Down two runs with two outs in the seventh inning, the ‘Iolani Raiders turned to an ultimate team player.
Devin Ide did not disappoint. The senior drilled a pinch-hit, run-scoring single to spark a five-run rally by the Raiders for a 7-4 upset win over No. 9 Kamehameha on Thursday in a playoff matchup at Patsy T. Mink Central Oahu Regional Park.
“This whole year, we’ve been living by our motto, ‘Next man up.’ We work hard, so I had all the confidence that we could come back,” Ide said.
The single-elimination play-in game vaulted ‘Iolani, a team that had struggled throughout the Interscholastic League of Honolulu regular season, into the double-elimination format of the league playoffs.
“Devin is our captain. He doesn’t play a lot, but he is fully engaged, a true team guy,” Raiders coach Kurt Miyahira said.
“Everybody played for each other and trusted each other,” said senior Everett Lau, who went 3-for-3 with a triple, a double and a walk. He scored three times.
‘Iolani, 4-11 coming into the play-in game, will meet regular-season winner Mid-Pacific on Saturday. The Raiders did it with clutch hitting in the late going on Thursday by their seniors.
“All the seniors are at the ground level of this change of culture. This is galvanizing,” Miyahira said.
Kamehameha, 8-7 and a fourth-place finisher during the regular season, suddenly finds its season over. The Warriors and Raiders had some epic battles in their three previous meetings. ‘Iolani won the first game, 10-3, before Kamehameha won the next two, 5-4 and 5-2 (eight innings).
“I was happy with their performance,” Warriors coach Tommy Perkins said. “You know, we played one of the better games we’ve played in the past two weeks. Our bats were livelier, but we didn’t turn the corner early enough.”
Kamehameha reliever Francis Gora had struck out the first two batters he faced, but Ide’s base hit brought pinch runner Reece Cayetano home, cutting the lead to 4-3.
Matt Campos, hitless in his first three at-bats, drove a 1-2 pitch the other way to right field, scoring Kon to tie the game at 4. After Everett Lau (3-for-3, triple, double) was intentionally walked to load the bases, Landen Moran socked an opposite-field single to left, scoring Matt Inaba, who had re-entered for Ide, and Campos for a 6-4 Raiders lead.
Kaimana Bartolome then smacked a first-pitch, opposite-field single to right, bringing Lau home from second for a 7-4 lead.
In the bottom of the seventh, Logan Salcedo drew a two-out walk off ‘Iolani’s third pitcher of the game, Ezra Heleski, and Kawai Takemura followed with a single to right. Heleski then bore down and retired Mason Quinlan on a foul pop off first base for the final out.
Kamehameha got one of the best performances of the season from Hunter Breault, a junior right-hander. He struck out four, walked three and allowed just four hits in 6-plus innings. However, Kamehameha’s go-to closer, Lii Pontes, was not available.
“His elbow has been bothering him,” Perkins said. “I don’t want to risk his future.”
ILH DIVISION I BASEBALL PLAYOFFS
‘Iolani 7, No. 9 Kamehameha 4
At Central Oahu Regional Park |
KSK (8-8) |
000 |
400 |
0 |
– |
4 |
4 |
0 |
‘Iolani (5-11) |
000 |
101 |
5 |
– |
7 |
9 |
0 |
Trevor Ichimura, Brandon Yamane (5), Ezra Heleski (6) and Keene Tanaka. Hunter Breault, Francis Gora (7), Chase Miyasato (7) and Revan Wong.
W- Heleski. L- Gora.
Leading hitters-Iol: Matt Campos 1-4, RBI, run; Everett Lau 3-3, BB, 3 runs; Landen Moran 1-3, 2B, 2 RBIs; Devin Ide 1-1, RBI. KSK: Miyasato 1-3, RBI; Logan Salcedo 2-2, 2 BB; Kawai Takemura 2-3, BB, 2 SB; Mason Quinlan 1-4, 2B, run; Makoa Mau 1-3, 2B, 3 RBIs, run.
No. 10 Punahou 6, Maryknoll 2
Noah Goss was a one-man wrecking crew for the Buffanblu in a win over the Spartans.
Goss tossed a complete game to earn the win, and also led Punahou at the plate, going 2-for-3 with three runs batted in and a home run.
At Central Oahu Regional Park |
Maryknoll (2-14) |
101 |
000 |
0 |
– |
2 |
4 |
4 |
Punahou (9-7) |
301 |
002 |
x |
– |
6 |
7 |
1 |
Matthew Dunaway and Chayson Dulatre. Noah Goss and Logan Williams.
W- Goss. L- Dunaway.
Leading hitters-Pun: Goss 2-3, run, 3 RBI, HR.
OIA DIVISION I WEST SOFTBALL
No. 5 Kapolei 2, No. 3 Mililani 0
Laugatausala Pedebone went 3-for-3 at bat and scored a run as the Hurricanes upset the Trojans.
Aubree Kim allowed only three hits and struck out five batters on the mound for Mililani in the loss.
At Kapolei |
Mililani (7-2) |
000 |
00 |
0 |
– |
0 |
3 |
0 |
Kapolei (8-2) |
100 |
100 |
x |
– |
2 |
4 |
1 |
Aubree Kim and Markie Okamoto. Sadie Kapaku-You and Lili Kaimi.
W- Kapaku-You. L- Kim.
Leading hitters-Laugatausala Pedebone 3-3, run.
Leilehua 11, Waipahu 1, 5 inn.
Alo “Ashley” Salausa hit a three-run home run in a six-run fourth inning, and finished with four RBIs to lead the Mules past the Maruaders.
At Leilehua |
Waipahu (0-9) |
000 |
01 |
– |
1 |
3 |
2 |
Leilehua (4-6) |
230 |
6x |
– |
11 |
8 |
0 |
K. Rabellizsa, Makayla Whitley (2) and Ulalia Soa. Chasity Stalcup and Staisa Micky.
W- Stalcup. L- Rabellizsa.
Leading hitters-Lei: Pomai Nahulu 2-2, 3 runs, RBI; Mahea Calizo 2-2, run, 2 RBI; Alo “Ashley” Salausa 4 RBI, HR.
Pearl City 2, Waianae 1
Kristin Frost made two runs of support hold up, striking out six batters over six innings as the Chargers beat the Seariders.
At Waianae |
Pearl City (5-6) |
010 |
000 |
1 |
– |
2 |
8 |
2 |
Waianae (1-9) |
000 |
000 |
1 |
– |
1 |
7 |
1 |
Kristin Frost, PB Kaaialii (7) and Hailey Yamaguchi. Rhandie Santiago and Charley Pittman.
W-Frost. L- Santiago.
Leading hitters-PC: Kylie Tasaki 2-3; Tita Saunders 2-3, run, 3B. Wain: Kayla Hensley 2B, Bailey Pittman 2-3; Tyra Pai 2-3.
OIA Division I East Softball
No. 9 Roosevelt 27, McKinley 0, 5 inn.
Maya Nakamura went 5-for-5 at bat, driving in four runs as the Rough Riders shut out the Tigers in five innings.
At McKinley |
Roosevelt (8-2) |
009 |
(14)4 |
– |
27 |
22 |
2 |
McKinley (0-10) |
000 |
00 |
– |
0 |
7 |
24 |
Mari Foster and Haylie Uetake. Pam Espinda and Major McMillan.
W- Foster. L- Espinda.
Leading hitters-Roos: Maya Nakamura 5-5, 2B, 4 RBI; Kylie Kawamura 4-5, 2 RBI; Tyra Wallrabenstein 4-5, 2B, 2 runs, 3 RBI; Uetake 4-5, 3 runs, 4 RBI. McK: McMillan 3-3; Madison Cristobal 2-3; Espinda 2-3.
Kailua 15, Moanalua 9
Robi Lono was hot at bat, hitting a double and triple to lead the Surfriders past Na Menehune.
At Kailua |
Moanalua (4-6) |
300 |
204 |
0 |
– |
9 |
8 |
3 |
Kailua (7-3) |
227 |
202 |
x |
– |
15 |
12 |
3 |
Shanelle Lum and Raven Rosa-Lasco. Dyani Cummings-Lani and Denise Nagayama.
W- Lum. L- Cummings-Lani.
Leading hitters- Moan: Taylor Takushi HR, 2 runs, RBI; Iyana Reed 2-4, HR, 2 runs, 2 RBI; Rosa-Lasco 2-4, RBI. Kail: Robi Lono 3-4, 2B, 3B, 4 runs; Akamulei Makua 2-4, 2 runs; Moani Kupahu 2B, run, 4 RBI; Desiree Chang 2b, 2 RBI; Jewels Kaipo-Chang 3-4, 2 runs, RBI.
Castle 8, Kaimuki 7, 9 inn.
Cybelle Murakami had two hits, including a home run, to help lift the Knights past the Bulldogs.
At Castle |
Kaimuki (1-10) |
000 |
102 |
|
400 |
– |
7 |
4 |
3 |
Castle (6-5) |
220 |
100 |
|
201 |
– |
8 |
9 |
2 |
Dacyleen Amond and Lexus Mahiai. Kacie Lam, Mele Turner (9) and Moana Hillen.
W-Turner. L-Amond.
Leading hitters-Cast: Cybelle Murakami 2-5, HR, 2 runs, 2 RBI; Kailee Ishii 3-5, 3 runs, RBI; Lam 3-4, 2B.
OIA DIVISION II SOFTBALL
Waialua 13, Kahuku 11
Christel Agtina tripled in the top of the seventh inning, sparking the rally for a comeback win over the Red Raiders.
Sabrina Alo led Kahuku with three hits, including a double, and Jolyn Uli scored three runs.
At Kahuku |
Waialua (4-6) |
312 |
002 |
5 |
– |
13 |
13 |
7 |
Kahuku (0-11) |
221 |
500 |
1 |
– |
11 |
7 |
4 |
Kaedy Hatchett, Candace Basilio (6) and Lea’a Puleiala. Aimie Sorensen and Jolyn Uli.
W- Basilio. L- Sorenson.
Leading hitters-Wail: Hatchett 2-5, run, RBI; Basilio 2-6, 2 runs, RBI; Andrea Dicion 2-5, 2 runs, RBI; Christel Agtina 2-4, run, RBI; Cheye Wong 2-4, 2 runs, 3 RBI. Kah: Sabrina Alo 3-4, 2B, 2 runs, 2 RBI; Napua Gallets-Fernandez 3B, 2 runs, RBI; Uli 2B, 3 runs, RBI.