Nine-run eighth lifts Mid-Pacific
By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer
An Interscholastic League of Honolulu pitchers' duel between Mid-Pacific Institute and Iolani yesterday went into extra innings before instantly — and shockingly — turning into a 9-0 blowout for MPI.
The Owls scored all of their runs after two outs in the top of the eighth inning.
The victory kept Mid-Pacific unbeaten at 6-0 and atop the ILH standings. Iolani fell to 3-2.
Raiders starter Chris Loo took a two-hitter into the eighth, but MPI loaded the bases with two outs and Loo was replaced by first baseman Kila Ka'aihue. Blake Kaneshiro was hit by Ka'aihue's first pitch to score the first run, and the Owls proceeded to get six consecutive hits and score eight more runs before the inning finally ended on a flyout to first.
Iolani managed only a walk in the bottom of the eighth off Pat McGuigan, who went the distance. McGuigan allowed six hits and struck out six, walking two.
The quick turn of events did not shock Mid-Pacific coach Dunn Muramaru, who watched Kailua score six runs in the final two innings last year to win the state championship game over MPI, 9-8.
"That's what it reminded me of," Muramaru said. "I think I screwed us up earlier by trying to make our kids steal and bunt. I should've just let them hit."
Raiders coach Dean Yonamine said Iolani's nightmare inning proves how quickly things can change in baseball.
"In the preseason, it was the exact opposite for us," Yonamine said. "Everything we hit would fall in. But we knew it wasn't going to be like that the whole year."
Through it all yesterday, the one constant was McGuigan, who knows something about things changing quickly. At the end of last summer's American Legion season, McGuigan took a line drive in the face and suffered multiple fractures in his jaw. The injury required surgery and he was sidelined for several weeks, but he recovered in time for this season and yesterday he answered the call after getting a last-minute starting assignment.
"His composure and poise is what sets him apart," Muramaru said. "He's a tough kid."
Mid-Pacific 000 000 09—9 8 1
Iolani 000 000 00—0 6 1
Patrick McGuigan and Matt Inouye. Chris Loo, Kila Ka'aihue (7), Kahiwa Letman (7) and Reid Saito. WP—McGuigan. LP—Loo.
Leading hitters: MPI—Justin Kashiwaeda 3-4.
Punahou 9, Kamehameha 6: The Buffanblu broke a 4-4 tie with five runs in the fifth inning to rally past the Warriors at Ala Wai Field.
Mark Veneri pitched 5-plus innings and went 3-for-4 with an RBI and Landon Nagata had a two-run single to lead the Buffanblu.
Nick Freitas went 2-for-4 with 3 RBIs, Kahe Santos went 2-for-4 and Tyler Perkins went 2-for-3 with a triple for Kamehameha.
Punahou 202 050 0—9 8 2
Kamehameha 300 110 1—6 8 4
Mark Veneri, Jason Owens (6) and Todd LaFountaine, Ryan Cutwright (1). Isaac Kamai, Shannon Kahale (5) and Danny Nitahara, Matt Morgado (5). WP—Veneri. LP—Kamai.
Leading hitters: Punahou—Veneri 3-4, RBI; Michael Lam double; Landon Nagata 2 RBIs. Kamehameha—Tyler Perkins 2-3, triple, RBI; Nick Freitas 2-4, 3 RBIs; Kahe Santos 2-4, RBI.
St. Louis 9, Damien 0: Cruz Hatanaka pitched a compete-game shutout, giving up five hits while striking out six and walking one, and Shane Butcher hit a three-run home run in the top of the sixth inning to power the Crusaders over the Monarchs at Joey DeSa field.
St. Louis 002 033 1—9 12 0
Damien 000 000 0—0 5 6
Cruz Hatanaka and Jowen Murray-Thornton, Edwin Apostol (6). Daniel Chamizo, Chase Masuda (7) and Cheyne Kawamoto, Jarret Takayama (7). WP—Hatanaka. LP—Chamizo.
Leading hitters: St. Louis—Shane Butcher home run, 3 RBIs; Danny Lee 3-4, double, 3 RBIs; Murray-Thornton 2-3; Chester Wilson double. Damien—Chamizo double.
Reported by Donnie Martin
Maryknoll 5, Pac-Five 1: Reily Maeda pitched a five-hitter, striking out four and walking none, and drove in two runs to lead the Spartans at Ala Wai Field.
Sean Ortiz went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs and Brandon Goshima went 2-for-3 with a double for Maryknoll.
Jeris Nakamasu had a double and RBI for Pac-Five.
MARYKNOLL 200 100 2— 5 8 1
PAC-FIVE 001 000 0—1 5 1
Reily Maeda and Brandon Goshima. Paul Nishimura, Tyler Inouye (7) and Colby Holt. WP—Maeda. LP—Nishimura.
Leading hitters: Maryknoll — Sean Ortiz 2-4, double, 2 RBIs; Goshima 2-3, double; Maeda 1-3, 2 RBIs; Reid Nakamura 1-3, double. Punahou — Jeris Nakamasu double, RBI.
MAUI
Maui 15, St. Anthony 4: The Sabers scored five runs each in the third and fourth innings and four in the seventh. Allen Castro, Jerrett Agcaoili and Kapena Mathias each had three hits and Vance Otake and Manu Kaina had two each.
Maui 015 500 4—15 16 3
St. Anthony 001 021 0— 4 12 3
Allen Castro, Kapena Mathias (7) and Vance Otake, Gavin Takakura (5), Otake (7). Joe Hegele, Travis Castillon (3), Kori Kahalekai (4), Travis Texeira (7) and Max Young.
Leading hitters: Maui—Otake 2-2, triple; Castro 3-3, double, 3 RBIs; Jerrett Agcaoili 3-4, 2 doubles, 2 RBIs; Mathias 3-4, 3 RBIs; Manu Kaina 2-5. St. Anthony—Jared-James Pacheco 2-4, double; Texeira 2-4, double; Sean Hardesty 2-3.
Reported by Rodney Higa
KING KEKAULIKE 17, SEABURY HALL 3: Nick Koomoa pitched a three-hitter, striking out seven and walking two, and batted 3-for-3 with a double, to lead Na Ali'i over the Spartans.
King Kekaulike 480 23—17 11 3
Seabury Hall 201 00— 3 3 5
Nick Koomoa and Cody Sheets, Kato Pua (3). Blake Yamada, Adam Michaud (2), Kyle Ellison (4), Joe McFarlin (5) and Jody Barbin. WP—Koomoa. LP—Yamada.
Leading hitters: King Kekaulike—Bubba Wong 2-2, double, RBI; Koomoa 3-3, double, 3 RBIs.
Reported by Rodney Higa
