solid and poised with one strikeout and no walks. He threw four scoreless innings before surrendering one run in the fifth. Second baseman Justin Ushio took over in the sixth and finished the game on the mound. 

"Coach said to be ready. I’ve accepted my role. Anything to help the team," said Ushio, who also hit 2-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs scored. 

Kauai starting pitcher Nick Vallatini lasted two innings. The Spartans reached him for one run in the second when Joshua Muneno, the winning pitcher in their quarterfinal game against Radford, led off with a walk. With two outs, Phillip Aylward sent a bloop to right, where second baseman Pono Bukoski and right fielder Keala Iwasaki were unable to close in for the catch. 

Muneno scored on the single and the ball squirted past Iwasaki, allowing Aylward to reach third base. It was officially ruled a two-base error. 

In the bottom of the third inning, Maryknoll unleashed a big barrage for the second time in as many days. Ushio’s single to center scored two, a walk forced in a run, an error allowed two more to score and another bases-loaded walk made it 7-0 Spartans.

For good measure, Maryknoll tacked on three runs in the fourth.

Kauai finally broke through in the top of the fifth. John Dumlao was plunked by Uyema and later scored on a single to left by Kainoa Iwasaki, thwarting Maryknoll’s shot at a 10-run mercy ruling. 

The Red Raiders got two more runs in the sixth off Ushio.

"We knew Kauai is a good team and it would be a battle," Ushio said. "We had to fight to stay in it. Coach knows how to control every situation, making sure we know what to do." 

It was another flawless game defensively for Maryknoll, which has yet to commit an error in two tournament games, though Yamashiro isn’t satisfied yet. 

"We talk about playing championship caliber-level baseball. We’ve got to learn to solidify a win, to be more consistent," he said. "Kauai had some balls fall in, but we made some small mistakes. They’ll learn from it. They’re good learners."  

Nick Vallatini, Tyler Manibog (3), Brayden Abreu (4) and Cal Koga. Chase Uyema, Justin Ushio (6) and Neal Nakasone. W–Uyema. L–Vallatini.

Leading hitters–Kauai: Kainoa Iwasaki 2-4, RBI, SB; Shane Ogata 2-4; Pono Bukoski 2-3, RBI. Maryknoll: Michael Nishiki 2-5, run; Jedd Andrade 3-5, double, 2 runs; Ushio 2-3, 2 RBIs, 2 runs; Joshua Muneno 2-3, 3 runs; Phillip Aylward 3-4, RBI, run. 

FIFTH-PLACE SEMIFINAL

Molokai 6, Radford 0

Marc Tejada and Dominic Albalos. David Rapanot and L. Horner, Trevor Takata (5).

W–Rapanot. L–Tejada. 

Leading hitters–Rad:Tejada 2-3. Mol:Brayden McCutcheon 3-4, RBI, 2 runs; Codi Kamakana 2-4, 3b, 2 RBIs, run; Kaena Victorino 2-3; Kahanuola Alcon 2b. 

Hawaii Prep 7, Nanakuli 2

Brayden Ramaila and Kahekili Barrozzo. DJ Sekiya and Mike Nakahara.

W–Sekiya. L–Ramaila.

Leading hitters–HPA: Koa Ellis Jr. 3-3, 3b, RBI, 3 runs; Nakahara 3-4, 3 RBIs; Cyrus Inglis 2-4, RBI; Li`i Purdy 2-4, 3b.

DIVISION II

Thursday 

Semifinals 

At Les Murakami Stadium 

KS-Hawaii 12, Waianae 2

Maryknoll 12, Kauai 3

Consolation 

At Hans L’Orange Park 

Hawaii Prep 7, Nanakuli 2 

Molokai 6, Radford 0

Friday 

At Les Murakami Stadium

Championship 

KS-Hawaii vs. Maryknoll, 4 p.m.

Third place 

Waianae vs. Kauai, 11 a.m.

Fifth place 

Hawaii Prep vs. Molokai, 8:30 a.m.