WAILUKU — OIA fourth-place finisher Waipahu (5-11) and BIIF runner-up Hilo (13-5) square off in the second game of the opening round in the Wally Yonamine Foundation/HHSAA Baseball State Championships at Iron Maehara Stadium.
Weather is holding up, as it did during the opening game between Mililani and Kalani. But it is far from ideal. The flags out in left field continue to flap and wave, winds continue to blow up to 25 mph or so, and the sky is dark gray and overcast.
1st
The Marauders go 1-2-3 against Hilo starter Josiah Factora.
Hilo gets a leadoff single by Micah Bello against Waipahu starting pitcher Kobe Russell. He takes off with one out and Josiah Factora at the plate for an apparent stolen base, but Factora is ruled out by interference. Ryan Ragual grounds out to end the inning.
2nd
DH Steven DeSilva leads off the second for Waipahu with a walk, and then Khaine Viliamu and Michael Price walk to load the bases. Factora retires Micah Takayama (pop fly) and Rayson Carriaga (strikeout), but the No. 9 hitter, Blazsen Ferreira, singles to short, scoring DeSilva for the game’s first run. WAIP 1, HIL 0.
Hilo scores in the bottom half. Josh Breitbarth leads off with a single to left and courtesy runner Kahale Huddleston later scores on a single to center by big Nick Anthony. HIL 1, WAIP 1.
3rd
Factora is issuing free passes and the Marauders are cashing in. An infield error by Hilo started the inning, allowing Cole Phillips to reach base, and after Russell singled, DeSilva grounded into a fielder’s choice play. Viliamu walked for the second time, loading the bases for Price.
Price yanked a full-count pitch over the left-field fence for a grand slam. WAIP 5, HIL 0.
After 3 innings pitched, Factora has issued six walks.
Bello gets on base again, reaches second base after tagging up on a tough foul-pop catch by Waipahu 1B Viliamu and goes to third on a groundout. But he’s stranded there when Ryan Ragual grounds to short.
4th
DeSilva reaches base on a two-out single, but gets caught in a rundown on a pickoff play. Some question whether 1B Anthony had the ball in his glove or in his other hand as he applied the tag. They rule the play an out anyway.
Four big runs by the Vikings ties the game at 5. Russell threw four wild pitches and one walk in the inning. Four runs on one hit. HIL 5, WAIP 5.
5th
Hilo has a new pitcher, Brett Komatsu, who is in command, getting VIliamu on a groundout and Price on a strikeout. Takayama hit by pitch with two outs, but Carriaga tries to bunt and grounds out to the pitcher.
Breithbarth leads off for the Vikings with a single up the middle and Austin DaMate-Aiea sac bunts courtesy runner Logan Respicio to second.
6th
Blazsen Ferreira leads off with a single and Russell draws a two-out walk. They advance on a wild pitch, but Komatsu strikes out DeSilva for the third out.
Russell walks Bello with one out, but C Phillips throws Bello out on s steal attempt. He strikes out Jarneski to end the frame.
7th
Villanueva leads off with a ground-rule double to left center. Price bunts and the ball is picked up by C Breitbarth, who throws low to third, permitting pinch runner Brian Breieda to score the go-ahead run. WAIP 6, HIL 5.
Price advances to second on the error. Takayama sac bunts Price to third and Carriaga strikes out. Ferreira sends a pop fly to short center, where 2B Ragual is back peddling and gets turned around. The ball plan out of his glove and Price scores. Tough, tough play with the wind factor. Ruled a hit by the official scorer. 7, HIL 5.
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