Jordan Mopas had a case of the nerves on an overcast, wet afternoon during, probably, the biggest game of his life. 

He didn’t let it show. The senior first baseman went 3-for-4, including a two-out single that brought home the go-ahead run in the sixth inning as No. 3 Saint Louis edged No. 2 Mid-Pacific 4-3 at Damon Field. 

Saint Louis, riding a steady compete-game effort by Jordan Yamamoto, improved to 11-3 in ILH play. The Crusaders can clinch the league title and an automatic state-tournament berth by beating ‘Iolani on Saturday at Murakami Stadium. 

"I was pretty nervous before stepping in. It was nerve-wracking, actually. I wasn’t hitting the ball as solid as I did in the beginning," Mopas said. "I was looking for fastball. That’s what I was getting the whole game." 

Mid-Pacific dropped to 10-3-1. The Owls need a win over Kamehameha, also on Saturday at Murakami, and a Saint Louis loss to claim the crown. 

"We hung tough," Saint Louis coach George Gusman said. "These guys (MPI) are well-coached and they play hard, just like we do. We found a way to get it done in seven innings. I’m real pleased." 

The Crusaders are in the driver’s seat, but driving cautiously. 

"Nothing is easy in this league. Pac-Five is dangerous, everybody is dangerous. ‘Iolani is loaded top to bottom and they’ve got pitching. We’ll enjoy this game for today and we’ll get back to work tomorrow," Gusman said. 

Yamamoto allowed two earned runs and five hits, improving to 5-1 in league play. 

"I felt good, confident in everything, in our batting, our defense. I didn’t have too many strikeouts today. I tried to stay within myself and just let my defense work," said Yamamoto, who struck out four and walked two. "I help my defense, pick ’em up and back ’em up. That’s what you’ve got to do. We have each other’s back." 

The Owls left nine runners on base. Saint Louis stranded 10. 

"We played OK. (Saint Louis) just had a great pitcher on the mound. They battled and tried their best, but Saint Louis had a couple of clutch hits," MPI coach Dunn Muramaru said. 

The game had the makings of a pitchers’ duel between Yamamoto and MPI ace Chase Wago. Though Josh Gribbin socked a solo home run off Wago in the top of the first inning, the sophomore got out of jams in the next three innings to keep the Owls in the game. 

Mid-Pacific scored off Yamamoto in the bottom of the second to tie the contest. Noah Shackles led off with a single to center, Ryan Kiyotaki was hit by a pitch and Jarrett Lum walked to load the bases. Yamamoto then plunked the No. 9 hitter, Ryne Yamashiro, forcing Shackles home from third. 

Neither team scored again until the fifth, when Ryder Kuhns sent a long drive into the right-field corner for a triple, bringing Gribbin home for a 2-1 Crusaders’ lead. Yamamoto, who went 2-for-4, followed with a single to left, scoring Kuhns for a two-run lead. 

Again, the Owls chipped away, scoring two runs on just one hit in the bottom of the fifth. Two errors by the Crusaders helped. 

In the top of the sixth, Pono Anderson walked and  Rayson Romero’s sacrifice bunt moved courtesy runner Anthony Lau to second. That’s when Mopas went after an 0-1 pitch by relief pitcher Noah Sills and singled to left, bringing Lau home for the deciding run. 

Mid-Pacific had runners in scoring position in the bottom of the sixth and seventh innings. In the sixth, Bryce Nagata doubled to right center with two outs, but was stranded. In the seventh, Nicholas Bottom singled to left-center and advanced to second after the play was botched. 

But Yamamoto struck out Shackles, induced a groundout by Cameron Igarashi and a lineout by Yamaguchi to end the game. 

Jordan Yamamoto and Travis Taylor Meilleur. Chase Wago, Noah Sills (5), Grant Doi (7) and Noah Shackles. W–Yamamoto. L–Sills. 

Leading hitters–Jordan Mopas 3-4, RBI; Josh Gribbin 2-3, HR, 2 runs, RBI; Ryder Kuhns 2-4, triple, RBI, run; Yamamoto 2-4, RBI. MPI: Nicholas Bottom 2-4. 

ILH DIVISION I BASEBALL

No. 8 Kamehameha 10,Pac-Five 3

James DeJesus homered, doubled twice and drove in five runs as the Warriors routed the Wolfpack.  

Nick Young, Al Souza (4), Chase Miyasato (6), Ulu Farm (7) and catcher. Owen Saito, Caleb Miyasato (4), Shaun Mahiko (7) and catcher. 

W–Young. L–Saito. 

Leading hitters–KS: Matt Yokota 2-3, HR, 2 RBIs, run; James DeJesus 3-4, two 2bs, HR, 5 RBIs, 3 runs; Kekai Rios 2b, RBI. Pac: Saito 2-3; Ryllen Abeshima 2b; Kahana Moises 2b. 

No. 8 ‘Iolani 4, Punahou 3

Corey Nakakura lined a single to center for the winning run as the Raiders edged the Buffanblu. 

Austin Jim On, Reece Arakawa (4), Caleb Duhay (6), Corey Nakakura (7) and Easton Tsubata, Joshua Inaba (7). Josh Winkler, Bo Coolen (3), Jacob Kam (4), Dylan Combs (5), Noah Goss (6), Cole Kanazawa (7) and Codey Kitagawa. 

W–Arakawa. L–Goss. 

Leading hitters–Iol: Duhay 2b, run; Pikai Winchester 2b, RBI. Pun: Beau Branton 2-4, two 2bs; KJ Harrison 2b; Cole Cabrera 2b, run. 

ILH DIVISION II BASEBALL

Pac-Five West 15, Damien 0, 5 inn.

Matt Reynolds struck out six batters and recorded two hits as the Wolfpack cruised to a five-inning win over the Monarchs, who committed seven errors.

Matt Reynolds and Casey Nakamura. Dylan Flores, Leeland Lauti (4) and Chase Higashi. 

W–Reynolds. L–Flores. 

Leading hitters–P5W: Aaron Leong 2-3, RBI; Reynolds 2-2, 2 RBIs, 3 runs. 

OIA RED EAST SOFTBALL

Kaiser 3, Roosevelt 1

Stats not reported. 

OIA RED WEST SOFTBALL

No. 8 Campbell 7, Waipahu 0

Caragh Morris had two hits, including a double and triple, as the Sabers shut out the Marauders.

Elisa Favela and Kiana Ulufale. Tristan Aikala-Souza and Shandell Palencia.

W–Favela. L–Aikala-Souza.

Leading hitters–Camp: Caragh Morris 2-4, 2b, 3b, RBI; Favela 2-4, 2b, 3 RBIs; Sierra Mariano 2-3, 2 2bs, RBI. Waip: Palencia 2-3. 

OIA WHITE SOFTBALL

Nanakuli 33, Anuenue 3, 5 innings

Precious Meyers homered and tripled to lead the Golden Hawks past Na Koa.

Emma Kawaiaea and Kaila Burnett. Anuhea Silva and Keahi Silva. 

W–Kawaiaea. L–A. Silva.

Leading hitters–Nan: Alexis Meyers 4-8, 2b, 4 RBIs; Chyanne Koko 3-7, 3b, 4 RBIs; Kawaiaea 3-6, 4 RBIs; Precious Meyers 4-6, 3b, HR, 7 RBIs; Daira Kawaauhau 3-7, 2b, 5 RBIs; Burnett 5-7, 3b, 5 RBIs; Ashley Van Gieson 4-4, 3b, 2 RBIs; Amy Vitale 2-4, 2b, 2 RBIs; Raynette Meyers 2-2, 2 RBIs; Fasha Kahalelehua 2-3, 2 RBIs.

Waialua 17, Kalani 11

Waialua’s Serena Victoria and Amber Alejandro both hit grand slams as the Bulldogs racked up four homers to outlast the Falcons. 

Ashlyn Toyama and Nicole Omai. Keahi Pang and Kiersten Razon. 

W–Pang. L–Toyama. 

Leading hitters–Kaln: Toyama 3-4, 3b, 4 RBIs, 3 runs; Jayna Wakatake 2-5, 3b, RBI; Tori Chinen 2-5, 2 runs. Wail: Selena Victoria 2-5, HR, 7 RBIs, 4 runs; Amber Alejandro 2-4, 2 HRs, 6 RBIs, 2 runs; Pang 3-5, HR, 3b, 3 RBIs, 3 runs; Alaina Bayudan 4-4, 2b, 3 runs.