Saint Louis players celebrate after defeating Mililani to claim its first Division I state title since 1974. Evan Asato | SL

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St. Louis' Rayson Romero turns a double play from short stop. Evan Asato | SL

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St. Louis players celebrate with the State Championship trophy after winning the 2014 HHSAA State Tournament. Evan Asato | SL

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Jordan Yamamoto reacts after making a hit out to center field to bring home two teammates to the win the game via mercy rule over Mililani, 10-0. Sean Nakamura | SL

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St. Louis' Pono Anderson pitched the complete game for the Crusaders in a 10-0 win over Mililani. Sylvia Lee | SL

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St. Louis teammates acknowledge shortstop Rayson Romero (center) after his double play against Mililani. Sean Nakamura | SL

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Saint Louis' Jordan Yamamoto connected with this pitch for the game ending two-run double against Mililani. Greg Yamamoto | SL

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Before Friday night, the last time Saint Louis School won the state baseball title was two years before Mililani even fielded its first varsity squad in 1976.

The No. 3 Crusaders finally got that elusive crown 40 years later in a resounding 10-0 win against No. 10 Mililani at the Wally Yonamine Foundation Division I championship at Les Murakami Stadium. The game was called with one out in the bottom of the fifth after Jordan Yamamoto's two-run double because of the 10-run mercy rule.

"It seems like it was yesterday," said Saint Louis assistant Vinny Passas, an all-star third baseman for the 1974 Crusaders' team that won the school's first state crown. "But I'm real happy for these young men here They represented our school really well."

"It's special for our school, our fans, our friends, our teachers and our alumni," Saint Louis coach George Gusman said.

The Crusaders (18-6) had lost to top-seeded Mid-Pacific Institute for the ILH championship, but put their disappointment aside and focused on the state tournament.

"Basically, we all wanted the ILH title just as bad as this," Saint Louis senior shortstop Rayson Romero said. "After the tough loss, our coaches told us what we were working for all season….We said we were going to have no regrets. We're going to practice hard to prepare. Thankfully, everything went our way and we pulled this out together."

The Trojans (12-7), who finished third in the O'ahu Interscholastic Association, ousted top seed MPI in the quarterfinals and beat OIA runner-up Kailua in the semifinals to reach the title game for the second consecutive year. Mililani lost to MPI in a tournament that started on Maui and ended on O'ahu because of a rainout on the scheduled day of the championship game on the Valley Isle.

"We came a long way," Mililani coach Mark Hirayama said. "These guys battled. They grew up a lot. We're a young team. They did a tremendous job. They bought in to what we were giving them. I have a lot of respect for these young guys."

It was three years ago that Saint Louis was the top seed and lost to Kailua in the quarterfinals. That team featured future Division I players Kalei Contrades (San Jose State) and Kaeo Aliviado (Hawaii). Romero, then a freshman, had been called up from the JV to be with the varsity.

"We basically were on that team with Kaeo and Kalei and lost that state tournament," said Romero, who will be playing at Sonoma State next year. "We had a goal to get back here at least one more time and thankfully we had a strong group of seniors, 10 guys who committed themselves all summer, all fall. We were working out on our off days and it just paid off."

Pono Anderson, who pitched in the shadow of pro prospect Jordan Yamamoto all season, turned in two five-inning outings of shutout ball. He held Roosevelt to two hits in a 13-0 rout in the tournament opener on Tuesday and allowed four hits over five innings in the championship to beat Mililani. Not only that, he pitched a scoreless inning of relief for a save to beat second-seeded Campbell in Thursday's semifinals.

"After the two games I pitched, it was all adrenaline," Anderson said. "We had to bring it back after 40 years. I was nervous, but we had to work as a team together and my offense produced so I couldn't ask for more."

Anderson pitched to contact, using just 56 pitches. He faced just three batters over the minimum, striking out only one and walking one.

"Mostly, my changeup and two-seam fastball (worked best)," Anderson said. "They were popping up or jamming. My defense had my back 24/7. I'm proud of them."

The Trojans went with right-hander Cole Nakachi, who started the tournament opener against Hilo, pitching five innings with a no-decision. He lasted just one inning against the Crusasders, who pounded out 16 hits against three different pitchers.

"Didn't seem we could get that inside pitch early," Hirayama said. "Kind of threw him off little bit. We don't have the stuff to be out over the plate, so once we couldn't get that inside pitch, we kind of froze up. Again, we have to make adjustments to what the umpire's calling. We just weren't able to do that."

Saint Louis sent nine batters to the plate in a four-run first inning. Jordan Mopas, who hit .636 in the tournament, ignited the inning with a one out double. Ryder Kuhns had an RBI single, Brendan Uchima had a bases-loaded walk and Tanner Atiburcio had a two-run single.

"During the season, I wasn't hitting that good," Mopas said. "After the last postseason game, I practiced a lot of hitting and it just clicked."

The Trojans started the second inning with left-hander Koa Eastlack, who blanked the Crusaders for two innings before he gave up a run in the fourth when Jacob Gribbin led off with a triple and eventually scored on Devan Stubblefield's single.

The Crusaders were able to chase Eastlack in the fifth with three successive singles to load the bases. Micah Chinen came in, but issued a walk to force home a run. After a force at the plate, Kuhns and Jordan Yamamoto followed with back-to-back two-run doubles, the latter ending the game.

Anderson had the two shutout outings and Yamamoto beat Waiakea's Kodi Medeiros, 2-0, in the marquee matchup of prospects. But seldom-used Peyton Oshiro might have been the key. He beat second-seeded Campbell in the semifinals with six strong innings, allowing one run, the only one surrendered by Saint Louis pitching in 25 innings in the tournament.

"It's amazing how everything comes together," Gusman said. "I've watched state tournaments for a long time. There's always somebody who steps up that you're not expecting. I thought yesterday that was Peyton Oshiro. I thought that was the turning point."

It was the first 10-run rule title game since 2010, when Punahou beat Baldwin 13-2. Saint Louis' 18-6 record is the second-most losses by a title team to Punahou's 15-8 in 2009.

Division I All-Tournament Team

Most outstanding player: Jordan Yamamoto, Saint Louis

Pitchers
Pono Anderson, Saint Louis
Peyton Oshiro, Saint Louis
 
Catcher
Dalton Kalama, Kailua
 
Infield
Rayson Romero, Saint Louis
Jordan Mopas, Saint Louis
Tanner Atiburcio, Saint Louis
Brett Uchima, Saint Louis
 
Outfield
Kaimana Souza-Paaluhi, Mililani
Devan Stubblefield, Saint Louis
Peter Kanoho, Kailua
 
Utility
Adam Connell, Mililani
 
Designated Hitter
Ryder Kuhns, Saint Louis