Today at Moanalua, Scott Yamada will be the skipper on one bench against his former player, Peter Arakawa, the first-year head coach in the Pearl City dugout.
The two teams play in the Oahu Interscholastic Association consolation semifinals, but more than a consolation prize is available. The winner will make the Division I state tournament. The loser will be done for the season.
With one-run losses on Thursday, Na Menehune and the Chargers barely missed making the league quarterfinals and an automatic berth at states.
Arakawa, who graduated from Moanalua in 2006, and his Chargers dropped a 3-2, 10-inning affair at fifth-ranked Kailua. Yamada’s Na Menehune lost a 3-2 game at Mililani.
Pearl City was one out away from a 2-0 victory, but the Surfriders’ Joey Cantillo hit a two-run single to send it to extra innings. Jalen Ah Yat then drove home the winning run in the bottom of the 10th.
Interestingly, Na Menehune (8-6) have been in every game this season, and their six losses are by a total of seven runs:
>> Kaiser 4, Moanalua 3
>> Kalani 2, Moanalua 0
>> Roosevelt 2, Moanalua 1
>> Kalani 5, Moanalua 4
>> Kailua 3, Moanalua 2
>> Mililani 3, Moanalua 2
Even though one team is in the East and one is in the West, they’re not strangers. In 2011, Pearl City captured the state championship with a 2-1 victory over Moanalua in the state final.
The Chargers have only missed the states once since 2007, when they were beaten by Punahou 7-1 in the championship game. They’ll be trying to keep the string of state-tourney appearances alive with a win today. A year ago under coach Gavin Concepcion, Pearl City lost 5-1 to Baldwin in the state final.
Pearl City’s state-title tries since 2007
>> 2007: Lost 7-1 in championship game to Punahou
>> 2008: Lost 2-1 in semifinals to Saint Louis
>> 2009: Lost 3-1 to quarterfinals to Punahou
>> 2010: Lost 8-1 in quarterfinals to Punahou
>> 2011: Won 2-1 in championship game against Moanalua
>> 2012: Lost 2-1 in semifinals to Waiakea
>> 2013: Lost 4-3 in first round to Maui
>> 2014: Did not qualify for state tournament
>> 2015: Lost 3-1 in first round to Mililani
>> 2016: Lost 5-1 in championship game to Baldwin
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