58th state baseball tournament opens Wednesday


An all-Oahu Interscholastic Association matchup opens the 58th Wally Yonamine Foundation Division I state baseball tournament Wednesday at Iron Maehara Stadium in Wailuku, Maui.

Eastern Division champion Kalani, runner-up in the OIA, will play Western Division power Mililani, the OIA's sixth seed, at 10:45 a.m. It doesn't get easier for the winner, which plays top-seeded Mid-Pacific Institute, the Interscholastic League of Honolulu champion in Thursday's quarterfinal.

Big Island runner-up Hilo will play the surprise of the postseason, Waipahu, at 1:30 p.m. The Marauders (5-11) were the Western Division's sixth seed in the 12-team OIA tournament yet finished fourth overall to earn a state berth. The winner faces second seed Baldwin, the Maui Interscholastic League champion, in the quarterfinals.

Defending state champion Campbell, the OIA's fifth seed, will play ILH runner-up Punahou at 4:15 p.m. The Sabers return despite the loss of all their starters to graduation. The winner plays third seed and OIA champion Kailua in Thursday's quarterfinals.

At 7 p.m., Maui, the MIL runner-up, against Pearl City, the OIA's third seed. The Chargers won the Western Division at 12-0 before falling in the semifinals to eventual OIA champion Kailua. The winner advances to the quarterfinals against fourth-seed Waiakea.

State Tournament Capsules

No. 1 seed Mid-Pacific Institute

Record: 16-4, ILH champion

Coach: Dunn Muramaru (40th season, 30th at MPI, 535-244-4)

State history: 20th appearance (48-15 overall, 38-15 championship bracket, 5 titles (1990, 1991, 1992, 2002, 2013)). Quarterfinals: 14-5.

No. 2 seed Baldwin Bears

Record:  14-0, MIL champion

Coach: Jon Viela (10th season, 132-31)

State history:  41st appearance (53-60-1 overall, 34-37 championship bracket, 4 titles (1959, 1960, 1984, 1995)). Quarterfinals: 18-19.

No. 3 seed Kailua Surfriders

Record: 12-3, OIA champion

Coach: Corey Ishigo (18th season, 226-73-1)

State history: 27th appearance (41-32 overall, 30-22 championship bracket, 4 titles (1965, 1967, 1969, 2001)). Quarterfinals: 11-6.

No. 4 seed Waiakea Warriors

Record: 15-2, BIIF champion

Coach: Rory Inouye (2nd season, 24-7)

State history: 32nd appearance (29-52 overall, 14-31 in championship bracket, 1 title (2012)). Quarterfinals:  7-16.

First-round, May 4

10:45 a.m.

Kalani Falcons

Record: 12-3, OIA 2nd

Coach: Shannon Hirai (20th season, 136-127)

State history: 8th appearance (8-10 overall, 5-6 in championship bracket, 1 title (1970)). First round: 1-3.

Mililani Trojans

Record: 10-5, OIA 6th

Coach: Mark Hirayama (8th season, 86-54-1)

State history:  20th appearance (26-30-1 overall, 16-19 championship bracket). First round: 10-7.

1:30 p.m.

Waipahu Marauders

Record: 5-11, OIA 4th

Coach: Jared Abreu (3rd season, 16-27-1)

State history: 16th appearance (14-22 overall, 10-15 championship bracket.). First round: 1-1

Hilo Vikings

Record: 12-5, BIIF 2nd

Coach: Tony DeSa (6th season, 71-31-1)

State history: 39th appearance (41-60-1 overall, 20-38 championship bracket, 1 title (1985)). First round: 5-8.

4:15 p.m. 

Punahou Buffanblu

Record: 12-9, ILH 2nd

Coach: Keenan Sue (2nd season, 17-19)

State history:  25th appearance (60-14 overall, 56-11 championship bracket, 13 titles (1961, 1964, 1966, 1968, 1972, 1989, 2004, 2005 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010)). First round: 8-2.

Campbell Sabers

Record: 10-6, OIA 5th

Coach: Rory Pico (13th season, 124-68)

State history:  12th appearance (15-14 overall, 12-9 championship bracket, 2 titles (1978, 2015)). First round: 3-3.

7 p.m.

Pearl City Chargers

Record: 14-1, OIA 3rd

Coach: Gavin Concepcion (2nd season, 24-9)

State history:  23rd appearance (32-29-4 overall, 18-21 championship bracket, 1 title (2011)). First round: 8-7.

Maui Sabers

Record: 14-4, MIL 2nd

Coach: Chase Corniel (4th season, 45-21)

State history: 26th appearance (28-41-1 overall, 9-25 championship bracket, 1 title (1982). First round: 2-11.

 



Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at [email protected].