Mililani's Blaine De Mello comes in to score a run against Aiea. Tyler Kanoa | Special to SL

Purchase image 1 of 4

Mililani's Cole Nakachi throws a pitch to the plate against Aiea. Tyler Kanoa | Special to SL

Purchase image 2 of 4

Aiea's Kyle Machida connects with a pitch against Mililani. Tyler Kanoa | Special to SL

Purchase image 3 of 4

Mililani's Adam Connell slides safely into home plate for an inside-the-park home run against Aiea. Tyler Kanoa | Special to SL

Purchase image 4 of 4

WAIPIO – Mililani is gearing up to make some noise in the postseason.

The Trojans ripped off a season-high 10 runs to pummel ‘Aiea, 10-1, in their regular season finale Saturday night. With the win Mililani clinches the Oahu Interscholastic Association Red West’s second seed and a first round bye in the 12-team playoffs. 

“It was huge for us,” Mililani coach Mark Hirayama said on the win. “We battled all year long and for us to win tonight and get the first round bye going into the playoffs, it’s huge. It gives us a chance to sit back a little bit and wait for the next guy to come up.”

A crowd of about 150 at the Patsy T. Mink Central Oahu Regional Park saw the Trojans extend their win streak to four and improve to 7-5 on the year. The win avoided a potential coin flip with Waipahu (6-6) to determine the second seed.

“I’m just happy for the guys. We worked hard all year just getting them to believe in what we’re trying to do,” said Hirayama. “It took us a little while to get things going and get everybody on the same page, but we’re finally believing in (ourselves) and playing with confidence.” 

The Trojans’ confidence was extremely evident at the plate, having racked up 10 runs on 11 hits. Mililani’s batters went though four different ‘Aiea pitchers by the time the night was over.

“We always had the tools. It was just the matter of putting the pieces together and getting the job done,” Mililani right fielder Adam Connell said on the team’s offensive performance.

Connell was the driving force – literally – behind Mililani’s season high 10 runs, batting 2-for-3 with five RBIs and a homerun. His infield homer in the top of the second gave the Trojans an early 3-0 lead that never was threatened the rest of the way.

“Initially the job was to get the ball into the outfield, but the ball just kept going so I just kept going,” Connell said on his infield homer.

Other key hitters for Mililani were Sean Sonognini and Justice Nakagawa, both of whom batted 3-for-4.

Leading the Trojans on the mound was senior pitcher Cole Nakachi (4-1) who fanned five while only giving up five hits. Nakachi pitched five straight scoreless innings before giving up a run before giving up one in the bottom of the sixth. 

“Cole has been right there all year. He’s been consistent. He’s always kept us in the ball game,” Hirayama said on Nakachi. “Early in the season we had a couple of games where we didn’t score very much, and it’s hard to win 1-0, every time, putting the pressure on your defense and your pitching, but he keeps us in the ball game. He throws strikes, let’s us make plays and that’s all you can ask of him.”

Mililani pushed their lead to 4-0 after a passed ball allowed Devin Awai to reach home safely. The Trojans’ lead quickly got extended to six in the top of the sixth after Connell drove home courtesy runner Blaine De Mello and first basemen Ty Desa.

‘Aiea avoided a shutout by plating a run in the bottom of the sixth. Leadoff hiter Liwai Manoa singled to center to get on base and Jayvin Alcantra brought him home two batters later. However, Mililani added four more runs in the seventh to put the game out of reach and drop ‘Aiea to 4-8 on the season. 

With Pearl City (3-9) dropping to Kapolei (5-7), ‘Aiea’s spot in the playoffs is guaranteed. The final playoff seeding spots will be determined following the conclusion between Campbell (11-0) and Leilehua (5-6) next Tuesday.  

“Going into the playoffs, we got to keep things rolling (and) keep doing our jobs,” said Connell. “This is what we expected from the beginning. This is Mililani baseball, this is what we do.”