Punahou clinches ILH baseball crown
By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer
When Punahou's baseball team clinched the Interscholastic League of Honolulu championship last night with an 8-3 victory over Kamehameha, there was no wild celebration on the Aloha Stadium infield, no catcher sprinting out to leap into the pitcher's arms, no players diving into a pile-up.
In typical business-like fashion, the defending state champion Buffanblu (18-1-1) simply ran toward the dugout after the final putout, exchanging toned-down high-fives along the way.
"This was just one more in the many steps we're taking as a team to get to where we want to be," said senior ace Jared Pate, who tossed a five-hitter with six strikeouts and three walks to improve to 10-1 overall. "Our team worked hard all season, giving 110 percent effort every practice. It feels good to win the ILH, but we take each game like business and just try to do our best and walk away knowing we gave it our all."
Punahou (30-2-1 overall) has one regular season game remaining, at Mid-Pacific (13-7) on Tuesday. The Buffanblu, who are ranked No. 15 in USA Today's Super 25, clinched the title because second-place Kamehameha fell to 16-4.
Punahou jumped to a 7-0 lead — with five unearned runs thanks to three errors — before the Warriors closed to 7-3 in the bottom of the fifth inning, then scored a final run in the seventh.
Second baseman Maika Murashige, who went 3 for 4 with two runs batted in, said winning the ILH "is a good accomplishment," but acknowledged the Buffanblu did not take the crown in a dominant fashion.
"We got lucky sometimes, and there were plenty of games when one or two hits went our way," Murashige said. "If they went the other way, we could have lost."
It helps, of course to have steady senior leadership, especially from Pate. The 5-foot-11, 150-pound right-hander does not have a blazing fastball and is not considered a top draft prospect, but he gets the job done almost every time out.
"He sets the tempo and is always around the plate," Punahou coach Eric Kadooka said. "That's his strength."
Punahou (18-1-1) 000 340 1 — 8 10 0
Kamehameha (16-4) 000 030 0 — 3 5 4
Jared Pate and Michael Chock. Koa Kaleo, Waylen Sing Chow (5), Erik Price (7) and Stuart Kam. W — Pate. L — Kaleo.
Leading hitters — Punahou: Maika Murashige 3-4, two RBIs; Kyle Fujimoto 2-4; Bucky Aona double, RBI; Paul Snieder double. Kamehameha: Makana Kitamura 3-3; Kam double.
Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2456.
• • •
SAINT LOUIS 10, MID-PACIFIC 9 (11 inn.)
Keli'i Zablan scored from second base on Justin Doane's single to right field with one out in the bottom of the 11th inning to lift the Crusaders (13-7) over the Owls (13-7) at Aloha Stadium.
Saint Louis took a 7-3 lead in the fifth inning after Doane's grand slam, but MPI answered with six runs in the sixth inning to go up, 9-7.
The Saints then scored single runs in the sixth and seventh to send it into extra innings.
Kalei Perreira pitched four innings of scoreless relief to earn the victory.
Owls leadoff batter Chad Takabuki went 5 for 5 with two doubles, two RBIs, two walks and three runs scored. Doane went 4 for 6 with a double, home run and six RBIs.
Mid-Pacific (13-7) 201 006 000 00— 9 15 1
Saint Louis (13-7) 200 051 100 01—10 15 4
Rick Goto, Christian Flowers (3), Tyler Inouye (5), Jayson Kramer (5) and Kip Masuda. Cameron Bayne, Nainoa Campbell (6), Grant Costa (6), Keli'i Zablan (6), Kalei Perreira (7) and Justin Doane. W—Perreira. L—Kramer.
Leading hitters: Mid-Pacific— Chad Takabuki 5-5, 2 doubles, 2 RBIs, 3 runs; Reece Uyeno 3-6, 2 RBIs; Masuda 2-4, 2 RBIs; Nathan Rice 2-5; Blayne Fuke double. Saint Louis—Doane 4-6, double, grand slam, 6 RBIs; Sheldon Santiago 2-3, double; Kyle Gonzaga 2-5, triple; Zablan 2-5.
Iolani 8, Damien 0
Ian Mopas pitched a three-hitter with 14 strikeouts and just two walks for the Raiders.
Travis Nishioka hit a home run, and Kyson Morikuni added doubles to lead Iolani's 13-hit attack.
Damien (3-17) 000 000 0—0 3 2
Iolani (10-9-1) 112 202 x—8 13 0
Robert Cuizon, T.J. Esclito (5), George Martin (6) and Kai Higa, Vince Zieser (5). Ian Mopas and Riley Yamamoto, Ryan Barayuga (7). W—Mopas. L— Cuizon.
Leading hitters: Damien—Esclito double. Iolani—Kyson Morikuni 2-3, 2 doubles; Travis Nishioka homer; Case Miyahira 2-3; Marc Factora 2-3, double, 2 RBIs; Brett Hasegawa triple; Justin Nakamura 2-3, double.
Maryknoll 9, Pac-Five 1
Peter Kirst teamed with Chris Lum on a five-hitter and Josh Gelson hit an inside-the-park homer at Ala Wai Field to lead the Spartans.
Maryknoll (4-16) 103 211 1—9 10 4
Pac-Five (2-18) 010 000 0—1 5 6
Peter Kirst, Chris Lum (7) and Brian Tabata, Ryan Matsumoto (5). Ross Yamato, Tyler Simao (4), Kendal Tanigawa (5), Travis Ogimi (6) and Aaron Chilcote. W—Kirst. L—Yamato.
Leading hitters: Maryknoll—Matsumoto 2-5, 2 RBIs; Josh Gelson homer; Brennan Young 3-5, triple, 2 RBIs; Ikaika Duyag triple; Brian Tabata double. Pac-Five—Tony Onitzuka double.
Reported by Pua Hayashi
