Mid-Pacific's Chase Wago throws a pitch to the plate against Saint Louis. Tyler Guieb | SL

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MANOA - In a game with seemingly no end, Mid-Pacific Institute edged Saint Louis, 3-2, in 10 innings on a wild and wet Wednesday night at Les Murakami Stadium.

Trevin Tengan's sacrifice fly to left in the top of the 10th with the bases loaded scored Alex Oley from third base to snap a 1-all game in a thrilling and well-played Interscholastic League Honolulu Division I baseball game.

"I was so relieved," MPI winning pitcher Jacob Maekawa said "I thought we were going on forever."

Winning pitcher Maekawa, who started the game at second base, pitched four shutout innings without allowing a hit to help the No. 3 Owls (5-1) stay in a tie for first with Kamehameha (5-1), which crushed Punahou, 18-5, in the first game of the doubleheader. Maekawa's two-run triple in the fifth inning gave the Owls a short-lived 2-1 lead.

With one out in the top of the 10th, Saint Louis' second pitcher of the game, Brendan Uchima, who started at third base, struck out Maekawa. But Oley lined a single to left. With a 2-0 count on Noah Shackles, Uchima tried to keep the runner close with a throw to first, but the ball slipped out of his hand and fell near the mound. After about a three-second delay, the first base umpire called a balk, allowing Oley to take second. Shackles was subsequently walked intentionally, bringing up clean-up hitter Tyler Yamaguchi, who drew a four-pitch walk to load the bases. Saint Louis coach George Gusman replaced Uchima with Tanner Atiburcio to face Tengan, who swung at the first offering and hit a fly to left. Left fielder Travis Tanaka stepped forward then had to back track a bit to make the catch, as Oley crossed the plate as the other runners held their bases. Sean Kinel then grounded to short for a force at second to end the inning, but the damage was done.

Maekawa retired the Crusaders in order in the bottom of the 10th with grounders to third, second and short to end the game.

"It's a big confidence boost for us," Maekawa said. "We battled all the way to the end."

As exhilarating as it was for the Owls, it was devastating for the defending state champions. But Saint Louis coach George Gusman said his young players can use the experience to prepare for the ILH postseason tournament, which determines the league's second state berth.

The games started as a pitching duel between aces Chase Wago of MPI and Pono Anderson of Saint Louis. Wago allowed two runs, four hits and a walk with five strikeouts in six innings. Anderson pitched eight innings, allowing two runs, eight hits and two walks with three strikeouts. Neither figured in the decision, as their coaches let their bullpens take over.

"Pono wasn't going to pitch tonight," Gusman said. "He said he was good. He just pitched on Saturday (vs. Iolani); he threw only 70-something pitches."

Anderson left having thrown 85 pitches.

Saint Louis took a 1-0 lead in the fourth. Catcher Taylor Meilleur led off with a walk and was replaced by courtesy runner Ronson Timbreza, who took second on Tanaka's sacrifice. After Ryder Kuhns flied out to center, Timbreza scored on Uchima's flare single to left-center. Uchima stole second, but Atibrucio struck out to end the inning.

The Owls wasted little time responding. With two out, DH Evan Suemori lined a double down the left-field line and was lifted for pinch runner Jarrod Infante. Pinch hitter Davin Takanishi drew a walk and Maekawa drilled a triple to the left-center alley to score the runners to give MPI a 2-1 lead before Oley bounced out to Anderson.

But Saint Louis tied the game on back-to-back doubles from Tanaka and Kuhns with two out before Uchima grounded out to end the inning.

Mid-Pacific twice had multiple runners on base, but ran themselves out of the innings. With two out in the seventh and runners at the corners, Kimura was caught stealing third in a rundown play. In the ninth, the Owls had the bases loaded with one out, Kimura could not get his bunting bat on a pitch low and way, resulting in the runner from third being hung out to try in a rundown. The other runners remained on first and second, but were stranded when Kimura fouled out to first.