The Damien Monarchs refused to surrender, and with a stunning 7-6 win over No. 6 Kamehameha on Friday afternoon, they’ve kept hopes for a regular-season Division II title alive.
Pinch hitter Milton Gainey III came through with a single to the left-center gap, scoring Mana Cameron with the winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Damien’s chances? It’s a long shot. Damien is now 7-5 in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu with one game left in the regular season — against ‘Iolani on Monday at Goeas Field.
St. Francis is 7-4 with games against Kamehameha (Saturday) and Pac-Five (Monday). If the teams finish tied atop the D-II standings, a tiebreaker game will follow.
Sophomore Braden Joines was solid in his first start. Damien was ahead 5-4 in the sixth inning when he left.
“He was awesome. He threw his curve over for strikes,” Monarchs coach Timo Donahue said. “He has no fear.”
For now, the Monarchs are riding momentum. They took advantage of three infield errors by Kamehameha to score five runs in the third inning and seize a 5-1 lead.
Kamehameha already had run-scoring singles from Chaesten Chon and Li’i Pontes when Jonny Shimabukuro smacked a two-run single to left off new pitcher Kaysen Kajiwara to give the Warriors a 6-5 lead.
Joines’ sweeping curve ball was effective enough. He allowed eight hits, struck out three, walked four and hit one batter.
Kamaha’o Arita, in relief of Christian DeJesus, was superb. The right-hander hurled 3 1/3 scoreless innings, permitting just one hit with three strikeouts and one walk.
However, Arita left before the seventh inning. He had thrown 45 pitches.
“I think my coaches might pitch me tomorrow,” he said.
Kapono Rawlins gave up singles to Jordan Donahue and Cameron, and Donahue advanced to third base when center fielder Josiah Pekelo fumbled the ball.
Kamalu Tuasivi then took the mound. Kamakani Motas laid down a perfect bunt on the first base side of the mound for a single, scoring Donahue to tie the game. Tuasivi struck out Pomai Kim, but Gainey, a pitcher, showed the value of his offseason with as a hitter.
“He worked on his hitting since last fall,” Donahue said.
Watch out,
the Kamehameha admin might fire this coach after Damien ‘s upset of Warriors..
Coaches don’t play. They got beat
Way to go Damien! Div II schools can play some ball. Still a way to go to compete on a daily basis with the big boys, but some of the Div II programs are on the rise. Ball players need to take a look at these schools…more playing time in a smaller community of students.
This is ️baseball, a good pitching performance, some errors, timely hitting, any team can win. Just ask Mid Pacific, lost to two different Saints. Damien, got good coaching too.
They beat themselves with 6 errors but thats baseball. Gotta give Damien credit they put the ball in play and forced the action.
All these schools were in the same division before this “everyone is a winner” generation came along….The schools were the same size back then as they are now…..this is only a big deal to people who can’t see the bigger picture….
That none of this will matter in a couple of months…
I hate the everyone is a winner thing, but you gotta play the hand your dealt. No doubt Damien got some help, and in baseball more than other sports, even the best teams lose some games. I am trying to get parents to see that you don’t have to send your son or daughter to the big 5 ILH schools, especially if they are fringe players or late bloomers. There are options, and I see the story every year…kid is an all-star at 12-13 years old, then gets to the big pond, sits on the bench, then quits playing. If it is about education, then more power to them, but if they are looking to play, Pac 5, Damien, St Francis, as well as other small schools are real options.