#1 Waialae beat #4 Mililani 10 to 9 in a thrilling heart tugging back & forth come-back win in Game 9 of the Oahu AJA Baseball League Championship Tournament on a cold and windy Thursday (3/6/25) night at the Ala Wai in a battle of once defeated teams in the Tournament. Mililani advanced to this game by defeating Manoa 14 to 2 on Wednesday (3/5/25) at the Ala Wai, finally beating their tournament nemesis, having lost to them in the past two years of Tournament play. Waialae dropped into this Loser’s bracket game having lost earlier to Waipahu 5 to 1.
Both teams’ fielders battled the strong winds that made flyballs and line drives adventures. Waialae was led by gutsy starting pitcher Gavin Okada, who battled cramps and the relentless Mililani batters for a complete 8 inning 142 pitch performance. Mililani opened the contest by immediately scoring 2 runs in the 1st inning as Waialae committed an uncharacteristic 2 errors on the 1st two batters. Okada settled down to shut Mililani down until the 7th inning. Meanwhile, Waialae responded by scoring 3 runs in the bottom of the 1st inning and continued scoring, adding 2 in the 3rd, then 1 in the 6th, taking a comfortable 6 to 2 lead into the 7th inning against Mililani starting pitcher Jaydon Arakawa. Mililani exploded for 4 runs in the 7th, highlighted by Ryne Yamashiro’s hustling 2 rbi triple and daring baserunning by Chase Wago to score on an errant throw to come back and tie the game at 6 to 6 as the crowd erupted. Waialae answered in the bottom of the 7th to swing the momentum back to their side as David Chu scored the go ahead run on a slide to beat the throw at home plate on a double into the gap by Braydon Mitsunami. However with 2 outs and no one on base in the top of the 8th inning, Mililani rallied on an error, walk then rbi single by Ryne Yamashiro that seemingly tied the game, only to have the ball roll past the left fielder as the crowd oohd while Yamashiro again hustled all the way around the bases to beat the throw home for Mililani to take a 9 to 7 lead into the bottom of the 8th inning. With the 2 1/2 hour time limit nearing, Waialae showed their grit by once again rallying. Leadoff batter Dray Ito patiently worked the count to earn a walk without swinging the bat. Jordan Kurokawa swinging on every pitch, singled to center. Okada exhibited patience and walked on 4 pitches. With the bases loaded, left hand hitting Kyle Watase singled on the 1st pitch from lefthander Jayon Arakawa to drive in Ito and move all the baserunners one base over. Mililani changed pitchers, inserting CJ Ibara for Arakawa. Pinch-runner Kysen Silva was inserted by Waialae to pinch-run for Okada on 2nd base. With the bases loaded, no outs and Mark Okano batting, Ibara immediately uncorked a wild pitch on his 1st pitch, allowing Kurokawa to score the tying 9th run. With the count 3 balls and 1 strike, Ibara cut loose another wild pitch to allow Silva to score the 10th and eventual winning run as the time limit expired and the game ended.
Waialae was led by Kyle Watase with 3 hits and 2rbi while Jordan Kurokawa also had 3 hits. Davin Morita chipped in with 2 hits and 2 rbi.
Mililani was led by Ryne Yamashiro with 3 hits and 3 rbi while Landon Hakkei also had 3 hits and 2 rbi. Chase Wago chipped in with 2 hits. Mililani is ELIMINATED from the Tournament with 2 losses.
#1 Waialae remains in contention in this double elimination Tournament and as the winner of Game 9, advances to Game 10 (possible Championship Game) on Sunday (3/9/25) 10am at the Ala Wai against #5 Waipahu, who is undefeated in the Tournament. If Waipahu WINS, Waipahu wins the 2024-25 Oahu AJA Baseball League Championship.
Otherwise, if the Waialae beats Waipahu in Game 10, then another game (“IF NECESSARY” Game 11 @1pm) between Waipahu and Waialae will be played to determine the 2024-25 Oahu AJA Baseball League Champion.
Waialae AJA 2024-25 Cling To Victory As Mililani AJA 2024-25 Nearly Erase 4-Run Deficit
By GameChanger Media
Despite seeing their 4-run lead whittled down by the end, Waialae AJA 2024-25 still held off for a 10-9 victory on Thursday. Mililani AJA 2024-25 closed the gap by scoring on a triple, a sacrifice fly, an error, and a single.
Both offenses were strong at the plate as Waialae AJA 2024-25 collected 11 hits and Mililani AJA 2024-25 10 in the high-scoring affair.
Mililani AJA 2024-25 got on the board in the top of the first inning after Landon Hakkei grounded out, and CJ Ibara doubled to center field, each scoring one run.
Waialae AJA 2024-25 captured the lead, 3-2, in the bottom of the first after Kyle Watase was struck by a pitch, Mark Okano grounded into a double play, and Davin Morita singled to the right side of the infield, each scoring one run.
Waialae AJA 2024-25 added to their early lead in the bottom of the third inning after Morita singled down the right field line, and Braydon Mitsunami grounded into a fielder’s choice, each scoring one run.
Mililani AJA 2024-25 tied the game in the top of the seventh thanks to a triple by Ryne Yamashiro, a sacrifice fly by Hakkei, and an error.
A double by Mitsunami gave Waialae AJA 2024-25 the lead, 7-6, in the bottom of the seventh.
Mililani AJA 2024-25 took the lead in the top of the eighth. Yamashiro singled, scoring three runs, to give Mililani AJA 2024-25 the advantage, 9-7.
Waialae AJA 2024-25 tied the game in the bottom of the eighth thanks to a single by Watase, and a walk by Okano.
Gavin Okada led things off on the mound for Waialae AJA 2024-25. The pitcher gave up 10 hits and nine runs (three earned) over eight innings, striking out six and walking four. Jaydon Arakawa led things off on the mound for Mililani AJA 2024-25. The starting pitcher allowed 11 hits and 10 runs (nine earned) over seven innings, striking out three and walking five.
Waialae AJA 2024-25 accumulated 11 hits in the game. Watase and Jordan Kurokawa each collected three hits for Waialae AJA 2024-25. Watase and Morita each drove in two runs for Waialae AJA 2024-25. Waialae AJA 2024-25 had patience at the plate, collecting six walks for the game. Drayson Ito and Okano led the team with two bases on balls each.
Mililani AJA 2024-25 tallied 10 hits in the game. Hakkei and Yamashiro each collected three hits for Mililani AJA 2024-25. Yamashiro led Mililani AJA 2024-25 with three runs batted in. The third baseman went 3-for-4 on the day. Chase Wago collected two hits for Mililani AJA 2024-25 in three at bats. Mililani 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.
Ryne Yamashiro Has Lots Of Hits But Mililani AJA 2024-25 Fall To Waialae AJA 2024-25
By GameChanger Media
Ryne Yamashiro collected three hits in four at bats, but Mililani AJA 2024-25 lost to Waialae AJA 2024-25 10-9 on Thursday at Ala Wai. Yamashiro tripled in the seventh inning, singled in the eighth inning, and singled in the fifth inning.
Despite the loss, Mililani AJA 2024-25 did collect 10 hits in the high-scoring affair. Unfortunately, Waialae AJA 2024-25 had 11 hits on the way to victory.
Mililani AJA 2024-25 got on the board in the top of the first inning after Landon Hakkei grounded out, and CJ Ibara doubled to center field, each scoring one run.
Waialae AJA 2024-25 captured the lead, 3-2, in the bottom of the first after Kyle Watase was struck by a pitch, Mark Okano grounded into a double play, and Davin Morita singled to the right side of the infield, each scoring one run.
Waialae AJA 2024-25 added to their early lead in the bottom of the third inning after Morita singled down the right field line, and Braydon Mitsunami grounded into a fielder’s choice, each scoring one run.
Mililani AJA 2024-25 tied the game in the top of the seventh thanks to a triple by Yamashiro, a sacrifice fly by Hakkei, and an error.
A double by Mitsunami gave Waialae AJA 2024-25 the lead, 7-6, in the bottom of the seventh.
Mililani AJA 2024-25 took the lead in the top of the eighth. Yamashiro singled, scoring three runs, to give Mililani AJA 2024-25 the leg up, 9-7.
Waialae AJA 2024-25 tied the game in the bottom of the eighth thanks to a single by Watase, and a walk by Okano.
Jaydon Arakawa stepped on the mound first for Mililani AJA 2024-25. The starter gave up 11 hits and 10 runs (nine earned) over seven innings, striking out three and walking five. Gavin Okada stepped on the hill first for Waialae AJA 2024-25. The pitcher allowed 10 hits and nine runs (three earned) over eight innings, striking out six and walking four.
Mililani AJA 2024-25 accumulated 10 hits in the game. Yamashiro and Hakkei each collected three hits for Mililani AJA 2024-25. Chase Wago collected two hits for Mililani AJA 2024-25 in three at bats. Mililani AJA 2024-25 turned one double play in the game.
Waialae AJA 2024-25 accumulated 11 hits in the game. Watase and Jordan Kurokawa each collected three hits for Waialae AJA 2024-25. Morita and Watase each drove in two runs for Waialae AJA 2024-25. Waialae AJA 2024-25 had patience at the plate, amassing six walks for the game. Drayson Ito and Okano led the team with two free passes each.
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.
