The Saint Louis baseball team realized yesterday things always seem to be sweeter when you have something in hand, let it get away, and then seize it back in dramatic fashion.

Lucas Gonsalves led off the 11th inning with a homer and Tamatoa DeMello retired the side in the bottom half as the Crusaders outlasted Mid-Pacific, 9-8, in an Interscholastic League of Honolulu baseball game.

The game went back and forth with Mid-Pacific taking a 5-1 lead after two innings; Saint Louis scoring seven unanswered runs to take an 8-5 lead after six; and Mid-Pacific rallying for three two-out runs in the seventh to send it into extra innings.

"We were going back and forth, battling so hard with each other," Gonsalves said. "I'm glad we came out with the victory."

Saint Louis, ranked No. 3 in The Advertiser's Top 10 poll, and top-ranked Mid-Pacific are both 8-1.

Gonsalves sent a 1-1 pitch from Mid-Pacific's fourth reliever over the right-center field fence.

"I needed to clutch up in the situation so when I hit the home run it felt great," Gonsalves said.

"He came back inside and I just took it over the fence. I was in shock."

Saint Louis coach Duane Fraticelli had thought about replacing Gonsalves.

"I wasn't sure if we were going to make a change or not," Fraticelli said. "We were thinking, 'Should we pinch hit him?' We decided to leave him in there and good things happened."

DeMello, who started in center field, pitched 4 1/3 scoreless innings. He allowed three singles and two walks — one intentional — with four strikeouts.

"He is one of the hardest working kids on the team," Fraticelli said. "He just came in and shut the door and kept us in the game."

In the Owls' seventh, reliever Chris Chung retired the first batter on a ground out to third, and the next hitter lined the ball to right-center, where DeMello made a great diving catch for the second out.

But Mid-Pacific pinch hitters Stetson Sakamoto and Lyle Shimata both drew walks.

At that point, Fraticelli thought about calling on DeMello to pitch, but opted not to.

"I kind of slapped myself in the head," Fraticelli said. "I was debating whether I should bring him in or not with two outs with runners at first at second."

Lead-off hitter Russell Doi doubled to left on a 1-2 pitch to plate one run, and Wade Tamaru tied it 8-8 with a two-run double to left.

DeMello came on and issued an intentional walk to Aaron Fujiki before retiring the next batter.

"After I made that outfield catch, I thought we had it," DeMello said. "(The Owls) came in, scored, tied it. I wanted the ball."

In the top of the ninth, the Crusaders had a runner at third with two outs and clean-up hitter Moses Samia hit one deep to left. Owls left fielder Derek Tan made a leaping grab up against the fence.

"The game had everything; catches, defensive plays, home runs; everything that people would want in a baseball game," said Mid-Pacific coach Dunn Muramaru.

In the bottom of the 11th, Doi hit a two-out single, but DeMello struck out the next batter on the game's 429th pitch.

Muramaru appreciated the efforts of both teams despite his Owls falling short.

"Both teams battled and nobody gave up," he said. "It was one of those classic games. Everybody got their money's worth today."

SAINT LOUIS (8-1) 103 103 000 01—9 15 2

MID-PACIFIC (8-1) 230 000 300 00—8 14 3

Kamakani Usui, Chris Chung (5), Tamatoa DeMello (7) and Keoni Haina, Moses Samia (7). Robert Dittrick, Gavin Kinoshita (3), Matthew McDaniel (6), Dane Kinoshita (9) and Aaron Fujiki. W — DeMello. L — D. Kinoshita.

Leading hitters — Saint Louis: DeMello 3-5, double, 2 runs; Danny Higa 2-5, 3 RBIs; Kyle Gonzaga homer, 2 RBIs; Samia 2-5, double; Kaden Kamoe 2-5, double, 2 runs; Lucas Gonsalves 2-4, homer, 2 runs, 2 RBIs. Mid-Pacific: Russell Doi 3-6, double; Wade Tamaru 4-6, 3 doubles, 2 runs, 3 RBIs; Fujiki 2-4, homer, 3 RBIs; Easton Torigoe double; Todd Nagamine 2-4, 2 runs.

'IOLANI 20, DAMIEN 4

Kela Marciel and Reyn Nagamine hit three-run homers, and Jarrett Arakawa had four hits and four RBIs to power the Raiders (4-5) past the Monarchs (3-6) at Ala Wai field. Darby Ventura and Taylor Kauweloa each had two hits and an RBI for Damien.

'IOLANI (4-5) 123 043 7—20 17 1

DAMIEN (3-6) 022 000 0— 4 8 5

Sheldon Lee, Kelsey Outram (4) and Grant Iwamoto. Johnathan Awa, Isaac Ventura (3), Taylor Kauweloa (4), DJ Andrade (5), Trey Derby (6), Travis Derby (7) and Darby Ventura. W — Lee. L — Awa.

Leading hitters — 'Iolani: Jarrett Arakawa 4-6, triple, 4 RBIs, 3 runs; Kela Marciel 2-4, 3-run homer, triple, 5 RBIs, 3 runs; Reyn Nagamine 2-5, 3-run homer, double, 3 RBIs; Breland Almadova double; Tim Schilf 2-2, two doubles, 3 runs. Damien: Andrade 2-4; Ventura 2-3, RBI; Kauweloa 2-3, triple, RBI.

Reported by Donnie Martin

PUNAHOU 6, PAC-FIVE 1

Matt Suiter and Jeeter Ishida each had two RBIs as the Buffanblu (6-2) beat the Wolfpack (2-7). Travis Ogimi had two hits for Pac-Five.

PAC-FIVE (2-7) 000 001 0—1 6 5

PUNAHOU (6-2-1) 300 102 X—6 8 0

Jordan Kumasaka, Ian Padeken (6) and Reid Morihara. Paul Snieder, Alaka'i Aglipay (4), Jeremy Fujimoto (6) and Zach Kometani. W — Snieder. L — Kumasaka.

Leading hitters — Pac-Five: Travis Ogimi 2-3. Punahou: Matt Suiter double, 2 RBIs; Jeeter Ishida 2 RBIs; Tyler Young triple, RBI; Reece Kiriu 2-3, 2 runs.

Reported by Gail Juan

KAMEHAMEHA 9, MARYKNOLL 2

Piikea Kitamura and Arlie Johnson each had two RBIs, and the Warriors (4-4) scored eight runs in the top of the sixth to rally past the Spartans (0-9) at Hans L'Orange Park. Gonzo Ayres had two hits for Maryknoll.

KAMEHAMEHA (4-4-1) 100 008 0—9 9 3

MARYKNOLL (0-9) 110 000 0—2 6 1

Kainoa Toriki, Patrick Akana (3), Alika Pruett (4), David Lee (7) and Keanu Carmichael. Craig Shoji, Josh Arakaki (6), Zack Fujimoto (6), Matt Guzman (7) and Kyle Hirata. W — Pruett. L — Shoji.

Leading hitters — Kamehameha: Kapena Kalehuawehe-Gomes 2-5, double, 2 runs; Piikea Kitamura double, 2 RBIs; Arlie Johnson 2 RBIs; Jake Meyer 2-2, triple. Maryknoll: Gonzo Ayres 2-2.

Reported by Gail Juan

KAMEHAMEHA 9, PUNAHOU 9

Keanu Carmichael drove in three runs for the Warriors and Josh Bninski had three RBIs for the Buffanblu in a game that resulted in a tie late Friday night at Ala Wai field.

KAMEHAMEHA (3-4-1) 410 013—9 5 0

PUNAHOU (5-2-1) 401 004—9 8 1

Chris Pascual, Tucker Troy (7) and Ulu Nakamura. Reece Kiriu, Jeremy (5), Evan Yamamoto (7), Reid Okita (7) and Zach Kometani.

Leading hitters — Kamehameha: Kapena Kalehuawehe-Gomes triple, 2 runs; Piikea Kitamura 2 runs, RBI; Arlie Johnson double, 3 runs; Keanu Carmichael 2-4, 3 RBIs; Makana Ramie 2 RBIs. Punahou: Matt Suiter RBI, 2 runs; Josh Bninski triple, 3 RBIs; Kometani 2-4, RBI; Shane Yoshiyama 2 runs; Paul Snieder 2 runs; Jeeter Ishida 3-3, double, 2 RBIs.

Reported by Gail Juan

OIA

PEARL CITY 6, KAPOLEI 3

Bryson Nakamura scattered eight hits and batted 3 for 4 with two doubles and two RBIs, lifting the Chargers (6-1) over the Hurricanes (2-5) in an O'ahu Interscholastic Association Red West game at Pearl City. Kalani Brackenridge homered for Kapolei.

PEARL CITY (6-1) 013 011 0—6 9 1

KAPOLEI (2-5) 002 010 0—3 8 1

Bryson Nakamura and Carlton Tanabe. Michael Sanchez, (7) Michael Filio and Brandon Damas. W — Nakamura. L — Sanchez.

Leading hitters — Pearl City: Nakamura 3-4, 2 doubles, 2 RBIs; Bryson Namba 2-4, solo homer, 2 RBIs; Ryno Acosta 2-3, double. Kapolei: Kalani Brackenridge homer, 2 RBIs; Oliver Taoy 2-4, double, RBI; Damas 2-3.

Reported by Tom Ebanez

CASTLE 6, ROOSEVELT 5

Kainoa Tom homered in the bottom of the eighth, lifting the Knights (5-2) over the Rough Riders (3-4) in an OIA Red East game. Tom batted 4 for 5. T.J. Bae scored two runs for Roosevelt.

ROOSEVELT (3-4) 400 010 00—5 7 0

CASTLE (5-2) 100 010 31—6 8 8

Kelson Okimoto, Billy Kamau (7), Tyler Nitahara (7) and Nitahara, Eric Ching (7). Bryan Raines, Pulama Silva (8) and Coby Agres. W — Silva. L — Nitahara.

Leading hitters — Roosevelt: T.J. Bae 2 runs. Castle: Kainoa Tom 4-5, triple, solo homer, 2 RBIs; Agres 2-4, RBI.

Reported by Chad Uyehara