Hard Knox: Trojans capture sixth OIA Division I crown

Brian Bautista | SL

WAIPAHU - Pearl City got educated in the school of hard Knox.

Freshman Knox Marzo twice drove home go-ahead runs, then applied the knock-out punch by reaching on a fielder's choice grounder and an error that plated and capped a 10-run sixth to lead Mililani against Pearl City, 13-3, for its second Oahu Interscholastic Association Division I baseball title Friday night at Hans L'Orange Park. It was the Trojans' sixth crown, five under coach Mark Hirayama.

"They're all special in their own right," Hirayama said. "We graduated 20 last year, and we only had two returning starters so it's been a different puzzle every game. That's what we talk about with these guys. It's next man up. When you get your opportunity, just be ready."

Trojans' starting pitcher Zayne Hookala turned in six strong innings, allowing three runs (two earned), no walks with six strikeouts for the complete-game win.

With the game knotted at 3 entering the home sixth, Pearl City sent its third pitcher of the game, Imipono Kala, who struck out the first batter. Kameron Pongasi then reached on an error and took second on Koa Marzo's single. A wild pitch sent Pongasi to third. Knox Marzo followed with a line single to center that scored Pongasi and sent Koa Marzo to second to give the Trojans a 4-3 lead.

"He's only a freshman and his intestinal fortitude is unreal," Hirayama said. "He wants to be in a big situation, and he had his opportunity."

With runners at first and second Taye Marxen grounded a single up the middle for another run as did Jonah Parker to make it 6-3 and end Kala's night. The Chargers brought in Cavan Sekigawa, who was greeted with a two-run double by pinch hitter Ayden Kanno. Ian Murasaki and Hookala drew successive walks to load the bases to set up Ezra Ugale's two-run double that chased Sekigawa from the game for Naden Nihipali, who allowed back-to-back RBI singles to Pongasi and Koa Marzo to make ie 12-3, bringing up Knox Marzo, who smoked a grounder to third baseman Cohen Adaro, whose throw to second for the force was wild, allowing Pongasi to score the 10th run of the inning, thus ending the game on the 10-run rule.

It was back-and-forth early with the Trojans taking a 1-0 lead on Jonah Parker's sacrifice fly to center in the bottom of the first against Chargers' starter Justin Kamanao-Bulosan.

Pearl City wasted little time, taking the lead in the top of the second on a one-out, two-run double by Adaro.

The Trojans regained the lead in the bottom of the second on Knox Marzo's two-run single to make it 3-2, only to see Pearl City tie it in the top of the third when Ian Wicklund singled with two outs, stole second and scored on an error.

From then on, the pitchers settled. Pearl City's Kayden Hueu tossed three scoreless innings of one-hit ball, while Hookala scattered three singles over the final three innings.

"He's a great guy, a great pitcher," Knox Marzo said of Hookala. "Just pounding the zone for us. We got his back, and he's got ours."

Although one of two Trojan errors led to an unearned run, Hookala still had faith in his defense.

"I had to come out, mix up my stuff," Hookala said of his effectiveness. "Defense is the biggest thing for me. I know they have my back."

Added Hirayama: "Zayne's just a competitor. Sometimes he thinks he has to do it by himself, but he's got eight guys behind him that will make plays for him. He just has to keep us in the ballgame and we'll find a way to win before it's over."

Both teams have qualified for the Wally Yonamine Foundation Division I state tournament, May 6-9 at Les Murakami Stadium, but the champion Trojans will have one of the four seeded berths.

Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at [email protected].