Saint Louis senior right-hander Jordan Rapoza scattered two hits in four innings (using 61 pitches), striking out two and walking none to get credit with the win for the Crusaders. Greg Yamamoto | SL

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02221625_Kitamura__0032.jpg - Greg Yamamoto | SL

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MANOA – Don't take too much from Saint Louis' 1-0 win against host Mid-Pacific Institute Sunday for the 36^th annual Richard Kitamura Baseball Tournament championship.

On a bright afternoon at the Kitamura Diamond, Saint Louis' Wyatt Pauline's two out single drove home Charlie Lopez from third base in the top of the fourth inning for the only run of the game.

Senior right-hander Jordan Rapoza scattered two hits in four innings (using 61 pitches), striking out two and walking none to get credit with the win for the Crusaders.

"Jordan's been pitching well and we thought that this would be a great opportunity," Saint Louis coach George Gusman said. "This was a better barometer to see where he was. His stock is on the rise, as far as the coaching staff is. Very, very happy for him. He's worked very hard."

Sophomore right-hander Shane Adams used 52 pitches in five innings, allowing a run on two hits with a walk and three strikes for the Owls.

The effectiveness of the pitching was tough to determine as both sides were looking at many position players to gauge potential starters when the season starts next month. The Owls had 19 different players bat, while the Crusaders started players that needed longer looks.

"We used some of those guys today," Gusman said. "In some cases, it bore out what we thought. In some cases, the players' stock is rising. It was for us to play a real-life game against the best team in the state."

Meanwhile, MPI coach Dunn Muramaru feels the team isn't quite performing to the state runner-up it was a season ago.

"We found out some things today," Muramaru said. "We're not as good as the boys think they are."

Rapoza and Adams were engaged in a scoreless duel through three innings until the top of the fourth. Lopez led off with a ground single to center, took second on Matt Wong's sacrifice up along first and went to second when DJ Stephens grounded out to second. The right-handed hitting Pauline then drilled a 2-2 fastball away to right to score Lopez. Pauline's one-hop liner to right was so hard that MPI right fielder Hunter Hill made it a close play at first with his throw.

"It's nerve-racking, but we practice (hitting with runners in scoring position) every day, so it's muscle memory already," Pauline said. "I was expecting something on the outside corner because Mid-Pac has been living on the outside corner all game, so I looked for that pitch."

The Crusaders threatened in the sixth when Wong singled with two out, stole second, but was stranded when Stephens' lined out to left to end the inning.

The Owls had their opportunities, but left five runners in scoring position. The Owls threatened in the bottom of the seventh. Left-hander Kai Sobe started the inning for Saint Louis and allowed a one out double to left by Zach Gushien and the hit Cameron Wong with a pitch. Gusman replaced Sobe with right-hander John Kea, who struck out Wyatt Young and got Breyndon Nakamura to ground out to second to end the game.

Saint Louis goes to Maui this weekend for the Baldwin tournament, while MPI will travel to Kauai for the Waimea tournament.

The Kitamura tournament is named for the late Richard Kitamura, who coached at MPI, Farrington and Damien. He led Farrington to its only state championship in 1963. Farrington's gymnasium is named for him.