Since Wednesday's opening round, pitching has dominated the 58^th Wally Yonamine Foundation Division I state baseball tournament.

First pitch is set for 6 p.m. at Iron Maehara Stadium.

So far, the most runs by a losing team came when Waipahu beat Hilo, 7-5, in the opening round. Otherwise, no losing team has scored more than two runs in the championship bracket and none has scored more than three overall. In 14 games, including consolation bracket, there have been four shutouts, three in the championship bracket.

Campbell's Markus Ramos has thrown the only complete-game shutout when he beat Kailua, 5-0.

Pearl City's Trenton Darley pitched eight scoreless innings in a 1-0 win against Maui in the opening round. He got a no-decision.

Mililani's Ryan Ancheta pitched six scoreless innings of one-hit ball in beating top-seeded Mid-Pacific Institute, 4-0.

There were ironman efforts, too. Mililani's Koa Eastlack pitched 10 innings, allowing two runs (one earned) with a no-decision in the Trojans' loss to Pearl City in the semifinals. Likewise, Pearl City's Torey Chun also had a no-decision in eight innings, allowing two runs, in that same Mililani game.

The Bears appear to have a decided advantage in pitching having only played in two games because the first-round bye.  Both pitchers, Kawena Alo-Kaonohi and Damien Awai, tossed complete games. The Chargers have played three games, two of them going extra innings. They needed 10 to dispatch Maui in the opening round and 11 to fend off Mililani in the semifinals.

It seems appropriate that good pitching has been prevalent in the tournament held on Maui. After all, its native son, Glenn Oura, led Baldwin to the tournament's first two state titles in 1959 and 1960. Moreover, he started in all three games each year, compiling a 6-0 record. He pitched 51 1/3 of a possible 54 innings. In 1961, the tournament instituted the innings-pitch limit. Oura also pitched the first of 15 no-hitters in tournament history.

 

Pearl City Chargers

Record: 17-1, OIA 3rd

Coach: Gavin Concepcion (2^nd season, 27-9)

State history:  23rd appearance (35-29-4 overall, 21-21 championship bracket, 1 title (2011)).  Championship: 1-2

Vs.

No. 2 seed Baldwin Bears

Record:  17-0, MIL champion

Coach: Jon Viela (10^th season, 134-31)

State history:  42nd appearance (55-60-1 overall, 36-37 championship bracket, 4 titles (1959, 1960, 1984, 1995)). Championship: 4-4.