Before the first pitch, the Mid-Pacific Owls were already prepared for something epic.
Memorable. Enduring.
The Owls, facing ‘Iolani in a key battle for first place in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu baseball standings, got a shutout from senior Shion Matsushita for a 6-0 win over the Raiders on a surprisingly sunny afternoon at Damon Field.
Mid-Pacific improved to 8-2 while ending a five-game win streak by ‘Iolani (6-3-1). The Owls did it on a senior day that included neon green jerseys in honor of right fielder Micah Pi. The senior began a battle against lymphoma last summer. He endured chemotherapy treatment and won a starting job with the Owls.
The team had never indicated that one of their starters had undergone a procedure to combat a softball-sized tumor in the offseason. Pi simply wanted to recover and play baseball.
“The courage that he displayed,” Owls coach Dunn Muramaru said. “After he was diagnosed, his mom told me that he was worried he wouldn’t make the team.”
One week after his last chemo treatment, Pi was on the field, doing what he could to regain his form.
“He finished chemo in December and came back. He had a hard time finishing two laps,” Muramaru recalled. “That’s courage. Now he’s starting.”
The longtime coach was all smiles during the team’s festivities for the seniors after the game, tossing gopher pitches for their senior-day swings. The Owls had already taken a jolt earlier in the week with a loss to St. Francis, now a potent Division II program.
“After losing to St. Francis, this was a big game. Usually, your best pitcher can change the momentum,” Muramaru said. “I’m glad Shion came through today.”
The right-handed side-armer scattered six hits as the visiting Raiders went the other way with most of their swings. The senior fanned three and walked four. Twice, in the third and sixth innings, ‘Iolani had a runner at third base. Matsushita bore down both times.
“I try to throw strikes and let my defense work,” said Matsushita, whose fastball can rise, drop or tail away from left-handed batters. “I want to get rid of the walks.”
It was a day to celebrate the seniors, but the neon green jerseys broke a tradition that had been intact since 1987 — the first year Muramaru was head coach. Ever since, MPI had always worn gray jerseys and pants.
“When we got the (green) shirts yesterday, I wasn’t expecting all this,” Pi said. “I’m glad our guys support me. They’re like family.”
The family was in a tight battle on Thursday. Mid-Pacific got on the scoreboard against ‘Iolani starter Logan Yee in the second inning with two runs. Pi led off with a walk, Mackenzee Higuchi singled, and when the throw from the outfield bounced past third base, Pi scored the game’s first run. After a sacrifice bunt by Jet Uechi, Cale Yoshino’s single scored Higuchi for a 2-0 lead.
In the fourth frame, the Owls scored four times. Higuchi and Yoshino singled, and Wyatt Young socked a two-run single to increase the margin to four runs. After Jacob Yoshino singled, Kyle Layugan belted a double to left-center, plating Young and Jacob Yoshino for a six-run advantage.
The Owls will play Maryknoll on Saturday at Les Murakami Stadium. ‘Iolani will meet Pac-Five on Saturday, also at Murakami Stadium.
