This time, the Saint Louis Crusaders were all aces from start to finish.
Coming off a 5-4 loss to Kamehameha just one day earlier, Saint Louis got a three-hit shutout from Dylan Lum for a state tournament-berth clinching 4-0 victory over Punahou on Wednesday afternoon at Ala Wai Field.
Lum was at his finest, striking out six, walking just one. He also hit one batter in an otherwise sparkling performance.
“Lum can throw off-count breaking balls, and most young hitters struggle with that,” Punahou coach Keenan Sue said. “He’s a great pitcher who pitches like a veteran. We tip our caps to Saint Louis. They played great all year.”
Punahou closed the season 12-7 with the loss in ILH double-elimination tournament play.
The Buffanblu got a solid effort from Kyle Uemura, who allowed three runs and seven hits with three strikeouts and no walks in 4 2/3 innings. Only one of those runs was earned due to errors.
Punahou committed three in the game.
“We didn’t do what we did all year — play great defense,” Sue said.
Saint Louis (13-5) will need two wins over regular-season winner Kamehameha to take the tourney title. If coach George Gusman’s team pulls off that feat — the teams meet on Saturday and then Monday, if necessary — they will battle one final time in a league championship game.
“I feel great for our players and our supporters who stuck with us through thick and thin,” Gusman said. “We’re just happy to be in the state tournament.”
In the bottom of the third, Makana Ontai and Keith Torres singled, and Dylan Pagente’s bunt was fielded by Uemura. His throw to first was slightly off target, mishandled for an error, and sailed down the line. Ontai and Torres scored on the play.
With one out, Matthew Wong (2-for-3, two RBIs) singled to right, scoring Pagente from third for a 3-0 lead.
Lum was in a groove, retiring the first nine Buffanblu batters and 12 of the first 13. Noah Loughlin ended the no-hit bid with a one-out single in the fifth and Matthew Nakamoto followed with a double to right.
Lum then struck out Asa Kurasaki and Kai Terada-Herzer to end the threat. Punahou didn’t get a runner in scoring position again.
Saint Louis added an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth against Kahi Bisho. D.J. Stephens’ infield grounder took a bad hop and he reached base. Then Wong blooped a ball down the left-field line, where Terada-Herzer battled the sun. He was in line with the ball as it landed 10 feet in fair territory, and then it took a wild bounce straight into foul ground.
That allowed Stephens to race home for a 4-0 lead.
“That’s the Ala Wai outfield for you,” Wong said.
ILH BASEBALL DIVISION I PLAYOFFS
No. 4 Saint Louis 4, No. 5 Punahou 0
At Ala Wai Field
Punahou (12-7) 000 000 0 — 0 3 3
Saint Louis (13-5) 003 010 x — 4 8 0
Kyle Uemura, Kahi Bisho (5) and Matthew Nakamoto. Dylan Lum and Kai Perreira-Alquiza. W—Lum. L—Uemura.
Leading hitters—Pun: Nakamoto 2b. StL: Matthew Wong 2-3, 2 RBIs; Makana Ontai 2-2.
ILH BASEBALL DIVISION II PLAYOFFS
Damien 11, St. Francis 6
At Central Oahu Regional Park
Damien (12-5) 060 013 1 — 11 8 2
St. Francis (13-4) 100 302 0 — 6 8 2
Milton Gainey, Casey Natividad (5), Justin Naleilua (6), Kayson Kajiwara (6) and Kana Schuman. Zach Alcos, Kiyo Perry (2), James Yamasaki (4), Shawn Ellis (6), Kenny Rah (7) and Jared Yara. W—Gainey. L—Alcos.
Leading hitters—DMS: Akila Arechi 2-3, 2b, 2 runs; Kaimana Cameron 2 RBIs; Shilo Kaeo 2 RBIs; Grayson Bueno 2 runs; Schuman 2-4, 3b, 3 RBIs. StF: J.P. Tilley 2-2, 3b; Bubba Akana 2 runs; Yara 3-3, 2 RBIs; Perry 2-3, 2 RBIs.
Pac-Five 13, Hanalani 2, 5 inn.
At Central Oahu Regional Park
Hanalani (0-16) 200 0 0 — 2 7 5
Pac-Five (8-8) 100 1(11) — 13 8 0
Chad Wakabayashi, Nick Garcia-Reid (5) and NA. Makoa Paresa and L. Bradley. W—Paresa. L—Wakabayashi.
Leading hitters—Hana: Tyler Lee 2-3; Wakabayashi 2-2; Seth Williams 2b. P5: Zane Oshiro 2-3, 2 runs; Ryan Moritsugu 2-4; Ethan Suga 2 runs; A. Texeira 2-3, 3b, 2 runs, 4 RBIs; Richie Higa 3b, 2 RBIs; Brandon Miyasato 2b.
OIA BASEBALL DIVISION I PLAYOFFS
Kaiser 9, Aiea 5
At Kaiser
Aiea (5-8) 103 010 0 — 5 9 1
Kaiser (8-5) 302 220 x — 9 14 3
Kobe Kato, Bronson Nekomoto (5) and Jake Nakamoto. Pono Lyman, Jakey Nam (6) and Kainoa Torres. W—Lyman. L—Kato. S—Nam.
Leading hitters—Aiea: Ty Matsunami 2 runs; Kato HR, 2 runs; Nakamoto 2-3, 2b, 2 RBIs; Logan Ho 2-4, 2b; Nakamoto 2b. Kais: Keoni Pangan 3-4, 2 runs, 2 RBIs; Kainoa Craig 2-4, 2 runs; Antonio Omphroy 2-4; Torres 2 RBIs; Kennedy Chun 3-4, 2b, 3 RBIs.
Kapolei 11, Castle 1, 6 inn.
At Kapolei
Castle (2-11) 010 000 — 1 4 6
Kapolei (7-6) 001 073 — 11 10 0
Keoki Gasper-Takahashi, Brylan Kaneshiro (5), Baron Arquero (6) and Jabe Kahawai. Bradyn Yoshida, Andrei Stoyanow (5), Dionisio “DJ” Tapat (6) and Landon Kuroda. W—Stoyanow. L—Gasper-Takahashi.
Leading hitters—Kapo: Cobey Fujii 2 runs; Stoyanow 2-2, 3b, 3 RBIs; Adam Berg 2b, 2 runs; Corey Slade 2-3, 2b; Tapat 2-2; Kyler Nakashima 2b.
Moanalua 9, Waipahu 1
At Moanalua
Waipahu (4-9) 001 000 0 — 1 5 5
Moanalua (8-5) 002 007 x — 9 6 0
Kobie Russell, Khaine Viliamu (6), Gabe Ballesteros (6) and Cole Phillips. Randy Tabura, Skyler Yamamoto (3), Austyn Kometani (7) and Andrew Oasay. W—Yamamoto. L—Russell.
Leading hitters—Waip: Jayden Borja 2b. Moan: Bryson Sato 2 RBIs; Oasay 2-3, 2b; Alex Heacox 3b, 2 runs, 2 RBIs.
Pearl City 2, Roosevelt 1
At Pearl City
Roosevelt (6-7) 000 010 0 — 1 3 0
Pearl City (6-7) 000 100 1 — 2 9 2
Hiram Kaikaina and Kekoa Lima. Carson Okada and Kaleb Nishijo. W—Okada. L—Kaikaina.
Leading hitters—Roos: Kaikaina 2b. PC: Sam Prentice 2-3; Christian Onumura 2b; Cade Halemanu 2b.
ILH SOFTBALL
No. 2 Kamehameha 11, Mid-Pacific 8
At Mid-Pacific
KS (9-1-1) 012 500 3 — 11 10 0
Mid-Pacific (0-11) 022 001 3 — 8 9 5
Reece Mokuau, Rayla Jacobs-Kea (4), Alyssa Mahoe (6) and Kyler Stephens. Ka’a’le’a Hanawahine, Michaela Fonoti (7) and Lia Nakamoto. W—Jacobs-Kea. L—Hanawahine.
Leading hitters—KS: Kylee Pak 2 runs; Dallas Millwood 4-5, HR, 3 runs, 4 RBIs; Maiah Motah 2-4; Kaili Castillo 2 runs; Laa Burtufo 2 RBIs. MPI: Fonoti 3-4, HR, 2 runs, 2 RBIs; Hanawahine 4-4, 2 2bs, 2 HRs, 2 runs, 5 RBIs.
No. 8 Maryknoll 8, No. 5 ‘Iolani 7
At San Island Field
‘Iolani (8-3-1) 011 113 0 — 7 7 4
Maryknoll (7-4) 210 131 x — 8 9 1
Marley Dyer, Marcee Nakamura (2), Dyer (3), Nakamura (4), Aleia Agbayani (5), Nakamura (6) and Kai Barrett. Kahilu McNicoll, Sydney Kamakaiwi (2), McNicoll (4) and Kiana Arcayena. W—McNicoll. L—Nakamura.
Leading hitters—Iol: Macy Uyehara 2-3, 2 RBIs; Barrett 2-5. Mryk: Kanoe Tanigawa 3-4, 2 2bs, 2 RBIs; McNicoll HR.
Punahou 11, St. Francis 9
At Punahou
St. Francis (6-5) 101 052 0 — 9 6 8
Punahou (6-5) 009 101 x — 11 12 6
Sierrah Kupihea, Kailee Mahelona (3) and Kalyn Higa. Kennedy Ishii, Bailey Akimseu (5) and Janell Sato. W—Ishii. L—Kupihea. S—Akimseu.
Leading hitters—StF: Kaena Kelinoi 2 runs; Skye Ah Yat 2 runs; Jordyn Lono 2b, 2 RBIs; Kolbee Kealoha 2 RBIs. Pun: Kara Tsuruda 2-4, 2 RBIs; D’Asha Saiki 2-3, 2b; Jolie Fujita HR, 2 runs; Sato 3-4, 2b, 2 RBIs; Lauryn Tachino 2 RBIs; Leah Barkai 2-3.
