Shea Shimabukuro was a freshman reserve when Kauai won its first state title in 2008. This time, the senior right-hander was on center stage to help the Red Raiders beat Pac-Five, 11-2, Saturday night to capture the Wally Yonamine Foundation Division II state baseball tournament crown.

"It feels so great," Shimabukuro said. "To go 3-0 and to be on the field this time is a great feeling."

The Red Raiders (12-4-1) won the inaugural D2 crown. Last year, Waimea won the title, giving the Kauai Interscholastic Federation three crowns in four years. Maryknoll beat Kauai in 2009, meaning the Garden Isle has been represented in every D2 title game.

"The whole thing, it's good for our program, to keep the trophy on Kauai," Kauai coach Hank Ibia said.

Shimabukuro scattered five hits, allowing two runs, one unearned, and striking out three. He said his changeup was working well against the Wolfpack (11-6).

"He did a good job against us," Pac-Five coach Dennis Fukunaga said. "We're a fastball-hitting team. But there's no excuse. We needed to adjust."

For both teams, it was their second game of the day. Because of the rain, their semifinals Friday were postponed until Saturday morning. The twin bill was nothing new to the Red Raiders.

"We do it every Saturdays," Ibia said of the KIF's doubleheaders during the regular season. "So we're used to the doubleheaders.

"Yesterday's rainout was a blessing for us. We came here early, played two games. It worked out fine for us."

Erin Doi was 2 for 4 with three RBI to lead the Red Raiders. Jensen Koga, Austin Oshiro and Travis Koga each drove in two runs.

Kauai wasted little time supporting Shimabukuro by scoring three in the first inning off Pac-Five starter Jordan Kumasaka.

Kellen Aquino led off with a walk and an out later, moved to second when Jensen Koga grounded out to the pitcher. Aquino scored on a line single by Oshiro, who scored on a double to left by Doi to make it 3-0.

Kauai added two in the third, cashing in two walks on Travis Koga's two-run double.

The Red Raiders blew the game open with a four-run fourth, scoring on bases-loaded walks to Jensen Koga and Oshiro and a two-run single by Doi.

Pac-Five finally got to Shimabukuro in the fourth. Ryan Ueunten tripled to right-center and scored when Jordan Morimoto grounded out to short. Royce Fujii reached on an error, stole second and went to third when Chris Sekiguchi reached on an error to put runners at the corners. Bryson Kihara's sacrifice fly to left made it 9-2.

The Red Raiders added two in the seventh on RBI singles from Aquino and Jensen Koga.

The muddy mound seemed to affect the Wolfpack pitchers, who had an uncharacteristic seven walks.

"We're a little more consistent than that," Fukunaga said. "But they (the Red Raiders) went on the same mound, too, so no excuse there."

Kauai has six seniors, four who started in the title game, so it could be back next year. But for Pac-Five, it might be harder. Fukunaga said his athletic director told him Pac-Five might move to D1 in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu so that the league gets three berths for the D1 tournament.

"If they ask me where I want to be, I would say, 'D2,'" Fukunaga said. "But you have to do what's best for the ILH."


Division II All-Tournament Team

as selected by HHSAA staff

1B - Travis Koga, Kauai
2B - Ehukai Rawlins, Molokai
3B - Erin Doi, Kauai
SS - Reyn Sugai, Pac-Five
OF - Kellen Abe, Pac-Five
OF - Kellen Aquino, Kauai
OF - Ryan Ueunten, Pac-Five
C - Austin Oshiro, Kauai
P - Shea Shimabukuro, Kauai
P - Jensen Koga, Kauai
Util - David Rapanot, Molokai

Most Valuable Player - Shea Shimabukuro, Kauai