No. 1 Baldwin outlasts No. 8 Waiakea


Baldwin's Makane Honokaupu is greeted by Baba Varner and Bennett Zeigler-Namoa at home plate. CJ Caraang | SL

WAILUKU, Maui — Different year, different round, same result.

In a rematch of last year's state championship game, it was defending state champion Baldwin that came away with a 8-5 win over Waiakea at Iron Maehara Stadium in the quarterfinals of the Wally Yonamine Foundation Division I Baseball Championships Thursday night.

Both teams totaled eight hits, but the Warriors committed five errors to aid the Bears, who will face fourth-seeded Mililani in a 7:00 p.m. semifinal Friday.

It is the first time since 1990 that all four seeded teams have reached the semis. Third-seeded Hilo and second-seeded Punahou will square off in the first semifinal at 4:00 p.m.

Kaipo Haole earned the win for Baldwin while Baba Varner came over from right field to pick up the last two outs for the save.

Haole struggled early, giving up back-to-back hits which included a two-run homer by Kalai Rosario, but recovered nicely despite the Warriors taking a 3-0 lead after the top of the first. After giving up three hits in the opening frame, Haole allowed just four hits the rest of the way while tossing eight strikeouts for a 106-pitch performance.

In addition to getting the save, Varner batted 2-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI. Haole also helped his case with a 2-for-3 performance.

Cody Hirata took the loss for Waiakea and was charged with seven runs, two of which were unearned. He was pulled in favor for Rysen Ross after 3 2/3 innings, but Ross ultimately gave way to Braxton Cagampang after walking a batter in the bottom of the fourth. Cagampang was the pitcher for Baldwin's final six outs of the game.

Seven of the Warriors' hits belong to the top three batters in the lineup, all of which recorded a double. Miyao went 2-for-3 with two runs scored, Rosario went 3-for-4 with two RBIs, two runs and three-hole hitter Safea Mauai went 2-for-3 with a ground-rule double in the top of the fifth. Had Mauai's hit cleared the fence without a bounce, the score would have been tied 7-7. Instead, only run scored to leave it at 7-5 before Baldwin added the final score of the contest in the bottom of the frame.



Reach Michael Lasquero at [email protected].