Damien staves off Farrington to advance, 11-6

Damien's Kaimana Cameron says it's time to eat after leading off the bottom of the third inning with a triple. Michael Lasquero | SL

WAIPAHU — The final game at Hans L'Orange Park Thursday night featured a fireworks show by two teams playing in their first-ever Division II state tournament.

Damien outlasted Farrington, 11-6, in the opening round of the Wally Yonamine Foundation/HHSAA D2 state tourney to advance to Friday's semifinals.

The Monarchs, the third-seeded team in the tourney and Interscholastic League of Honolulu champion, will face unseeded Hawaii Prep at 1 p.m. at Les Murakami Stadium.

It took the Monarchs two innings to get going, but when they did, it was an offensive onslaught. Damien scored two runs in the bottom of the third inning to take the lead and added four more runs each in the next two stanzas.

Freshman Jordan Donahue led Damien at the plate, batting 2-for-3 with three RBIs and three runs scored. He also stole home in the third inning for the go-ahead run.

Kaimana Cameron sparked the Monarchs' offense with a leadoff triple in the third inning. He was 2-for-2 at the plate and scored three runs. Cleanup hitter Jayden Cabbab was also key, going 2-for-3 with two RBIs.

Milton Gainey III was the winning pitcher for the Monarchs. He took over for Javin Cortez after the second inning and scattered five hits across three innings.

Cortez was effective in the start, pitching two scoreless innings on 43 pitches.

Leading the Governors in the loss was Chasen Castilliano, who went 2-for-3 with a double, two RBIs and a run scored. Trey Kaawa was the pitcher of record for Farrington.

Reach Michael Lasquero at [email protected].