Pearl City gets walk-off to topple second ranked Mililani

Brian Bautista | SL

Pearl City toppled second-ranked Mililani, 6-5, getting the walk-off victory courtesy of a two out single by Jodi Takara that scored Talon Paahao.

The win might not have done much in the way of preventing the OIA West leading Trojans from the top seed in the upcoming league playoffs, but it did crack the door open for the Chargers to potentially sneak into the second seed.

A win on the road over Waipahu, coupled with a Leilehua loss to Aiea in next week's Western Divsion season finale would see both teams finish with 6-4 records, and with the two teams having split the season series, league tiebreaking procedures would be invoked.

Mililani led after one inning as a leadoff triple by Malosi Mataafa-Alferos was manufactured into a run, and the Trojans struck for three runs in the third off of just a single hit in an stretch that featured two walks, a balk, two passed balls and an error.

Pearl City was able to get on the board in the bottom of the third when Cohen Adaro doubled, reached third on a wild pitch and then came home on a fielder's choice, and had a three run burst of its own in the last of the sixth, in yet another wild inning that started with a single by Jayson Au Hoy then saw two hit batters, a walk and a throwing error get the Chargers right back in it.

A run in the top of the seventh by Mililani made it 5-4, and Pearl City tied the score on a Jace Noda single, setting up the walk-off finish.

Kai Hirayama put in 5 2/3 innings of work, allowing three runs on four hits. He walked four and struck out 11 in a no-decision for Mililani.

On the Chargers' side, Noah Bernal earned the win with two innings of relief, allowing one run off one hit, walking two and striking out fourl.