Honokaa reaches first ever state final, will face defending champ Damien

Michael Lasquero | SL

One is making its eighth straight finals appearance, while the other is heading to its first.

Honokaa reached its first championship game ever, taking care of Kauai, 5-2 in the first semifinal of the day at Les Murakami Stadium, while Damien walked off on Tana Seguancia's RBI double in a 4-3 win over Hawaii Prep.

"It means a lot to represent not just Honokaa, but our island, a lot of people are looking forward to the (title) game," said Josya Napoleon-Umeda, who scored twice in the win.

Dragons' starter Rory Crabbe allow just one unearned run on three hits, and Isaac DeRego went the rest of the way, with no hits and just an unearned run of his own.

"We got five big hitters but also four really good pitchers. We got a lot of depth in our pitching," said Honokaa head coach Waylon Salazar.

Honokaa's offense steadily built a margin, plating runs in the first, thrid and fourth innings. DeRego helped his own cause at the plate as well, going 2 for 3 with a double and a triple, and Jayden Salazar was also 2 for 3 with two RBIs.

"These guys are dependng on me and I'm depending on them," said Umeda, who is slated to get the ball in the title game. "All I'm going to do is throw stikes and they are going to get my back."

In the second semifinal of the afternoon, Damien pulled off some last-gasp heroics to pull off a 4-3 win over Hawaii Prep.

What started off looking like a relative easy path to Saturday for the Monatchs turned into a fight to the finish against Ka Makani, with the defending champions putting together a master class in bunting to set up the game-winner.

After Bajet reached first safely on a fielding error, the Monarchs played small ball to perfection not once, but twice, as two perfect bunts in succession, one by Tryten Vicari and the other by Kekona Begonia loaded the bases with no outs, setting up the Seguancia walk-off.

"I just didn't want to strike out," said Seguancia. "I just needed to score something, even if I just popped out, I just needed to score someone."

To its credit, Ka Makani settled after a shaky first inning that saw two runs come across aided by two balks and a fielding error, and vaulted into the lead thanks to a three run fourth, a score that Hawaii Prep held until Damien's late inning magic.

The Monarchs were outhit by Ka Makani 5 to 7, and did not record an extra base hit in the contest. Three Hawaii Prep batters had two hits each, led Asher Andersen and David Culbertson who each were 2 for 3 with a run scored.

Damien has won three of the last four Division II titles, and four of six dating back to before the pandmeic, when it won its first title in 2018.

"Compated to last year, this year we're working with young players, but we just have to trust what we got and work hard," said Seguancia.

Hawaii Prep is making its first appearance ever in a state final. Its best result prior to this season dates back to 2010, where it finished third.

"We're leaving everything on their field, they are a good team but i think we're a great team, but it's going to be a hard fought battle," said Napoleon-Umeda.