The Red Raiders storm the field after defeating Damien, 5-4, for their third state championship. Sylvia Lee | SL

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MANOA — The Kauai baseball team watched the Damien Monarchs storm the field in celebration.

But it was all for naught.

Fifteen minutes later, it was the Red Raiders jumping for joy on the turf of Les Murakami Stadium Saturday evening.

Kauai scored two runs in the top of the seventh to rally past the third-seeded Monarchs, 5-4, in the Wally Yonamine Foundation/HHSAA Division II championship game for its third state title, the team's first since 2011. 

"It hasn't really soaked in, but it's starting to get there," said Kauai senior first baseman Sam Nakata, who scored the go-ahead run after drawing an intentional walk as the three-hole hitter. Nakata was also named the tournament's most outstanding player. 

The apparent Damien celebration came after cleanup hitter Jacob Borrero had a two-out single to score Ethan Gray for the game-tying run. However, Borrero slammed his helmet in excitement and was ejected from the game by the first base umpire.

"I'm put at No. 4 (cleanup) for a reason, I don't want to let my team down" said Borrero, who also started the game on the mound. "Knowing that they walked Sam to get to me, really got to me. Slamming my helmet was really about the hype. I wasn't angry or anything."

What happened next was chaos. The first base umpire called Borrero safe at the bag, but threw him out immediately after his helmet was tossed. The Monarchs then ran out on the field after the call was made thinking they had just won the game, but the officials signaled that the run counted to make it 4-4. 

Although Borrero was ejected from the game, it wasn't the third out of the half-inning. The Red Raiders should have been able to put someone to run for him and both teams would play on. However, both teams went back to their respective dugouts after the play and Kauai got ready to play defense.

Eventual winning pitcher Keoua Sibayan, who replaced Borrero after one batter in the sixth, was already warming up with catcher Skyler Sadora before the officials talked to discuss the ruling of the play. After about a five-minute delay, the Damien defense retook the field and the Red Raiders had runners at the corners with Sadora up to bat. 

Sadora, who had two doubles and two RBIs after his first two plate appearances, drew an intentional walk to load the bases with two outs. Sibayan helped his case one batter later with a strongly hit ball towards first base. Damien's Jayden Cabbab bobbled the ball, which allowed Sibayan to reach on an error. This in turn made Nakata crossing home plate an unearned run that gave the Red Raiders the lead for good, 5-4. 

"It was a big swing of emotions," said Nakata. "When we tied the game it was great, (but) to score the go-ahead run was even better yet." 

The change of events denied a cinderella finish for Damien, who was riding a 10-game win streak. The Monarchs were also playing in their first state tournament.

Damien, the Interscholastic League of Honolulu champ, trailed 3-0 early in the contest, but battled back to take a 4-3 lead before the unfortunate seventh inning.

"They capitalized on our mistakes and we just came up short in the end," said Damien coach Timo Donahue.

While the game was ultimately decided in the final stanza, the Kauai defense benefitted from double plays in the first three innings. 

Borrero gave up back-to-back hits to start the bottom half of the first and walked Jordan Donahue to load the bases with no outs. He then struck out the next batter and got a 1-2-3 double play on the following at bat to end the threat. 

Matthew Panit helped turn a double play in the second and Nakata caught a line drive in the third and put out the runner at first for the other double plays.

The strong effort helped mitigate that the Red Raiders were outhit in the contest, 10 to 7. 

"The defense really backed me up today," said Borrero, who pitched five innings in both the championship game and first round win over Molokai on Thursday. "If it wasn't for the double plays, they probably would have got this game." 

Kauai scored the first run of the game thanks to a leadoff double by Sadora in the top of the second. After Ricky Rego bunted courtesy runner Royce Uemura over, Panit drove Uemura home to put the Red Raiders on the board.

Sadora was also the reason why Kauai scored in the following inning. The 5-foot-11 junior knocked in a two RBI double to score Tyler Oshima and Nakata to make it a 3-0 game.

Damien's Javin Cortez was charged with the loss, throwing 100 pitches on the day.

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2017 HHSAA D2 Baseball All-Tournament Team
as selected by the HHSAA and media

  C – Skyler Sadora, Kauai
 IF – Jacob Borrero, Kauai
 IF – Jordan Donahue, Damien
 IF – Kaimana Cameron, Damien
 IF – Jayden Cabbab, Damien
OF – Akila Arecchi, Damien
OF – Paul Mezurashi, Damien
OF – Kegan Miura, KS-Hawaii
UT – Jonah Hurney, Hawaii Prep
  P – Christian Manera, Kauai
  P – Tai Atkins, KS-Hawaii

Most Outstanding Player – Sam Nakata, Kauai