Punahou's Cole Kanazawa pitched the complete game shutout, allowing just three hits in a 2-0 win over Saint Louis. Evan Asato | SL

×

041613_EA_BASE_Pun-Stl_4-16-13 25.jpg - Evan Asato | SL

Purchase this image
4x5 5x7 8x10 image download

Led by a three-hit shutout by Cole Kanazawa, Punahou took down second place St. Louis in its final game of the regular season, 2-0, halting the Buffanblu's two-game skid heading into the ILH Division I double-elimination tournament starting on Tuesday, April 23.

"We gotta battle, we put ourselves in this position, so we gotta get ourselves out of it. It's been a long season for the kids, but we've been finding ways to keep them positive." said Punahou head coach Kenny Harrison.

And Iolani's 5-1 win over Kamehameha will likely mean a bit of extra battling, as it appears that Buffanblu will be seeded fourth and will thus need to take on the fifth place Warriors on Tuesday, April 23 for the right to take on Iolani on April 26.

The game remained scoreless through four complete, but Punahou got on the board to start the fifth. Designated hitter Aaron Fong was hit by a pitch for the second time in the game, advanced to second on Brad Chan's sacrifice bunt, and later scored on a missed throw to first.

In the top of the 6th inning, starting pitcher Cole Kanazawa helped his own cause, lacing a line drive to right center for a base hit that advanced Nate Higa to second.

"He's a competitor, he throws tons of strikes and he's one of our better swingers in terms of being aggressive at the plate." said Harrison of Kanazawa. "His character and how he approaches the game is what we need. He's one of those guys that's a battler and a competitor."

Drew Ogomori came in to pinch run for Higa, and a base knock by Fong allowed Ogomori to come home with Punahou's second run.

The two-run cushion proved to be more than enough for Kanazawa, a junior, who went the distance against the Crusaders, allowing no runs on three hits, and walking just one to earn the victory.

"I just wanted to go out there and throw strikes. I know we had to win this game to get a shot for the playoffs." said Kanazawa. "I just wanted to give my team the best shot I could. Our defense is solid - outfield, infield, behind the plate - we're solid all around."