Anderson and Meilleur chemistry key to Saint Louis' success

Saint Louis' Pono Anderson threw a complete game five-hitter to help lead the Crusaders to its first state title since 1974. Sylvia Lee | SL

Some relationships need to be perfect, and one of those is the pitcher-catcher dynamic between Saint Louis’ Pono Anderson and Taylor Meilleur. The chemistry between the pair was instrumental in helping the Crusaders' win their first Division I State Championship Friday Night at Les Murakami Stadium, 10-0.

“Pono was Pono tonight. He had some rough times during the season and we failed to score some runs for him,” said pitching coach Dave Silva “This tournament he really showed what he can do and I’m really happy for him.”

The junior was instrumental in helping the Crusaders secure their first state title in 40 years. Over the four day period, the junior right hander pitched 11 innings, allowing just six hits and no earned runs, notching two wins and a save.

Anderson, who had been shadowed by star senior pitcher Jordan Yamamoto for most of the season, shined in this year’s state tournament with three appearances including the most important task of the Championship game.

The right hander pitched five scoreless innings in Tuesday’s opening round against the Roosevelt Rough Riders, and threw less than 60 pitches as the Crusader’s went on to win 13-0.

The junior was called upon again in Thursday night’s crucial matchup to shut the door on the Campbell Sabers to get to the Championship game. In a one Inning outing Anderson struck out two Sabers for two of the last three outs to record the save.

Then with 40 plus years of baseball history on the line Anderson got the ball and pitched in the game of his life throwing five innings of two-hit baseball.

“I found out a couple hours before the game they told me I had to ball and I wasn’t too nervous but I was ready to bring it home after 40 years.”

In baseball the catcher needs to be the smartest player on the field, and at times need to be a mind reader. That was the case for Crusaders' catcher Meilleur, who needed to guide the Saint Louis' pitching staff through the State Championships.

“Pono and I we’ve been close all year and tonight he was pumping it in there,” said Meilleur. “It was a next level connection tonight.”

Although Meilleur is only a sophomore, he is years ahead of his age in maturity and the way he handles the pitching staff by keeping them calm.

“Taylor is a good guy always talking to me,” said Anderson. “In practice we always get along try to hit spots. He’s the man to go to and I have total confidence in him.”

“Milleur’s a hard worker and he listens very well,” said Silva. “Everything we tell him he takes it in and carries it out onto the field.”

The only stat more impressive than the Saint Louis’ offense this state tournament was Anderson’s earned run average of 0.00.

In baseball your team can only go as far as their starting pitching, and for Saint Louis, their rotation nothing short of stellar. It was one of the many reasons Saint Louis was able to bring their first Baseball State Championship back to Kalaepohaku.