Mililani players celebrate after a 1-0 win over Castle. Johnny Wilson | Special to SL

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042513_DSC_5600.jpg - Johnny Wilson | Special to SL

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West fourth-seed Mililani hung on to upset East top-seed Castle, 1-0, to claim a spot in the OIA Red semifinals at Hans L'Orange Park as well as a berth into the HHSAA Division I baseball tournament in two weeks.

"We had each other's back today and we left everything out on the field today," said starting pitcher Cole Nakachi.

It was a defensive stalemate as both teams had solid pitching and fielding for the first six innings. Mililani held Castle to two hits for the entire game.

"We don't put up a lot of runs so we try to have our pitchers keep us in the ball game, keep it close and give us a chance to win. We ask from our pitchers is to give us a chance to make plays," said Mililani coach Mark Hirayama.

In the top of the seventh inning, Mililani took advantage of Castle's miscues, which turned out to be the difference. Mililani's Kanoa Hironaka got on base after a fielding error to the first baseman and then advanced to second off of Trevor Inouye's ground out. Hironaka ran to third base on a throwing error, then scored the game's only run off of another Castle miscue.

"In my opinion, I thought were three errors in that inning, but they had us down for two. There were a couple things we didn't execute and it just happened. My concern is being under adverse conditions. Good teams come through adversity. Christian (Kapeliela) pitched a good game, but I told the players we didn't hit. We had our chances and they had their chances. They took advantage of our mistakes and that's what it came down to," said Castle coach Rocky Fraticelli.

Holding a 1-0 lead, Mililani's Troy Kakugawa came on in relief of starting pitcher Cole Nakachi in the final inning. Kakugawa forced Christian Kapeliela to ground out to the short stop, and on the next at-bat struck out Andre Fraticelli. Castle's Kyler Martin hit a grounder to the third baseman but managed to beat the throw to first, but Martin would be left stranded as Kakugawa was able to get Dane Kamalu to hit a grounder to the second baseman for the final out.

"I had to do something productive for the team to win. We're solid defensively and worked hard to make the routine plays and we did that today," said Kakugawa.

"Troy is a senior and has been a bulldog for us for four years. He has that mentality that he wants it and so we gave him the ball," said Hirayama.

Mililani will face a streaking Leilehua who toppled West second-seed Waipahu, 3-1, in a semifinal game at Hans L'Orange Park at 3:30 on OC16.

Castle will host Waipahu at 3:30 p.m. in a battle for the final spots into the state tournament.

"I told them we have a game tomorrow and we have to forget about the loss and if we win, we're in. This will be our fourth biggest game of the season," said Fraticelli.