Breli-Rylin Agbayani-Shibao comes around to score the game-winning run off Liliana Thomas' walk-off single in the eighth inning. Spencer Honda | SL

Purchase image 1 of 43

Maryknoll second baseman Logan-Ray Gaspar turns the double play off a grounder to third baseman Sydney Kamakaiwi in the top of the eighth inning. Spencer Honda | SL

Purchase image 2 of 43

Spencer Honda | SL

Purchase image 3 of 43

Spencer Honda | SL

Purchase image 4 of 43

Spencer Honda | SL

Purchase image 5 of 43

Spencer Honda | SL

Purchase image 6 of 43

Spencer Honda | SL

Purchase image 7 of 43

Spencer Honda | SL

Purchase image 8 of 43

Spencer Honda | SL

Purchase image 9 of 43

Spencer Honda | SL

Purchase image 10 of 43

Spencer Honda | SL

Purchase image 11 of 43

Spencer Honda | SL

Purchase image 12 of 43

Spencer Honda | SL

Purchase image 13 of 43

Spencer Honda | SL

Purchase image 14 of 43

Spencer Honda | SL

Purchase image 15 of 43

Spencer Honda | SL

Purchase image 16 of 43

Spencer Honda | SL

Purchase image 17 of 43

Spencer Honda | SL

Purchase image 18 of 43

Spencer Honda | SL

Purchase image 19 of 43

Spencer Honda | SL

Purchase image 20 of 43

Spencer Honda | SL

Purchase image 21 of 43

Spencer Honda | SL

Purchase image 22 of 43

Spencer Honda | SL

Purchase image 23 of 43

Spencer Honda | SL

Purchase image 24 of 43

Spencer Honda | SL

Purchase image 25 of 43

Spencer Honda | SL

Purchase image 26 of 43

Spencer Honda | SL

Purchase image 27 of 43

Spencer Honda | SL

Purchase image 28 of 43

Spencer Honda | SL

Purchase image 29 of 43

Spencer Honda | SL

Purchase image 30 of 43

Spencer Honda | SL

Purchase image 31 of 43

Spencer Honda | SL

Purchase image 32 of 43

Spencer Honda | SL

Purchase image 33 of 43

Spencer Honda | SL

Purchase image 34 of 43

Spencer Honda | SL

Purchase image 35 of 43

Spencer Honda | SL

Purchase image 36 of 43

Spencer Honda | SL

Purchase image 37 of 43

Spencer Honda | SL

Purchase image 38 of 43

Spencer Honda | SL

Purchase image 39 of 43

Spencer Honda | SL

Purchase image 40 of 43

Spencer Honda | SL

Purchase image 41 of 43

Spencer Honda | SL

Purchase image 42 of 43

Spartans pitcher Aloha Akaka scattered nine hits but also backed herself up at the plate with two doubles and two RBIs. Spencer Honda | SL Spencer Honda | SL

Purchase image 43 of 43

SAND ISLAND — Liliana Thomas drove in the winning run as No. 6 Maryknoll outlasted Mid-Pacific, 6-5, in eight innings at Sand Island Recreational Park Saturday afternoon.

The Spartans (6-2), who rebounded from a loss to Iolani four days ago, created a four-way tie with the Owls, Raiders and Punahou for first place in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu Division I.

"We knew the ILH will be tough this year. Every team has to play one game at a time and not take anyone lightly," Mid-Pacific coach Aiko Gojo said.

Maryknoll's defense stepped up in the top of the eighth as Keao Takemura led off with a single, but Sydney Kamakaiwi sparked a double play and Aloha Akaka got Lea Hanawahine to ground out to second.

"We have a great defense. Logan (Gaspar) made awesome plays and Sydney (Kamakaiwi) turned that double play that killed Mid-Pacific's momentum," Thomas said.

"That was the biggest momentum changer," Maryknoll coach John Uekawa said of the double play. "We were struggling with man on first. They had their hitters coming up and that double play was instrumental in us winning this game."

Maryknoll second baseman Logan-Ray Gaspar turns the double play off a grounder to third baseman Sydney Kamakaiwi in the top of the eighth inning. Spencer Honda | SL    Purchase image

Aloha Akaka scattered nine hits and struck out and walked one for the win and was 2 for 2 at the plate with two doubles.

"She got back on track and she depends on her defense. Our defense played with some hiccups here or there but played extremely well today," Uekawa said.

Hanawahine struck out Lexi Carlos, but Breli-Rylin Agbayani-Shibao got her single to fall just inside the foul line near third base and later stole second. Hanawahine walked Carys Murakami and Thomas took a 2-2 pitch to centerfield to drive in Agbayani-Shibao to win the game.

"I kept thinking I have to do it for my team. I knew Breli was on second and I was thinking to get the ball into the outfield to have her score," Thomas said of the at bat. "I was nervous but I kept thinking to myself, ‘You have to hit the ball and stay within yourself.'"

Thomas drew three walks and struck out in the fourth inning prior to driving in the winning run.

"I knew where she was pitching to me. I thought to myself, 'I have to stay off the plate because they kept coming inside.' When I saw the inside pitch, I knew what to do with it," Thomas said.

The Owls jumped to an early 3-0 lead as Marissa Nishihara brought Zoe Oshiro in with a single to center. Takemura launched a two-RBI home run and went 3 for 3 at the plate.

"She was huge," Gojo said of Takemura. "Not only hitting but making great stops behind the plate and she called a good game."

Maryknoll answered in the bottom of the first inning as Murakami led off with a triple and scored off of Mahalo Akaka's sacrifice fly.

The Spartans reclaimed the lead in the second inning with four runs of their own. Kaylah Santos took first after the umpire called catcher interference and moved to second on Carlos' sacrifice bunt. Agbayani-Shibao walked then both her and Carlos moved a base on a passed ball. Thomas was walked to load the bases and Mahalo Akaka brought in two runs and her twin Aloha brought in another pair with a double for a 5-3 lead.

"The key to us is to take one inning, one out, one pitch at a time. The three runs were bang-bang. We knew we could battle back," Uekawa said.