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Spencer Honda | ScoringLiveApril 13, 2017, 8:42pm
Thu, Apr 13, 2017 @ [ 3:00 pm ]
W: Cole Mayeshiro L: Tyler Nakata
MIL: Zach Lafata 2-3 rbi dbl; Shane Griffin 5.0 IP 2 ER 4 KMOA: Ryne Oshiro 1-4 run; Tyler Nakata 6.0 IP 1 ER 3 K
MILILANI — Postseason baseball has arrived in the 808 state.
It was a wild Thursday afternoon in the Oahu Interscholastic Association Division I Playoffs as three of the four quarterfinals round matchups ended in walk-off fashion.
With stakes high and a state tournament berth on the line, both teams brought out the best in each other as Mililani gutted out an extra-inning 3-2 walk-off victory over Moanalua in Thursday's game at Mililani High School.
Trojans' shortstop Bryce Yonemori slapped a groundball down the first baseline to drive in the winning run in the bottom of the eighth inning.
"We just wanted to end it already," Yonemori said about the opportunity to end the game. "I just tried to stay calm and not make the situation any different. I was just trying to get a ball I could handle and just hit it hard somewhere."
The OIA West's second-seeded Trojans now advance to take on the East's top-seeded Kailua Surfriders in the first of two semifinal games Friday afternoon at Les Murakami Stadium in Manoa.
Although Moanalua's shot at the OIA Championship is over, it's not the end of the road for Na Menehune as they'll play Pearl City for a spot in the D1 state tournament and a chance at placing fifth in the OIA Playoffs.
"Just flush it and move on. We got a second chance tomorrow," Moanalua coach Scott Yamada said. "We just got to take care of what we do."
After beating Waipahu 9-1 in the opening round, Na Menehune's Christian Capinia got the nod for pitching duties on the mound against the Trojans. Capinia's day lasted only to the top of the second inning after loading the bases.
Tyler Nakata was brought on the rubber to tackle the situation, but Mililani third baseman Zach Lafata drove a ball up the middle to bring in Yonemori for the first run of the game. A wild pitch on the next batter allowed Preston Morales to score for a 2-0 lead.
Nakata then found his groove to settle in as he retired the next 18 of 20 batters leading up to the bottom of the eighth inning.
On offense, Moanalua responded to Mililani's two runs with Randy Tabura's rip to left centerfield in the top of the third inning to bring Ryne Oshiro home from second base.
Two innings later, a beaned batter and bunt reaching on an error set up an RBI single from pinch hitter Bryson Sato to tie the game.
Trojans pitcher Shane Griffin induced three-straight flyouts to prevent further harm. It would be the end of his day after five complete innings of work.
"He did enough to keep us in the ball game but going into the later innings, we just couldn't afford to put guys on base early in the inning," Mililani coach Mark Hirayama said. "We're not trying to save anybody. We'll just throw out there who we need to. We had to get past today."
Cole Mayeshiro took over and after giving up a leadoff walk, Moanalua's Skyler Yamamoto snuck a hit over the shortstop Yonemori to bring courtesy runner Rylan Miguel around third and headed for home. Centerfielder Morales fielded the hit ball and gunned an on-the-fly dart home for catcher Thomas Nakatsukasa's easy tag out.
Mililani headin to Manoa! Bryce Yonemori hits a walk-off single, as the Trojans down Moanalua 3-2 in 8 inn. #TheChasefortheChampionship pic.twitter.com/C2dwPzo4CB — ScoringLive (@scoringlive) April 14, 2017
Mililani headin to Manoa! Bryce Yonemori hits a walk-off single, as the Trojans down Moanalua 3-2 in 8 inn. #TheChasefortheChampionship pic.twitter.com/C2dwPzo4CB
Another angle of @bryce808's walk-off single to beat Moanalua, 3-2 in B8. Mililani advances to @OIASports semis vs. Kailua @scoringlive pic.twitter.com/LUD3NjhN9p — Spencer Honda (@SpncerHonda) April 14, 2017
Another angle of @bryce808's walk-off single to beat Moanalua, 3-2 in B8. Mililani advances to @OIASports semis vs. Kailua @scoringlive pic.twitter.com/LUD3NjhN9p
The play mirrored the end of the bottom of the fourth inning when it was Na Menehune centerfielder Kaz Tachino giving Lafata the same fate of being thrown out trying to score at home.
To start the final frame of the game, Nakata gave a free base to Korrey Siracusa on his 76th and final pitch. Oshiro was brought in on the mound to try to extend the Menes' OIA Championship hopes for another inning.
But the Trojans were looking to end it as they seemingly went into walk-off procedure as if it was a routine they had already done before.
Mililani designated hitter Taylor Inouye sacrificed his at-bat to move a runner over — he bunted and flied out to centerfield in their walk-off wins against Pearl City and Aiea, respectively.
Then like the game against the Chargers nine days prior, Yonemori hit a single to bring a run in — only this time it was the one to seal the deal. In both games, it was Siracusa coming across home plate for the game-winning victory score.
Na Menehune will host Pearl City Friday afternoon at 3 p.m. in Salt Lake.
The Trojans will square off with the Surfriders at 4 p.m. on lower campus at the University of Hawaii. Kailua is also coming off a 3-2 win in extra innings.
"I'm not sure yet. We got 12 guys on the bench who can pitch," Hirayama said of who would get the start on the rubber against Kailua. "We can't afford to put guys on base and work our way out of that. It comes down to who's been more consistent lately and figure it out from there."
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