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A loud cheer that erupted from the Punahou bleachers made up for the collective sigh of relief that came from the Buffanblu dugout.
The fifth-ranked team in the state avoided a stunning end to the season when Kyson Donahue, the 11th pitcher used in the game, recorded the game-ending strikeout with the tying run on third to preserve Punahou’s 9-8 victory over Maryknoll on Friday night at Ala Wai field.
Donahue went 2-for-4 with a double and three RBIs and Colin Freeman had three hits and three runs scored and stole four bases for the Buffanblu (11-5), who trailed 5-1 after two innings in an elimination game to start the ILH second round.
“It’s the playoffs, man, and (Maryknoll coach) Eric (Kadooka) came out gunning and those kids hit the ball and were ready to play,” Punahou coach Keenan Sue said. “That’s the best we’ve seen (Maryknoll) play all year.”
Kadooka, who won seven straight state titles as the head coach at Punahou from 2004 to ’10, went 1-15 in his first season with the Spartans.
Long after the game ended he was still talking to his team out in right field after Maryknoll suffered its fourth one-run loss of the season and second in 10 days to the Buffanblu.
Maryknoll trailed 9-5 in the top of the seventh inning when it loaded the bases with nobody out.
Donahue, who started at shortstop and moved to first base later in the game, was called on in relief for his third appearance of the season.
After giving up an RBI groundout, Donahue served up a two-run triple to pinch hitter Mathew Dunaway, who smoked a ball to right center to cut the lead to 9-8.
With the tying run 90 feet from the plate, Donahue got a ground ball back to him on the mound for the second out and then blew a fastball past Jonah Chinen to end it and earn the save.
“I thought I was going to be nervous out there, but I felt like I had a lot of confidence and trusted my defense,” Donahue said. “When I gave up the hit (to Dunaway) I was like, ‘I’ve got to fight. I can’t sulk now. I’ve got to finish.’ ”
Punahou, which beat No. 1 Kamehameha and No. 4 Saint Louis in consecutive days last weekend, has won four straight heading into today’s game against the Crusaders at noon.
Starter Kahi Bisho was knocked out of the game after 11⁄3 innings and Sue had to use four different relievers to stave off a pesky Spartans bunch.
Drayden Yamauchi’s two-run double put Maryknoll ahead 3-0 in the top of the first and Shane Himeda and Chinen hit back-to-back RBI singles in the second inning for a 5-1 advantage.
Punahou got back in the game with three runs in the bottom of the third inning when it stole six bases.
Freeman singled and swiped both second and third before scoring on Andrew Matsueda’s RBI single.
He drove in Cole Cabrera to tie the game in the fourth inning and stole two more bases, forcing an errant throw to third from the catcher to score the go-ahead run.
Freeman singled and scored on Donahue’s RBI single in the sixth inning for what proved to be a very important insurance run.
“It’s nice to know we’re going to play (today) and keep the season going,” Freeman said. “I’m going up (to the plate) trying to see the ball every time and let the game come to me. Just having fun. If you’re not having fun why are you playing the game?”
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ILH BASEBALL
‘Iolani 4, No. 10 Mid-Pacific 0
At Mid-Pacific
>> ‘Iolani (6-10) 010 120 0 — 4 9 2
>> Mid-Pacific (6-10) 000 000 0 — 0 1 1
Trevor Ichimura and Blake Hiraki. Carter Rustad, JT Navyac (4), Shion Matsushita (6) and Kyle Layugan. W—Ichimura. L—Rustad.
Leading hitters—IOL: Micah Yonamine 2-3, 2 runs, 2 RBIs; Cade Yonamine 2-3, run.
Trevor Ichimura tossed a one-hit shutout and the visiting Raiders (6-10) ended the Owls’ season.
Micah Yonamine went 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBIs for ‘Iolani, which faces Kamehameha in the ILH tournament today at 3 p.m. at Ala Wai.
Mid-Pacific finished its season 6-10 and had its streak of five consecutive ILH championships ended.
No. 5 Punahou 9, Maryknoll 8
At Ala Wai Field
Maryknoll (1-15) 320 000 3 — 8 11 1
Punahou (11-5) 103 302 X — 9 10 1
Shane Himeda, Noah Kinder (1), Himeda (3), Bryce Otsuka (4), Micah Neves (6), Kody Miyamoto (6) and Tyler Quinn. Kahi Bisho, Kyle Uemura (2), Riley Guieb (5), Andrew Matsueda (6), Kyson Donahue (7) and Matt Nakamoto. W—Uemura. L—Himeda. SV—Donahue.
Leading Hitters—Mryk: Shane Himeda 2 runs; Quinn 2-4, RBI; Drayden Yamauchi 2-3, 2b, 2 RBIs; Matthew Dunaway 3b, 2 RBIs. Pun: Cole Cabrera 1-3, 2 runs, sb; Colin Freeman 3-4, 3 runs, RBI, 4 sb’s; Donahue 2-4, 2b, 3 RBIs.
BIIF BASEBALL
>> Waiakea 10, Keeau 0
>> Kamehameha-Hawaii 13, Honokaa 0
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