Toner throws CG gem to propel Kaiser past Kalani, into states

Rayden Aoki | SL

For Bryson Toner and the rest of the Cougars' senior class, this moment was a long time coming.

Kaiser punched its ticket to states for the first time since 2018, as seven runs on 13 hits backed Toner's one-hitter with 11 strikeouts, adding up to a 7-1 win over Kalani in the OIA quarterfinals.

"The weight is off our shoulders, but we have three goals going into the season," remarked Toner. "Make states, win OIAs, win states."

"So we've still got two more."

Goals nonwithstanding, the win was still sweet redemption for a team that was knocked out of the league playoffs in the opening round a year ago and fell short in a play-in game versus Hilo a season prior.

Toner continued, "we came up short these past three years, this past year and especially (the year before) last year's loss to states, I mean, this is all we've had in mind, states."

It was a third complete game of the year for Toner against the Falcons, and his performance atoned (no pun intended) for a less than stellar outing against Roosevelt and then some, throwing 108 pitches to go the distance. He struck out 11 and walked just two batters, allowing just one hit, a triple by Ruston Hiyoto. The lone run for the Falcons came in the seventh on a passed ball.

"Fastball was working great, I was able to get it to each corner of the plate," said Toner. "I was just being aggressive, just going at it."

With Toner in control on the mound, the Cougars provide more than enough offense to back their senior hurler, led by Mana Shigehara-Pang, who was a perfect 3-for-3 on the day with a double, a run scored and three RBIs, but was also called out twice trying to stretch his two singles into doubles.

"I don't know the exact number off the top of my head, but I feel like each game we've put up five or six runs, so it makes it real easy to pitch," said Toner of the Cougars' hitters. "A lot of the success I've had this season had been because of that run support."

Caleb Hamasaki (2 for 2, two runs, RBI) and Jackson Wood (2 for 3, double, two RBI) also recorded multiple hits on the afternoon.

Kalani starter Joshua Mau also went the distance, allowing 7 runs on 13 hits in six innings of work. He struck out three and walked just one.

Up next for Kaiser is a semifinal pairing with Leilehua, a 3-0 winner over Waipahu.