Saint Louis' Jordan Mopas was 2-for-3 at the plate, including a double, RBI, a stolen base and two runs scored in the Crusaders' 10-0 win over Mililani in Friday's title game. Evan Asato | SL

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Male Athlete of the Week: Jordan Mopas, Saint Louis baseball
Jordan Mopas had been a keystone for the Saint Louis baseball team all season, but the senior first baseman took things up a level for last week's state tournament.

The Crusaders played spectacular defense (one error) and got superb pitching (one run allowed) to win four games in as many days and lay claim to their second state baseball championship in school history and first since 1974.

Mopas provided steady play at first and simply went on a tear on offense. He batted an astronomical .636 and was named to the All-Tournament Team.

"Personally, I think he was capable of that," Saint Louis coach George Gusman said. "He can be that good hitting-wise, but it was a process for him. During the (Interscholastic League of Honolulu) tournament, you could see it start to turn around. He hit well during the year, but he started to pick it up a notch then and fortunately he carried it through the state tournament."

In a 13-0 first-round win over Roosevelt Tuesday, Mopas went 2 for 2 with a double, RBI and two runs scored. A day later, Mopas singled and walked in a 2-0 quarterfinal victory over Waiakea. He followed that up with a 2-for-3 effort in a 3-1 semifinal win over Campbell Thursday, that included two doubles, a walk, two RBIs and a run scored before completing the tournament with a 2-for-3 day, including a double, RBI, a stolen base and two runs scored in the Crusaders' 10-0 win over Mililani in Friday's title game.

"He ended up being our leading hitter from the regular season through the ILH and state tournaments," Gusman said of Mopas, who batted .430 for the year. "He can do a lot of things: bunt, push bunt, slash — so he was the perfect guy in that number two spot. He can hit, run, the whole bit."

Mopas wasn't always the Crusaders' second hitter. In fact, he wasn't even at first base until just before the start of the regular season.

"Jordan was playing second base, but he was having some throwing issues, so we looked at some other options and three days before the start of the season we made this major move," Gusman recalled. "He had never played first base before so I was concerned because here's a guy with a middle infielder's glove playing first base, but he worked at it, continued to improve and didn't look back after that. I thought that Jordan played flawlessly."

According to Gusman, Mopas made just two throwing errors all season. It was a big turnaround from his time at second base during the preseason.

"I think earlier in the year when we had him at second base, his defensive probably affected his offense," Gusman said. "Once we moved him to first base, those things slowly started to go away."

Mopas ended the year on a 13-game hitting streak and hit safely in 18 of the Crusaders' final 19 games. In 79 at-bats this year, he had 34 hits — including eight doubles and one triple — with nine RBIs and 16 runs scored. He also drew 10 walks and stole four bases.

Mopas, one of two captains for Saint Louis this season, has yet to decide where he will attend school next year. He is weighing a pending offer from Hawaii Pacific or may attend a junior college in California.

BASEBALL
Dominic Albalos, Radford — Batted 2 for 3 in a 14-1 loss to Maryknoll Wednesday

Jayvin Alcantra, Aiea — Batted 3 for 4 with a double and a run scored in a 5-4 loss to Kailua Tuesday

Kahanu Alcon, Molokai — Batted 2 for 4 in a 9-2 win over Hawaii Prep Friday

Pono Anderson, Saint Louis — Threw five scoreless innings in a 13-0 win over Roosevelt Tuesday, struck out two in one inning to get the save in a 3-1 win over Campbell Thursday and threw a five-inning two-hitter in a 10-0 win over Mililani Friday

Jedd Andrade, Maryknoll — Batted 3 for 5 with a double and two runs scored in a 12-3 win over Kauai Thursday

Blayze Arcano-Llacuna, Campbell — Batted 2 for 3 in a 9-0 win over Kaiser Wednesday

Tanner Atiburcio, Saint Louis — Batted 3 for 3 with two RBIs and a run scored in a 10-0 win over Mililani Friday

Phillip Aylward, Maryknoll — Batted 3 for 4 with a double, two RBIs and a run scored in a 12-3 win over Kauai Thursday

Isaiah Banasan, Hilo — Batted 3 for 5 with a run scored in a 5-4 loss to Mililani Tuesday and tripled and drove in three runs in a 9-5 win over Roosevelt Friday

Jeshua Bitanga, Kaiser — Batted 2 for 3 with two doubles, an RBI and a run scored in an 8-3 win over Maui Tuesday and batted 2 for 3 with a triple, double, walk and two runs scored in an 8-4 win over Waiakea Thursday

Triston Bukoski, Kauai — Batted 2 for 3 with an RBI in a 12-3 loss to Maryknoll Thursday

Daylen Calicdan, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Batted 2 for 3 with a double, four RBIs and a run scored in a 12-2 win over Waianae Thursday

Matt Camacho, Waiakea — Batted 2 for 4 with a triple in an 8-4 loss to Kaiser Thursday

Kobi Candaroma, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Doubled, drove in three runs and allowed two runs on four hits in five innings pitched in a 12-2 win over Waianae Thursday

Jodd Carter, Hilo — Batted 2 for 3 with a triple, three RBIs and two runs in a 9-5 win over Roosevelt Friday

Jalen Carvalho, Hilo — Batted 2 for 4 with a stolen base, RBI and a run scored in a 9-5 win over Roosevelt Friday

Micah Chinen, Mililani — Tossed a complete-game four-hitter in a 5-4 win over Mid-Pacific Wednesday

Curt Clivio, Kaiser — Batted 2 for 4 with two RBIs in an 8-4 win over Waiakea Thursday

Adam Connell, Mililani — Batted 3 for 4 with two RBIs in a 5-4 win over Hilo Tuesday

Koa Ellis Jr., Hawaii Prep — Batted 3 for 3 with a triple, RBI and three runs scored in a 7-2 win over Nanakuli Thursday

Aaron Emoto, Roosevelt — Batted 2 for 3 with a double in a 13-0 loss to Saint Louis Tuesday and batted 2 for 4 with an RBI in a 9-5 loss to Hilo

Darren Gallano, Campbell — Batted 3 for 4 with a double, four RBIs and two runs scored in an 11-1 win over Kailua Friday

Jacob Gribbin, Saint Louis — Batted 2 for 3 with a triple and two runs scored in a 10-0 win over Mililani Friday

Matthew Hanano, Kailua — Threw four scoreless innings to get the win in a 5-4 win over Aiea Tuesday

Noah Higa-Gonsalves, Hilo — Batted 2 for 2 with an RBI and two runs scored in a 9-5 win over Roosevelt Friday

Brent Hironaga, Maryknoll — Batted 3 for 4 with two stolen bases, four RBIs and three runs scored in a 14-1 win over Radford Wednesday

Jobe Ibana, Campbell — Batted 2 for 4 with a walk, stolen base, RBI and a run scored in a 9-0 win over Kaiser Wednesday

Cyrus Inglis, Hawaii Prep — Batted 2 for 4 with an RBI in a 7-2 win over Nanakuli Thursday

Trevor Inouye, Mililani — Threw a complete-game three-hitter in a 4-0 win over Kailua Thursday

Kanoa Iwasaki, Kauai — Batted 2 for 4 with a stolen base and an RBI in a 12-3 loss to Maryknoll Thursday

Keala Iwasaki, Kauai — Batted 2 for 3 with a stolen base and two runs scored in an 8-0 win over Molokai Wednesday

Micah Kaaukai, Hilo — Batted 2 for 4 with two runs scored in a 9-5 win over Roosevelt Friday

Ian Kahaloa, Campbell — Threw five scoreless innings in a 9-0 win over Kaiser Wednesday and batted 2 for 2 with an RBI and a run scored in an 11-1 win over Kailua Friday

Dalton Kalama, Kailua — Batted 2 for 3 with a double and a walk-off single in a 5-4 win over Aiea Tuesday

Codi Kamakana, Molokai — Batted 2 for 4 with a triple, two RBIs and a run scored in a 6-0 win over Radford Thursday

Peter Kanoho, Kailua — Batted 2 for 3 with a run scored in a 2-0 win over Baldwin Wednesday

Zachary Kapihe, Campbell — Batted 2 for 4 with an RBI and a run scored in a 9-0 win over Kaiser Wednesday and threw four scoreless innings in an 11-1 win over Kailua Friday

Ryan Kiyotoki, Mid-Pacific — Batted 2 for 3 with an RBI in a 2-1 win over Baldwin Thursday

Cal Koga, Kauai — Threw six scoreless innings in an 8-0 win over Molokai Wednesday

Royce Komesu, Kailua — Threw seven shutout innings in a 2-0 win over Baldwin Wednesday

Ryder Kuhns, Saint Louis — Batted 3 for 4 with four RBIs and two runs scored in a 13-0 win over Roosevelt and batted 2 for 4 with a double, three RBIs and a run scored in a 10-0 win over Mililani Friday

Pilipo Kupahu, Kailua — Batted 2 for 3 with a triple, three RBIs and a run scored in a 5-4 win over Aiea Tuesday

Brandon Leong, Roosevelt — Batted 2 for 2 with a walk and two runs scored in a 9-5 loss to Hilo Friday

Tyler Manibog, Kauai — Batted 2 for 4 with an RBI in an 8-2 win over Waianae Friday

Kodi Medeiros, Waiakea — Allowed two runs on five hits in seven innings pitched in a 2-0 loss to Saint Louis wednesday

Nohi Meyer, Molokai — Batted 3 for 4 with two RBIs and a run scored in a 9-2 win over Hawaii Prep Friday

Joshua Muneno, Maryknoll — Allowed one run on four hits in six innings pitched in a 14-1 win over Radford Wednesday, batted 2 for 3 with three runs scored in a 12-3 win over Kauai Thursday and threw a complete-game one-hitter in a 4-0 win over Kamehameha-Hawaii Friday

Justice Nakagawa, Mililani — Batted 2 for 3 with a double and three RBIs in a 5-4 win over Mid-Pacific Wednesday

Mike Nakahara, Hawaii Prep — Batted 3 for 4 with three RBIs in a 7-2 win over Nanakuli Thursday

Chasetin Nash Santiago, Waianae — Batted 2 for 2 with a stolen base in an 8-2 loss to Kauai Friday

Michael Nishiki, Maryknoll — Batted 3 for 4 with a double, walk, two RBIs and two runs scored in a 14-1 win over Radford Wednesday and batted 2 for 3 with two RBIs in a 4-0 win over Kamehameha-Hawaii Friday

Shane Ogata, Kauai — Batted 2 for 4 in a 12-3 loss to Maryknoll Thursday

Peyton Oshiro, Saint Louis — Allowed one run on two hits in six innings pitched in a 3-1 win over Campbell Thursday

Tryzen Rene Patricio, Campbell — Batted 2 for 3 in a 9-0 win over Kaiser Wednesday

Li'i Purdy, Hawaii Prep — Batted 2 for 4 with a triple in a 7-2 win over Nanakuli Thursday

Zachary Recolan, Campbell — Batted 2 for 3 with a walk, stolen base, RBI and two runs scored in a 9-0 win over Kaiser Wednesday

Chazdyn Quebral-Acosta, Aiea — Batted 2 for 3 with a walk and a run scored in a 5-4 loss to Kailua Tuesday

David Rapanot, Molokai — Struck out 13, walked one and allowed three hits in seven innings pitched in a 6-0 win over Radford Thursday and drove in two runs in a 9-2 win over Hawaii Prep Friday

Rayson Romero, Saint Louis — Batted 2 for 4 with a double, RBI and a run scored in a 13-0 win over Roosevelt Tuesday and batted 2 for 4 with a run scored in a 10-0 win over Mililani Friday

Makoa Rosario, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Doubled, stole a base, drove in two runs and scored twice in a 12-2 win over Waianae Thursday

Noah Sakatani, Kaiser — Allowed three runs on five hits and tossed a complete game in an 8-3 win over Maui Tuesday and tossed two scoreless innings of relief in an 8-4 win over Waiakea Thursday

Noah Shackles, Mid-Pacific — Batted 2 for 3 in a 5-4 loss to Mililani Wednesday

Noah Sills, Mid-Pacific — Allowed one run on two hits with seven strikeouts in six innings pitched in a 2-1 win over Baldwin Thursday

Kaimana Souza-Paaluhi, Mililani — Batted 3 for 4 with a run scored in a 5-4 win over Mid-Pacific Wednesday and batted 3 for 4 with three stolen bases and an RBI in a 4-0 win over Kailua Thursday

Devan Stubblefield, Saint Louis — Batted 2 for 3 with a triple, two RBIs and a run scored in a 13-0 win over Roosevelt Tuesday

Marc Tejada, Radford — Batted 2 for 3 in a 6-0 loss to Molokai Thursday

Chay Toson, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Batted 2 for 4 with a stolen base, RBI and two runs scored in a 12-2 win over Waianae Thursday

Dustin Tsukano, Roosevelt — Batted 2 for 4 with a run scored in a 9-5 loss to Hilo Friday

Justin Ushio, Maryknoll — Tripled, walked, drove in three runs and scored another in a 14-1 win over Radford Wednesday and batted 2 for 3 with a walk, two RBIs and two runs scored in a 12-3 win over Kauai Thursday

Chase Uyema, Maryknoll — Allowed one run on five hits in five innings pitched in a 12-3 win over Kauai Thursday

Makana Victorine, Baldwin — Batted 2 for 3 in a 2-0 loss to Kailua Wednesday and batted 2 for 2 with a walk in a 2-1 loss to Mid-Pacific Thursday

Kaena Victorino, Molokai — Batted 2 for 3 in a 6-0 win over Radford Thursday

Dorrien Villanueva-Hermosura, Campbell — Batted 2 for 5 with two RBIs and two runs scored in a 9-0 win over Kaiser Wednesday

Jameson White, Kailua — Batted 2 for 3 in a 2-0 win over Baldwin Wednesday

Brayden Willings-McCutcheon, Molokai — Batted 3 for 4 with two stolen bases, an RBI and two runs scored in a 6-0 win over Radford Thursday

Jordan Yagi-Kawaha, Maui — Batted 2 for 3 with a run scored in an 8-3 loss to Kaiser Tuesday

Tyler Yamaguchi, Mid-Pacific — Batted 2 for 3 with a double, triple, two RBIs and a run scored in a 5-4 loss to Mililani Wednesday

Jordan Yamamoto, Saint Louis — Threw a complete-game two-hitter with nine strikeouts in a 2-0 win over Waiakea Wednesday and batted 2 for 3 with a double, two RBIs, a walk and a run scored in a 10-0 win over Mililani Friday

Brandon Yonashiro, Maui — Batted 2 for 3 in a 2-1 loss to Roosevelt Thursday