The ILH baseball championship is at stake in this afternoon’s matchup at ‘Iolani School field. Weather is fairly good: hazy (voggy?) sky, trades 5-10 mph. Not very humid at all, and though there are gray clouds near the valley, I don’t think it’s going to rain. Yet.
Saint Louis (14-5) won the regular-season title and Mid-Pacific (14-3-1) won the double-elimination tournament to set up this final. The game was originally scheduled for Monday, but was pushed back to today (Wednesday).
Twelve minutes until game time.
Top 1st
MPI: On the mound for STL, ace Jordan Yamamoto. Leadoff man Nagata strikes out swinging. Cal Muramaru singles to center and scores when Nicholas Bottom’s fly ball to right center is dropped by CF Stubblefield. Bottom stops at second base, MPI 1, STL 0. Shackles and Igarashi ground out to short to end the inning. One run, one hit, one error, one left on base. MPI 1, STL 0.
Bot 1st
STL: On the mound for MPI, ace Chase Wago. Leadoff man Romero grounds to third. Mopas doubles to right center. Gribbin flies out to center and Kuhns walks, taking three balls before HC Muramaru requests an intentional walk. Yamamoto grounds into an unassisted fielder’s choice by 3B Bottom to end the inning. No runs, one hit, no errors, one left on base. MPI 1, STL 0.
Top 2nd
MPI: Leadoff man Yamaguchi wals and Kiyotoki follows with a single to right. After Lum strikes out, Yamashiro singles down the right-field line, scoring Yamaguchi from second, MPI 2, STL 0. Nagata follows with a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning. One run, two hits, no errors, one left on. MPI 2, STL 0.
Bot 2nd
STL: Stubblefield grounds to second. White walks and Uchima singles to right, advancing White to second. Atiburcio strikes out for the second out. Romero follows with a soft liner to center for a single, scoring White from second. On the same play, Uchima is thrown out attempting to advance to third base, three outs. One run, two hits, no errors, one left on base. MPI 2, STL 1.
Top 3rd
MPI: Muramaru leads off with a walk, but Bottom flies to right, Shackles pops to shortstop and Igarashi flies to center. No runs, no hits, no errors, one left on. MPI 2, STL 1.
Bot 3rd
STL: Mopas reaches on an error by 2B Yamashiro. Gribbin strikes out. Kuhns singles to left. Yamamoto strikes out and Stubblefield flies out to left. No runs, one hit, one error, two left on base. MPI 2, STL 1.
Top 4th
MPI: Yamaguchi strikes out to start the frame. Kiyotoki grounds out to third. Lum singles to right on a 3-2 pitch, but courtesy runner Hill is thrown out attempting to steal second with Yamashiro at the plate. No runs, one hit, no errors, none left on. MPI 2, STL 1.
Bot 4th
STL: White’s sinking liner to left is speared by LF Igarashi on a diving catch. Uchima strikes out looking on a curve ball. Atiburcio lines out to shortstop. No runs, no hits, no errors, none left on. MPI 2, STL 1.
Top 5th
MPI: Yamashiro singles to right, enter CR Kinel. Nagata flies to right, one out. Muramaru sac bunt advances Kinel to second, two outs. Bottom walks. Shackles lines a single to right, throw by RF White is perfect, but Kinel dives past C Meilleur, who loses the ball on the tag attempt. Kinel scores. One run, two hits, no errors, two left on base. MPI 3, STL 1.
Bot 5th
STL: Romero leads off with a single to center. Mopas lines a double inside the third-base bag for a double, Romero advances to third. Gribbin sacrifice fly to deep right, scoring Romero, Mopas advances to third, MPI 3, STL 2. Kuhns grounds out to shortstop, scoring Mopas from third. Yamamoto bunt attempt, thrown out at first by 3B. Two runs, two hits, no errors, none left on base. MPI 3, STL 3.
Top 6th
MPI: Yamaguchi strikes out and Kiyotoki grounds out to second. Lum singles to right and advances to second on a wild pitch, where he is removed for CR Infante. Yamashiro grounds out to second for the third out. No runs, one hit, no errors, one left on base. MPI 3, STL 3.
Bot 6th
STL: Stubblefield grounds out to shortstop. White grounds out to shortstop. Uchima pops out to short. No runs, no hits, no errors, none left on base. MPI 3, STL 3.
Top 7th
MPI: Nagata leads off with a single to center (3-2 pitch) and Muramaru walks. Bottom flies to right, advancing Nagata to third. Shackles singles to left, scoring Nagata from third, MPI 4, STL 3. Igarashi grounds past the mound for an infield single, scoring Muramaru, MPI 5, STL 3. Yamamoto is relieved by P Anderson. Yamaguchi follows with a grounder to third, but 3B Uchima double pumps on his throw, holds it, then fires wide of home plate (E5), pulling the catcher off as CR Takanishi (in for Shackles) scores, MPI 6, STL 3. Kiyotoki walks to load the bases. Lum grounds out to first, scoring Igarashi from third, two outs, MPI 7, STL 3. Yamashiro grounds out to short, nice play behind second base by SS Romero, three outs. Four runs, three hits, one error, three left on base. MPI 7, STL 3.
Bot 7th
STL: Atiburcio flies out to center. Romero line drive to right, but thrown out at first by RF Nagata. Mopas singles to left. Gribbin singles to right. Kuhns flies out to right in foul ground, three outs. No runs, two hits, no errors, two left on base. MPI 7, STL 3. FINAL.
Go Saints! After 40 years a team of destiny brings home the championship!