WAILUKU — The Sabers are a year removed from a snow-cap, peak-level dynastic force that won the state tournament. But this year’s team has made a strong run into the post-season. ILH runner-up Punahou is ranked fourth in the Star-Advertiser Top 10. Campbell is unranked. But are the Sabers being overlooked?
1st
Shane Shimizu led off with a single to left, but the Sabers didn’t get into scoring position against Punahou starting pitcher Noah Goss.
Punahou went 1-2-3 in the bottom half.
2nd
Goss gives up a single to Bronson Burr, but Punahou turns a 4-6-3 double play with help via an illegal slide call at second base.
Punahou puts two runners in scoring position, but comes up empty.
3rd
One-out single by Kainoa Ganancial, but again Goss leaves the runner at first.
Despite two errors and a wild pitch, the Sabers escape damage in the bottom half.
4th
Campbell ends the scoring drought. Jordan Macias leads off with an infield single and Roy Clemons reaches base when Goss fields his bunt but throws off-target to second base on a forceout attempt.
With two outs, Todd Takayama singles to center, scoring Macias and pinch runner Kai Kaaiakamanu. CAM 2, PUN 0.
5th
Ganancial led off with a single to left and reached third base, but with two outs, Macias was walked intentionally and thrown out attempting to steal second.
Punahou ties the game with two runs in the bottom half. Asa Kurasaki leads off with a double to left, reaches third base on a wild pitch and scores on Cole Cabrera’s sac fly to left. CAM 2, PUN 1.
Goss singles to right and scores on a double to left by Easton Takamoto. The ball came off the bat like a cannon, and LF Charles Monell wasn’t able to read the brisk wind carrying the ball toward the foul line. That ties the game. PUN 2, CAM 2.
Noah Loughlin walks and that’s it for Campbell starter Nicholas Sampson, a sophomore. Ayzek (pronounced like Isaac) Silva takes over. Tall, lanky lefty. He gets Andrew Matsueda to ground into a forceout to end the frame.
6th
Campbell goes 1-2-3 in the top half.
Kurasaki walks with two outs and Kai Terada-Herzer singles, but Silva gets Cabrera to pop out to second.
7th
Takahama leads off with a single to left. Pinch runner is Darien Robinson. Sampson lays down a sac bunt attempt, but 1B Takamoto spins and rifles to second, forcing out Robinson. Nice play. But Goss walks Kainoa Ganancial, runners on second and first. That’s it for Goss on the mound. Relief specialist Riley Guieb is warming up.
Shane Shimizu at the plate. Guieb’s first pitch, a ball. He almost stumbles. Fixes the puka on the mound. Throws a fastball on the outside edge for a strike, then a sharp curve for a strike. Then a pitch that fades outside-in for a called third strike. WOH.
Pinch hitter Dylan Ramon at the plate. 0-1 pitch is in the dirt. Logan Williams hustles after it and Campbell base runner Sampson takes off from second to third. Williams’ throw is off and sails into left field. Sampson gets up and races home. The throw is slightly off from LF Cabrera and Sampson scores. CAM 3, PUN 2.
Kainoa Ganancial advances to third base on the play. Guieb gets Ramon to ground out to third to end the inning.
Punahou down to its last out. Loughlin singles to center, but Matsueda pops out to end the game.
Campbell advances with an upset win over the Buffanblu, with a sophomore (Sampson) and a freshman (Silva) leading the way.
COMMENTS