Rams edge Governors, 5-4, in OIA D2 semis

Radford's Bradley Benito comes home while Farrington starting pitcher Bishop Rapoza backs the play. CJ Caraang | SL

Radford outlasted Farrington, 5-4, Friday afternoon at Donald M. Kimura Field to advance to Saturday's Oahu Interscholastic Association Division II championship game.

The Rams will meet Waianae, who defeated Kaimuki in walk-off fashion in the semifinals, in the title game at Les Murakami Stadium at the University of Hawaii at Manoa in a 3 p.m. contest.

"It's exciting to play there, it's like the Major League field for Hawaii," Radford coach Jacob Sur said on the opportunity to play at Les Murakami Stadium.

It was a back-and-forth contest for most of the afternoon. The Rams committed five total errors and gave up two runs to start the game, and lost the lead after letting up two more runs in the fourth inning, but battled back to fend off the Governors. The win also clinched a state berth into the Division II state tournament for the Rams.

"I'm very proud of our guys," said Sur. "I mean they made some mistakes and we battled back and capitalized back and it was a testament to what we're doing here."

Two freshmen in the top of the seventh inning ultimately sealed the deal for the Rams. Freshman right fielder Matthew Lukins caught a fly ball with two runners on base and fired a quick throw to home plate with the tying run attempting to score. Catcher Cole Courtney tagged Reese Shioji trying to take home on the play to get the second out of the frame. Freshman second baseman Shane Vogt caught a pop out on the next play to end the game.

Courtney led the Rams at the plate, driving in three total runs with one double. Jack Dillon, the starting pitcher and leadoff batter, also doubled and scored twice in the win.

Dillon helped his own cause by pitching six innings on 109 pitches, scattering six hits with five strikeouts and three walks while getting tagged for four runs, two of which were unearned. Richard Akana pitched the final inning to pick up the save.

Bishop Rapoza was charged with the loss for the Governors, getting charged with all of the Rams' hits and runs.

Chasen Castilliano batted 2-for-4 with one run and Trey Kaawa drove in two runs to lead Farrington at the plate.

The Govs will take on Kaimuki Saturday at 1 p.m. in the OIA D2 third place game. The winner earns the OIA's final spot in the HHSAA Division II State Tournament.