The Championship Playoff continues as #5 Waipahu outslugged #4 Mililani 11 to 7 in a battle of undefeated teams in the winner’s bracket of the double elimination 6 team Oahu AJA Baseball League’s Championship Tournament. Mililani took a 4 to 0 lead into the 6th inning behind the pitching of starting pitcher Jaydon Arakawa. Waipahu crept back into the game with 2 runs in the 6th and a run in the 7th to make it a 4 to 3 game. Mililani after scoring 4 runs in the 1st 5 innings was shut out in the 6th & 7th innings. Waipahu broke open the game in the 8th, sending 13 batters to the plate, scoring 8 runs, highlighted by a 3 run homer off the bat of Ritchie Higa into the Ala Wai Canal. Higa had opened the 8th inning doubling down the right field line to eventually score the tying 4th run. Mililani tried to answer back in the bottom of the 8th by scoring 2 runs against Waipahu ace starting pitcher Shaun Kiriu, who pitched 8 innings. Mililani had the tying run on deck when Kiriu closed the door. With the score 11 to 7, Mililani rallied again in the bottom of 9th inning against Waipahu hard throwing Justice Yamashita but with 2 runners on base and the tying run on deck, Yamashita struck out 3 batters to snuff out the rally.
Waipahu as the Game 4 Winner advances to play #1 Waialae (Game 1 Winner) at the Ala Wai 1pm Sunday (March 2, 2025) in a winner’s bracket game (Game 7) while Mililani as the Game 4 Loser moves on to play the Game 6 Winner (TBD) at the Ala Wai 7pm Wednesday (March 5, 2025) in a Loser out elimination game (Game 8).
Mililani AJA 2024-25 Fall Victim To Waipahu AJA 2024-25 Rally
By GameChanger Media
Despite leading by as many as four runs, Mililani AJA 2024-25 fell to Waipahu AJA 2024-25 11-7 on Wednesday at Ala Wai.
Zaine Gushiken collected three hits in five at bats in the loss. Gushiken doubled in the fourth inning, singled in the eighth inning, and singled in the ninth inning.
Mililani AJA 2024-25 got on the board in the third inning after BJ Suehisa doubled, scoring one run.
Waipahu AJA 2024-25 flipped the game on its head in the top of the eighth, scoring eight runs on seven hits to take the lead, 11-4. The biggest blow in the inning was a home run to right field by Ritchie Higa that drove in three.
Jaydon Arakawa stepped on the mound first for Mililani AJA 2024-25. The pitcher gave up seven hits and three runs (one earned) over seven innings, striking out six and walking three. Shaun Kiriu started the game for Waipahu AJA 2024-25. The starter allowed 10 hits and seven runs over eight innings, striking out seven and walking three.
Mililani AJA 2024-25 collected 12 hits in the game. Ryne Yamashiro, Suehisa, and Gushiken each drove in two runs for Mililani AJA 2024-25. Matt Matsuda collected two hits for Mililani AJA 2024-25 in three at bats. Mililani AJA 2024-25 turned two double plays in the game.
Waipahu AJA 2024-25 amassed 14 hits in the game. Skyler Yamamoto, Chevas Numata, Revan Wong, Justin Protacio, and Higa each collected two hits for Waipahu AJA 2024-25. Higa led Waipahu AJA 2024-25 with three runs batted in. The third baseman went 2-for-2 on the day. Waipahu AJA 2024-25 had a strong eye at the plate, accumulating six walks for the game. Derek Costigan and Logan Salcedo led the team with two walks each. Waipahu AJA 2024-25 turned one double play in the game.
Copyright © 2025 GameChanger Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Any reuse or republication of this story must include the preceding attribution and is subject to the Dick’s Sporting Goods, Inc. Terms of Use, License Agreement, and Privacy Policy.
