Kapolei players celebrate after defeating Pearl City. Tyler Kanoa | Special to SL

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041914_BRI_9685.jpg - Tyler Kanoa | Special to SL

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Ekolu Young's two RBI triple sparked a three-run rally in the top of the seventh for Kapolei, who then got out of a jam in the last of the seventh to pull out a 3-2 win over Pearl City in both teams' regular season finales.

The win by Kapolei (5-7) secured a berth in the OIA Red playoffs, set to begin on April 30.

"Last season we were 0-12, and this game is just a snapshot of what we've done all year. We just keep battling. Five wins, we didn't expect that this year," remarked Kapolei head coach Tom Ebanez. "Sooner or later we had to pull out one of them, we've lost 5 of the last 7 in the later innings. The guys played a heck of a game."

Ty-Noah Williams led off the seventh for the Hurricanes with a single to right, and Jace Barayuga drew a walk to put two runners aboard. That brought Young up to the plate, and the senior infielder delivered in a big way, drilling a pitch to deep center that brought home both Williams and Barayuga standing. Young finished the afternoon 2-for-3 from the plate, with a triple, 2 RBIs and a run scored.

"I was just looking for fastball, and did what I could to hit it, and thank Jesus it went pretty far," said Young of his hit.

"We made a last minute switch in our starting lineup," said Ebanez of Young. "We just put him in there, tried to get a different look, and he came through today."

Two batters later, a Jordan Macias grounder to first allowed Young to come home for the go-ahead run before Pearl City (3-9) got out of the inning on a force out at second.

Then in the last of the seventh, Kapolei (5-7) starter Aizen Kahana struck out pinch hitter Ansin Mostoles swinging for the first out, but surrendered a triple to Shaye Higa to put the tying run in prime scoring position.

Kahana battled back on the next batter, getting Nick Au to strike out swinging for the second out, before a well-hit fly ball was caught on the run by Kaimi Kalaola to end it. Kahana went the distance, allowing 2 runs on 5 hits, striking four and walking five to earn the victory, and added a 2-for-3 day at the plate.

"Aizen has been with us since his sophomore year and he's the only guy I know that can slow down his pace and still come back with a stirke," commented Ebanez. "Not many kids can do that, and it really shows how much he has matured in this game."

A pitcher's duel through five innings featured a triple play by Kapolei in the bottom of the first inning, as Macias snagged a sharp liner, catching Pearl City runners on first and second off-guard. Macias tossed the ball to Jaryn Bulseco who rifled over to Young to retire the side.

The Chargers plated two runs in the bottom of the sixth to break the scoring ice, as Tanner Tokunaga led off the inning with a triple to deep left field, and Jason Komoda walked to put runners on first and third with nobody out.

Davin Kapuras followed a batter later, lacing a 0-1 pitch up the middle, scoring both Tokunaga and Komoda.

Kapolei turned a double play on the next at-bat to end the threat.

Pearl City starter Dane Kaneshiro put in six innings of work, allowing 2 runs on 6 hits before yielding to Chevy Sumile.

"It means a lot to us," said Young of the win. "Aizen pitched a great game, and he helped propel us. Our energy level was so high, and everyone was into it."