Chase for the Championship
Kailua, Iolani, Punahou move on to D1 quarters


Stacy Kaneshiro | ScoringLive
May 8, 2018, 6:32pm

 



No. 7 PUNAHOU 6, PEARL CITY 2

No. 7 Punahou got strong pitching out of its bullpen and used a four-run seventh inning to turn back Pearl City, 6-2, Tuesday night in the opening round of the Wally Yonamine Foundation/HHSAA Division I Baseball State tournament at Les Murakami Stadium.

The Buffanblu (14-6) will play No. 1 and top-seeded Baldwin in Wednesday's 4:30 p.m. quarterfinal.

Matthew McConnell pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings of two-hit ball before giving way to Kyson Donahue, who moved over from shortstop, to get the final two outs to end the game.

"He's just throwing strikes," Punahou coach Keenan Sue said of McConnell. "It's not that complicated. You throw the ball over the plate, good things happen. That's what (Pearl City starting pitcher) Cade Halemanu did. He did an amazing job. We got lucky with a few timely hits, so that's baseball."

Punahou starting pitcher Kahi Bisho pitched four innings, allowing two runs, three hits and five walks with six strikeouts. But he was pulled after 98 pitches.

"We always tell our guys as the starting pitcher, if you cannot have your ‘A' game and still keep us where we are, which I think was 2-2 at the time, you did your job. That to me is a competitor, not to have your best stuff and still go out there and do what they needed to do to for the team."

Kalae Harrison's RBI triple off of Pearl City starter Halemanu in the top of the seventh ignited the Buffanblu's big inning.

"The best kind of hit-and-run is the triple," Sue said of Harrison's hit. "He was supposed to put that on the ground, but he ended up putting it over the right fielder's head, so it's a good mistake."

Added Harrison: "Coach called a hit-and-run, but (the pitch) was a little up so I tried to get on top of it. Got a little lucky, got it over the right fielder. I was trying to stay on it so I could create backspin on the ball. I tried my best to get it on the ground, but it went over the right fielder."

Halemanu went six-plus innings, allowing six run, two unearned, eight hits and a walk with five strikeouts. Alika Almaraz retired the three batters he faced that ended the sixth for Pearl City.

Asa Kurasaki batted 3 for 3 for Punahou, falling a home run shy of the cycle.

With the game tied at 2 entering the top of the seventh, Kirk Terada-Herzer reached on first baseman Carter Hirano's error. He fielded the grounder behind first, but Halemanu was late covering. Carter slid into the first base bag to beat out Terada-Herzer, but dropped the ball in the process. Harrison followed with his triple and scored on Kurasaki's triple to right. Ola Aina's RBI single made it 5-2. Aina stole second, took third on a ground out and scored on Jake Tsukada's sacrifice fly to right before Donahue flied out to end the inning.

Micah Yonamine reached four times for Iolani, batting 3 for 3 with a double and RBI. Micah Yonamine reached four times for Iolani, batting 3 for 3 with a double and RBI. Spencer Honda | SL


Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at [email protected].




Show your support

Every contribution, no matter the size, will help ScoringLive continue its mission to provide the best and most comprehensive coverage of high school sports in the state of Hawaii and beyond.

Please consider making a contribution today.


IMAGE GALLERY


MORE STORIES

Track and field proposals among those being considered at HIADA conference

Athletics administrators from across the state are gathered at the Hilton Waikoloa Village, where the...

HHSAA inducts 44th class into Hall of Honor

Twelve student-athletes from 10 different schools and representing three of the state's leagues were...

Iolani's Nakanelua garners All-Hawaii Player of the Year honors

Senior setter Bailey Nakanelua was the engine that helped drive the Raiders back to the top of state...

Pearl City's Ngirmidol headlines All-OIA Division II picks

Chargers' setter Marley Ngirmidol named Player of the Year in OIA Division II; Pearl City head coach...

Moanalua sweeps All-OIA East Boys Volleyball top honors

Na Menehune outside hitter Lionel Gannon named Player of the Year and head coach Alan Cabanting named...

Mililani's Kimura named All-OIA West Player of the Year

Senior OH Seth Kimura was joined by teammate Kaito Duranceau on the first team; Trojans' head coach Gabriel...