WAILUKU — In a pitchers' duel rarely seen in the Maui Interscholastic League, Maui High School's combination of Peter Ibanez and Jacob Babauta came out on top of Kamehameha Maui's Naea Kalehuawehe yesterday at Maehara Stadium.

The Sabers won 1-0, clawing for the game's only run in the top of the third inning when Mitchell Crim's sacrifice fly scored Justin Fontanilla. Maui (5-0) moved into a first-place tie with idle Baldwin in the MIL Division I standings. Kamehameha-Maui (4-1) is one game back.

The one run looked like it would be enough for Ibanez alone. The 5-foot-8 junior left-hander cruised through four innings, striking out three, walking two — one intentionally — and allowing two hits. He had to leave the game after four innings with back spasms.

Ibanez (3-0) retired the first eight hitters he faced before walking Aaron Asato. Leadoff batter Jordan Camara followed with a single to center, but Asato ran through a stop sign by Kamehameha third-base coach Brandon Kanamu and was thrown out at third base by center fielder Crim.

Ibanez's back spasms — the first he has ever experienced, he said — left the game in the hands of Babauta, a 5-6, 125-pound senior right-handed transfer from Saipan.

''I wanted to stay in, but my back just kept tightening up,'' Ibanez said. ''I wanted to keep going, but I didn't want to jeopardize the score. I had faith in Jacob, plenty of faith. All he had to do was throw strikes.''

Babauta retired the first six Warriors he saw before Isaiah Kaneakua started the bottom of the seventh with a ground-rule double to center.

Kalehuawehe then grounded out to shortstop Jordan Agcaoili, leaving Kaneakua at second.

Babauta got the second out by jamming Kelton Kealoha inside — the Warrior third baseman popped up a bunt to catcher Jordan Inamasu.

Evan Garces grounded out to third to end the game, which took just one hour, 43 minutes to complete.

Babauta, known to his teammates and coaches as ''Saipan,'' admitted he was concerned after the rocket double by Kaneakua.

''I was kind of worried, but I just tried to put it out of my mind and focus on the batter,'' he said. ''After I got the first out, I felt better.''

Babauta said the pitch he got Kealoha to pop up was merely an inside pitch.

''I was just trying for the inside corner and he popped it up and Jordan made the play,'' Babauta said.

Babauta moved to Maui with his family in February 2007 from Saipan and watched most of the Sabers' games last year.

''I am having so much fun with these guys,'' he said. ''It is a lot different baseball than where I come from. I hope I can pitch again tomorrow.''

The teams meet again today at 1 p.m.

Maui coach Lee Yonamine said the game could have gone either way. Kalehuawehe (2-1) pitched a four-hitter, struck out five and walked one.

''That was a great game, a real pitchers' duel,'' Yonamine said. ''Naea pitched a hell of a game, man. I can't remember the last 1-0 game I have seen in the MIL. This year is really competitive, and I mean anybody can beat anybody. There are a lot of great teams and whoever makes the fewest mistakes is going to win.''

That was the Sabers yesterday. They didn't commit an error, while Kamehameha had one. The Warriors' best chance to score before the final inning was in the fourth, when they got runners to second and third with two outs before Ibanez struck out the final hitter he faced.

''That was an awesome game,'' Kanamu said. ''Maui High came prepared to play. Peter pitched great, then Saipan came in and kept us off balance. Somebody has got to win and somebody has got to lose. We get to do it all again tomorrow and I know my guys can't wait.''

Kanamu said the Sabers simply made a few more plays than his team.

''We hit the ball hard, I think to all fields,'' Kanamu said. ''I think every kid on that team had a putout.''

Maui 001 000 0—1 4 0

KS-Maui 000 000 0—0 3 1

Peter Ibanez, Jacob Babauta (5) and Jordan Inamasu; Naea Kalehuawehe and Mason Castillon. W—Ibanez, 3-0. L—Kalehuawehe, 2-1. Sv—Babauta, 1. 2B—KSM, Isaiah Kaneakua.

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