The Campbell Sabers called on Zachary Palipti, and the junior came through big time.
The right-handed reliever came up with a bases-loaded strikeout to put out a fire in the sixth inning, then held on as Kailua rallied with three runs in the seventh. Campbell’s 6-5 win at Les Murakami Stadium means the Sabers (17-2-1 overall) will face Mililani in the Oahu Interscholastic Association championship game tonight.
Palipti recorded a save, while starting pitcher Dayton Robinson got the win. Robinson went five innings, allowing two runs on three hits with six strikeouts and five walks.
“We wanted to go with Dayton for as long as he could. He did a fantastic job. The plan was to stay away from their power, change speeds,” Campbell coach Glenn Flores said.
Kaimana Savaiinaea hurled two-thirds of an inning before Palipti stepped up and struck out Jalen Ah Yat with the bases loaded, two outs, in the bottom of the sixth.
“He fell behind 3-0, so he did a heck of a job to come back and throw three strikes,” Flores noted.
In the seventh, it was a struggle as Kailua scored three times before Palipti got the final out. Kailua (13-7-2 overall) will play Kaiser today for third place.
“We didn’t make plays when we had to,” Kailua coach Corey Ishigo said, referring to four errors by the Surfriders. “We didn’t hit like we’re capable of. We’re in a bigger park and taking bigger swings. It’s a good lesson. The last inning showed what we’re capable of doing. We had chances and I can live with that.”
The Sabers broke the ice in the top of the second inning with three runs. Varen Sabino led off with a walk, Bryden Malama was hit by a pitch and starting pitcher Quinn McMurray was unable to make a play on Robinson’s sac bunt. With the bases loaded, Tyrus Stephens singled to center, scoring Sabino. Malama came home on a wild pitch, and Robinson raced home on a groundout by Sy Stephens.
Kailua responded with two runs in the bottom of the second.
Matthew Kaleiohi led off with a single, and Kayde Iranon was hit by a pitch with one out. After a sacrifice bunt by Taylor Takata, Brandon Sarae singled to center, bringing both runners home.
The Sabers tacked on a run in the third for a 4-2 lead.
Ikaika Ganancial walked with one out and advanced to second base on a wild pitch. Sabino’s ground ball turned into a throwing error by Kailua’s second baseman, Takata, allowing Ganancial to score from second as Campbell opened the lead.
Meticulous as always, Campbell eked out another single run for a 5-2 lead. A passed ball helped make it 6-2 Campbell in the sixth.
Shayden Sabangan beat out a slow grounder in the hole at shortstop for a single, and Devin Gallano singled to left. After Gallano was tagged out at second on a steal attempt, with Sabangan safe at third, Shai Lolo-Tamashiro intentionally walked Ganancial. Sabino followed with a sac fly to left, scoring Sabangan for a 5-2 lead in the top of the fifth.
In the sixth, Robinson led off with a walk, courtesy runner Kekoa Ganancial went to second on a sac bunt by Tyrus Stephens, and advanced to third on a ground ball to short by Sy Stevens. Two pitches later, Ganancial scored on a passed ball, and Campbell had a 6-2 cushion.
In the bottom of the sixth, the sacks were filled when Palipti arrived from the bullpen to face Ah Yat, who swung and missed on a full-count fastball to end the inning.
The Surfriders gave it one last charge in the bottom of the seventh. After a walk, Bryson Ewaliko doubled. Mikey Hanano doubled to center, scoring both runners and cutting the lead to 6-4. After a groundout by Matthew Kaleiohi, Chavis Conceicao grounded to third, scoring Hanano from third base.
Palipti then retired Kayde Iranon on a fly ball to left, ending the game.
Mililani 4, Kaiser 3, 11 innings
Waika Fukuda’s opposite-field, bloop single brought home pinch runner Kailen Kimata with two outs in the bottom of the 11th inning as the Trojans advanced to the championship game.
Fukuda’s base hit down the right-field line made a hard-luck loser of Landon Shigeta, who pitched five innings in relief. Vance Oshiro, who moved from third base to the mound in the fifth inning, was the winning pitcher.
The Trojans opened the scoring in the top of the first inning. Oshiro singled with one out, Ethan Thomas walked, and with two outs, Hunter Faildo singled to left, scoring Oshiro.
Kaiser stranded Gyson Oshiro, who had tripled, in the second frame. In the fourth, the Cougars tied the game. Cavin Lime was hit by a pitch, Christian Reasoner singled and Brock Perreira walked to load the bases with one out.
Gyson Oshiro singled to center, scoring Lime from third base, but Tanner Moran struck out Branden Chun-Ming and Cal Oshiro to end the inning.
The Trojans regained the lead in the fifth. Vance Oshiro walked, stole second base and scored on a double by pinch hitter Kaiwi Winchester. After Jayton Pang walked with two outs, Fukuda blooped a double down the right-field line, scoring Winchester for a 3-1 lead.
With runners at second and third Pono Lyman then struck out Jacob Hirayama.
The Cougars clutched up in the top of the sixth with two runs. Gyson Oshiro walked with one out and Chun-Ming tripled to right-center, scoring Oshiro. Chun-Ming later scored on a a safety squeeze by Ethan Nakamura to tie the game at 3.