Michael Lasquero | SL

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Michael Lasquero | SL

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Michael Lasquero | SL

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Michael Lasquero | SL

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Michael Lasquero | SL

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Michael Lasquero | SL

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Michael Lasquero | SL

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Michael Lasquero | SL

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Michael Lasquero | SL

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Michael Lasquero | SL

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MANOA - The last man standing was the Most Valuable Player of the fifth annual Chace Numata Senior All-Star Classic on Independence Day at Les Murakami Stadium.

Kamehameha-Kapalama graduate Greyson Osbun fired two strong innings of relief to help the Hawaiian Stars to a 9-7 win against the Aloha Stars. The University of Nevada-Reno-bound pitcher allowed a a run, one hit and walk with two strikeouts. By the game's rules, pitchers were allowed to pitch one inning. However, when the game remained tied at 7 after nine innings, he was allowed an extra inning. Because all pitcher had been exhausted the 10th was to be the final inning of the exhibition game for the recent high school graduates. He struck out the last batter to end the game.

"In my progression, I'm not there yet to throw off the mound," Osbun explained. "This is what Nevada has me doing. (The Classic organizers) had my name penciled in, so I''ll get an inning…It felt good. I think adrenaline kicked in, especially towards the end, so I think tomorrow I'll feel it a little bit more, so we'll see."

As MVP, Osbun received a Chace Numata engraved bat, as well as a Mizuno Duffle bag and batting gloves from Mike and Jordan DeKneef.

The game, established by former University of Hawaii player Eric Tokunaga, is played in memory of Pearl City graduate Chace Numata, who died in a skateboarding accident in Pennsylvania in 2019. At the time, he was a catcher for the Erie SeaWolves, the Double-A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers. To ensure the players' maximum participation, the format is adjusted so everyone bats or pitches. For example, the batting order was 1 to 18 for Aloha and 1 to 17 for Hawaiian with players switching defensive positions throughout the game. Pitchers were assigned one inning each, except for Obsun and Hawaiian's Kaleb Wada of Mililani, who also pitched the last two innings out of necessity.

Hawaiian led most of the game and took a 6-3 lead into the eighth when Aloha's Ethan Lee (Pac-Five) hit a two-run double to cut his team's deficit to one. Kainoa Kaneshiro bounced a sinlge over first base to drive home the tying run. But Hawaiian regained in the bottom of the eighth on Wada's RBI single with two out to make it 7-6.

Aloha tied the game at 7 in the top of the ninth on Adam Kobayashi's bases-loaded walk.

In the Aloha 10th, Iolani's Treydon Chong Kee was the placed runner at second (similar to MLB's extra-innings base runner) and  Saint Louis' Chase Sutherland walked. Damien's Nainoa Begonia reached on an error to load the bases. A passed ball scored Chong Kee and sent Sutherland to third, where he scored on Kamehameha's Dillon Andres' sacrifice fly to center. Osbun tossed a scoreless 10th to pick up the win.

Osbun wasn't the only player taking home prizes from the game.

Chong Kee had the fastest time in a run-around-the-bases contest, winning a $100 gift card from SportsStan, with Pearl City's Noah Bernal coming in second for a $50 gift card.

"It was fun," Chong Kee said of the race. "I really pride myself in my speed, so being able to do that showed off my speed."

Chong Kee said the power from his legs comes from deadlifting. "It's all in your hamstrings, so if you deadlift a lot, everything should be good," said Chong Kee, who will play at Central Arizona JC, which plays in a wooden-bat league.

Maui's Nick Nashiwa won the Chace Numata Pop-Time contest (time from when the catcher catches a pitch to when it is caught by the fielder at second base). His throw was timed at 1.77 seconds. He won a catcher's mitt from SportStan, a long-time sponsor from the time of the old Sugar Mill Classic days at Hans L'Orange Park. He beat out six other contestants. He also played the outfield and infield during the game. He also played multiple positions for the Sabers during the MIL season, he said.

J & M Embroidery designed the logos for the players' caps and Pacific Guardian Life assisted in the rental of Les Murakami Stadium.