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Kihei falls to Kaneohe

Junior Division state final to be all-Oahu showdown

Wyland Blair pitches for Kihei in the second inning of a 2-0, eight-inning loss to Kaneohe on Monday in a Hawaii State Little League Junior (13-14) Division tournament elimination game at Maehara Stadium. • The Maui News / BRAD SHERMAN photo

WAILUKU — In a battle to the end, Kihei’s run was halted Monday with a 2-0, eight-inning loss to Kaneohe in a Hawaii State Little League Junior (13-14) Division tournament semifinal game at Maehara Stadium.

Kihei’s Wyland Blair took a no-hitter into the seventh inning, but Kainoa Preston delivered a two-run single in the top of the eighth off Kymani Corpuz to send Kaneohe to a matchup with Ewa Beach today.

Nakoa Gaspar-Takahashi singled to start the eighth inning for Kaneohe, and Blair was relieved by Corpuz one batter later, after Dustin Dano reached on an error. The runners moved up on another error before Preston’s bloop single to center over a drawn-in infield.

“Stellar, stellar,” Maui manager Joe Koch said of Blair, who threw 85 pitches, striking out two batters and walking one. “Hell of a ballgame.”

Blair did not allow a hit until one out in the seventh, when Peter Pappalardo singled to short right on a ball that fell between second baseman Ekolu Archer and center fielder Kobe Galinato.

Kihei’s Kobe Galinato follows through on a first-inning single. • The Maui News / BRAD SHERMAN photo

Kihei’s Bryson McCabe singled with one out in the bottom of the eighth and Cory Sigrah was hit by a pitch. With both runners in scoring position, Pappalardo, Kaneohe’s second pitcher, got out of the jam when Joey Koch flew out to center and Galinato hit into a fielder’s choice.

“Guts all over the field today,” said Kaneohe manager Reid Tokujo. “I mean, they laid it on the line, both sides. That’s what baseball should be about.”

Kaneohe needs two wins over Ewa Beach today to claim the state crown.

Ewa Beach defeated Kaneohe 7-0 on Sunday.

Kihei finished with a 4-2 record in district and state play.

Kihei’s Cory Sigrah runs to first base to record the final out of the second inning. • The Maui News / BRAD SHERMAN photo

Galinato and Corpuz hit back-to-back singles with one out in the first inning, but Archer then grounded into a double play.

Joey Koch doubled to left field with two outs in the third inning for Kihei, but Galinato grounded out to end the inning.

Kaneohe had two runners reach on infield errors in the first five innings– one was erased by a double play to end the first inning and the other was stranded at first base in the third inning. Tiger Yonamine was hit by a pitch in the fourth.

Dano walked with two outs in the sixth and Yonamine was hit by the next pitch, but Blair then got Preston on a ground ball to first base.

In the bottom of the sixth, Joey Koch reached on an error with one out then, stole second and appeared to have third base stolen as well, but was called out after sliding past the bag. On the same play, Galinato struck out, ending the inning.

* Robert Collias is at rcollias@mauinews.com

Kaneohe …… 000 … 000 … 02–2 … 3 … 1

Kihei ……… 000 … 000 … 00–0 … 5 … 4

Nakoa Gaspar-Takahashi, Peter Pappalardo (2) and Dustin Dano. Wyland Blair, Kymani Corpuz (8) and Joey Koch. W–Pappalardo. L–Blair. 2B–Kihei: Koch.

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