The Oahu AJA Baseball League Championship Tournament kicked off an exciting historic Tournament Sunday with all 3 games decided by 1 run, showcasing the balance of strength throughout the entire League. The 1st game was won with one out in the bottom of the 10th inning. The day’s 2nd game had the home team’s rally in the bottom of the 9th inning end with the tying run on base, after scoring one run. The day’s final game featured a two out 2 run double in the top of the 9th inning to drive in the tying and winning runs.
In the Tournament’s 1st game (Game 1) on Sunday, #1 Waialae came back to beat #6 Kaneohe 5 to 4 in 10 innings. Kaneohe took an early 3 – 0 lead after 3 and 1/2 innings before Waialae stormed back with 4 runs in the 4th inning against starting pitcher Seamus Yoneshige who pitched 6 valiant innings, relieved by Mark Ikenaga who pitched shutout ball the rest of the game until the 10th. Waialae’s starting pitcher Gavin Okada pitched 6 strong innings with Jeremy Delacruz pitching the 7th and 8th innings and Jordan Kurokawa shutting down Kaneohe in the 9th and 10 innings. Kaneohe had rallied to score the tying run against Delacruz in the 8th inning. With the score tied 4 to 4 in the 10th inning, “ghost” runners were inserted on 2nd base to start the inning. Kaneohe failed to score in their top of the 10th. In the bottom of the 10th, after getting their initial “ghost” runner Jordan Murai thrown out at home plate, Waialae’s Dray Ito scored the winning run on a one out bases loaded fielder’s choice line drive ground ball by Kyle Watase. Kaneohe scored 4 runs on 10 hits, stranding 11. Waialae scored 5 runs on 9 hits, leaving 5 baserunners.
In the single game at Central Oahu Regional Park (CORP), #4 Mililani held on to edge out #3 Sheridan 8 to 7 in Game 2. Mililani pitcher Zach Gushiken pitched a 9 inning complete game for the win, giving up 7 runs on 9 hits and 6 walks/bit-by-pitch, striking out 6. The game featured back and forth scoring as Mililani scored 1 run in the top of the 1st while Sheridan countered with 1 run in the bottom of the 1st. Sheridan continued its scoring with 4 runs in the 2nd to take a 5 to 1 lead as Jarred Yara homered deep to left for 3 runs. Mililani responded with 3 runs in the 3rd and 2 runs in the 4th to take a 6 to 5 lead. Sheridan tied the game at 6 to 6 with 1 run in the 4th. Mililani’s Landon Hakkei homered to left to open the top of the 5th inning, giving Mililani a 7 to 6 lead. Mililani scored an insurance run in the 7th inning, stretching their lead to 8 to 6. After being shut out from the 5th through the 8th inning. Sheridan mounted a 9th inning rally, as Dylan Sugimoto singled to open the 9th inning, eventually scoring on a base hit by Brandon Roberts with 1 out to make the score 8 to 7. The game and rally ended as Sheridan could not advance a runner past 1st base. Sheridan starting pitcher Bronson Ichimura gave up 7 runs on 6 hits in 5 innings while Sheridan’s Joey Maekawa pitched the final 4 innings, giving up 1 run on 2 hits.
The day’s last game (Game 3) featured the heroics of Skyler Yamamoto’s batting and pitching as #5 Waipahu rallied to score 2 runs with 2 outs in the top of the ninth inning to defeat #2 Manoa 4 to 3. Waipahu’s Justin Protacio doubled to start the 9th inning and with 1 out Waipahu’s Chevas Numata was intentionally walked (his 2nd intentional walk of the game). With 2 outs, Yamamoto doubled to centerfield, driving in Protacio and Numata who hustled to score the winning run from 1st base. Yamamoto shut out Manoa for the final 3 innings, including getting out of a one out runners on 1st and 3rd situation in the bottom of the 9th inning by inducing a game ending double play. Manoa had jumped out to a 3 to 0 lead after 6 innings against Waipahu starting pitcher Justice Yamashita. Manoa starting pitcher Reece Kiriu pitched 6 scoreless innings, tiring in the 7th to allow 2 runs. Kiriu scattered 8 hits while stranding 8 base runners. Manoa’s Ryan Ancheta pitched the final 2 innings. Manoa scored 3 runs on 6 hits while stranding 10 runners. Waipahu scored 4 runs on 11 hits, leaving 12 runners on base.
The Tournament continues ith a Winner’s bracket game (Game 4) on Wednesday (2/26) 7pm @Ala Wai between #4 Mililani (Game 2 Winner) and #5 Waipahu (Game 3 Winner) with the Winner advancing to play #1 Waialae (Game 1 Winner) on Sunday (3/2) 1pm @Ala Wai (Game 7).
On Thursday (2/26) 7pm @Ala Wai, in a Loser’s bracket game (Game 5), #2 Manoa (Game 3 Loser) will play #6 Kaneohe (Game 1 Loser) in a Loser’s bracket game with the Loser becoming the First team Eliminated from the Tournament. The Winner will advance to play #3 Sheridan (Game 2 Loser) on Sunday (3/2) 10am @Ala Wai (Game 6) with the Loser becoming the 2nd Team Eliminated from the Tournament.