Mililani's big sixth inning pounds Pearl City, 13-3, wins OIA title
By Wes Nakama
WAIPAHU -- It did not rain at historic Hans L'Orange Park on Friday night, but it certainly poured in the sixth inning for Mililani's offense, as the Trojans exploded for 10 runs to smother Pearl City for a stunning 13-3 victory and their fifth OIA baseball title in seven seasons.
Mililani, the defending champ, improved to 13-2 overall and earned the league's top seed and first-round bye for the Wally Yonamine Foundation/HHSAA State Championships set for May 6-9 at the University of Hawai'i's Les Murakami Stadium and Hans L'Orange. The Chargers fell to 11-5 and will begin state tournament play in the first round on May 6.
The teams had split their two OIA West meetings earlier this month, with Pearl City taking the first square-off, 5-4, on April 6 and the Trojans winning the rematch, 2-1, on April 15.
Friday's rubber match was similarly tight for the first five and a half innings, tied at 3-3 until Mililani erupted for 10 runs on eight hits and two errors in a stunning barrage that ultimately invoked the mercy rule with only one out recorded. The final blow came when a fielder's choice throwing error allowed Kameron Pongasi to score from second base.
"We keep telling the boys, 'We gotta play seven innings, we're not going to give up until the last out,' and they're finally starting to believe that and trust the process that we've developed as a program," Trojans coach Mark Hirayama said. "That's all we can do, is put our best foot forward. I think this whole week has been that way, the way we've played. We're just trying to keep moving the bus uphill. We might start off slow, or what-not, but this is the time of year that we prepare for. The guys believe in what we do, and good things happen."
Mililani actually got off to a quick start Friday, taking a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first after three straight singles and Jonah Parker's sacrifice fly to center field. But the Chargers killed the rally with a 6-4-3 double play and responded in the top of the second with Cohen Adaro's two-run double to left-center field to put Pearl City out in front, 2-1.
The Trojans then answered with two more runs in the bottom of the second, after Knox Marzo hit an RBI single to right field to score Pongasi and Koa Marzo crossed the plate on an outfield error to put Mililani back in front, 3-2. The Chargers got a run back in the top of the third after Ian Wicklund reached on a two-out single to left, stole second and scored on an infield throwing error to tie it at 3-3.
But that would be the last run allowed by Mililani starter Zayne Ho'okala, a senior transfer from Kailua who is in his fourth varsity season. Ho'okala proceeded to throw three and one-third scoreless innings and finished with a six-hitter, striking out six and walking none.
"I knew they were going to be aggressive and test me, even the last time we played them, they kind of gave me a hard time," said Ho'okala, a left-hander. "But I really trust my team behind me, I trust my defense and I trust my offense. I knew we were going to get it together, sooner or later, and the last inning -- ho, we got it together. Ten runs."
Ho'okela said one key to his late-inning performance was staying in the strike zone and not trying to overpower batters.
"That was exactly my plan coming into this game -- I knew they were a good hitting team and they were going to put the ball in play, so I just didn't want to do too much and get out of what I do," Ho'okala said. "Just pitch to contact, trust my defense, and good things will happen."
On the Pearl City side, once the Trojans started stringing hits together in the sixth inning, it became a challenge just trying to make an out.
"It didn't matter -- whatever we threw, they were hitting, they were already in that mode, and hat's off to them," Chargers coach Duane Eldredge said. "They hit the ball when they needed to, they were hitting everything. I never thought of any floodgates opening, I mean, our history with Mililani has been one-run games, and they've been battles, all of them. (Tonight) we were battling, it was back-and-forth (early) and I thought it was going to go that way all the way through the last inning. (But) we couldn't stop them in the sixth."
Koa Marzo led the overall hit parade and finished 4 for 5 with an RBI and three runs scored, Knox Marzo went 3 for 4 with two RBI's and one run, Parker went 2 for 2 with two RBI's, Taye Marxen went 2 for 3 with one RBI and Pongasi went 2 for 4 with one RBI and three runs. Tytan Takahashi (2 for 3) was the only Pearl City player to pair hits.
Ho'okala, who won an OIA championship with Kailua two years ago, is from Central O'ahu and said it felt good to win this title with Mililani.
"Being at Mililani, it's different, but I love it over here," Ho'okala said. "I'm thankful for all the boys, all the coaches, all the parents, everyone that supported me ... Even though it's my first year here, it's a different type of family, for sure. Kam (Pongasi) was on the first-ever team I was on, (and) I grew up playing against most of these guys. And even the new teammates I met, they are straight family to me, these are my braddahs. For real."
Photos: Lori McKeown
