‘Iolani still alive in ILH playoffs

Every team that fell short of a regular-season title gets a second chance in the ILH postseason baseball tournament.

Fifth seed ‘Iolani is taking full advantage of it.

The Raiders pulled off their second upset in a week on Tuesday at Goeas Field, knocking off Saint Louis 6-4 to stay alive in the double-elimination tournament.

Matt Campos went 3-for-4 with two doubles and a run scored and catcher Keene Tanaka singled home the go-ahead run in the fifth inning for ‘Iolani (7-12), which gets regular-season champion Mid-Pacific next on Friday to advance to the final.

“We’ve got a long road ahead, but for the most part they are playing a lot better,” first-year ‘Iolani coach Kurt Miyahira said.

The Crusaders (11-6) won all three meetings in the regular season by a combined score of 16-3 and jumped out to a 4-1 lead on Tuesday.

‘Iolani starter Trevor Ichimura gave up three hits and a walk to the first four batters and John Kea’s two-out RBI single put the Crusaders ahead three runs.

Ichimura settled down to put up five straight scoreless innings and allow his offense to get the Raiders back into the game.

“We were hitting Dawson (Yamaguchi) not that bad, so I had faith we were going to get those runs back if I kept my end of the bargain,” Ichimura said.

Ezra Heleski put the tying runs on base with one out in the seventh inning with a walk and a hit batter but recorded the final two outs to notch the save.

Saint Louis, which was ranked No. 1 earlier this season and finished second in the regular season with an 11-4 record, went two-and-out in the double-elimination tournament and now has to play the waiting game.

The Crusaders need Mid-Pacific to beat ‘Iolani and then Punahou twice back-to-back in order to get one more shot to make the state tournament.

“Lots of squandered opportunities today,” Saint Louis coach George Gusman said. “It’s very unfortunate because this group of guys has worked really hard for a really long time and understand the process. They just have nothing to show for it and it’s very sad for them because our season could end on Friday.

Kai Perreira-Alquiza went 2-for-4 with an RBI triple and scored a run and Brendan Uchima was 2-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI.

Everett Lau had two doubles and drove in one of three runs in the third inning for the Raiders to tie the game 4-4.

Kaimana Bartolome went 3-for-4 with two runs and an RBI and Tanaka was 2-for-3.

“Kaimana is swinging a lot better and is a good rhythm hitter,” Miyahira said. “When he’s in rhythm there’s not a lot of guys better than him.”

‘Iolani will have to beat a Mid-Pacific team that, like Saint Louis. beat the Raiders in all three regular-season meetings to keep its season going. ‘Iolani hit the ball well enough in those three meetings, combining for 20 runs against the Owls, but gave up 39.

“Trevor is our guy and we’ve got him, Logan Yee, (Brandon) Yamane and (Jordan) Iwasaki,” Miyahira said. “They’re all young guys, all sophomores, but they’re growing up as the season goes on.”

ILH DIVISION I BASEBALL

‘Iolani 6, No. 4 Saint Louis 4

Trevor Ichimura, Ezra Heleski (7) and Keene Tanaka. Dawson Yamaguchi, Royce Hirayama (4) and Taylor Meilleur.

W–Ichimura. L–Hirayama. S–Heleski.

Leading hitters–Iol: Matt Campos 3-4, 2 2b; Everett Lau 2-3, 2 2b; Kaimana Bartolome 3-4, 2 runs; Tanaka 2-3. StL: Kai Perreira-Alquiza 2-4, 3b; Brendan Uchima 2-3; Aaron Renaud 2b.

No. 6 Punahou 7, No. 1 Mid-Pacific 2

Andrew Matsueda drove in three runs and Noah Goss scored three times as the Buffanblu beat the Owls.

Mid-Pacific’s Kahi Bisho allowed two runs — none earned — over five innings.

Kahi Bisho, Kahi Bisho (6) and Codey Kitagawa. Chase Wago, #39 (4) and Kyle Layugan. W–Bisho. L–Wago.

Leading hitters–Pun: Noah Goss 2-4, 3 runs; Easton Takamoto 2 RBIs; Andrew Matsueda 3 RBIs; Kai Terada-Herzer 2-4. MPI: Alex Oley 3-4.

ILH DIVISION II BASEBALL

Pac-Five 10, Damien 0, 5 inn.

The Wolfpack scored all their runs in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Milton Gainey, Javin Cortez (5), Dylan Tapat (5) and Kana Schuman. Lee Tanaka and Jared Miysato.

W–Tanaka. L–Gainey.

Leading hitters–P5: Zane Oshiro 2 RBIs; Tanaka 3b, 2 RBIs; Brandon Miyasato 2-3, 2b, 2 runs, 2 RBIs; Brett Watanabe 2b.

St. Francis 16, Hanalani 6, 5 inn.

Kaimanuwai Akana doubled, tripled and drove in five runs.

Chad Wakabayashi, Nick Garcia-Reid (5) and Reyn Romero. Jared Yara and Jacob Poole.

W–Yara. L–Wakabayashi.

Leading hitters–Han: Romero 2-3, 2 3b. StF–Shawn Ellis 2-3; Ian Phillips 2b, 3 runs, 2 RBIs; Alek Miyasato 3 runs; Kaimanuwai Akana 2-3, 2b, 3b, 3 runs, 5 RBIs; Zach Alcos 2-4, 3 RBIs; Isaac Crichton 2-4, HR, 3 RBIs; Samson Kaleikau 2b.