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Bears rally to edge Na Alii 3-2 in MIL D-I semifinals

By Robert Collias 4 min read

WAILUKU -- The Baldwin High School baseball team has made a habit of winning games by the slimmest of margins over the years and the Bears did it one more time on Friday in the Maui Interscholastic League Division I tournament at Maehara Stadium.

The 11-time defending MIL champions are one win away from their 12th straight league pennant after a 3-2 victory over King Kekaulike in the tournament semifinals.

Baldwin (11-2) will play the winner of today's semifinal between Kamehameha Maui and Maui High on Tuesday for the MIL tournament title. If the Bears lose on Tuesday, there would be a winner-take-all championship game on Wednesday.

The Bears beat Jaxon Wong on the mound after the senior allowed just seven hits, struck out three and walked one in a complete game.

"They played us tough during the regular season in the three-game series," Baldwin coach Craig Okita said. "So I knew coming in there with Jaxon on the mound anything can happen and we started off really slow and we hit into that double play with the bases loaded in the first inning and I'm thinking, 'Man, not one of these.'

"You know, fortunate again. We've been able to squeak by in these close games and pull it off, so we're thankful that we were able to get it done, rest up and hopefully bring our 'A' game on Tuesday."

Jacob Poouahi and Wong each had RBI singles in the top of the first to give Na Alii a 2-0 lead. They kept that advantage by ending the bottom of the first on a double play that started with a line drive caught by Poouahi at third base.

In the bottom of the second, Baldwin's Kaden Anderson was hit by a pitch to lead off, Christian Dominno singled and the runners were moved to second and third bases by Isaac Imamura's bunt.

Kadon Antolin was hit by a pitch to load the bases and Anu Chaves followed with a two-run single to left-center field -- Antolin was thrown out at third on the same play.

Levi Maddela then gave the Bears a 3-2 lead with a single to right field.

Poouahi led off the top of the sixth with a single to left and Wong followed with a single to put runners on first and second with no outs. Antolin struck out Tytan Sclafani and got Nainoa Pascual to pop out, bringing Haena Kaaihue to the plate.

Antolin got out of the jam by inducing Kaaihue to ground out.

Na Alii got runners on first and second after a pair of two-out base hits in the top of the seventh, but reliever Kade Fujioka, usually the Bears' No. 1 starter, got Poouahi to ground out to end the game.

Antolin got the win with 6 2/3 innings of seven-hit ball with four strikeouts and no walks. Fujioka picked up the one-out save.

"They're both different and they're both unique," Okita said. "So given what happened and what played out through the game, we felt our best chance was to not let their 2 and 3 batters, Kamakalei (Stone) and Poouahi, to face Antolin one more time.

"That's why we did that. Ant pitched a good game. We started off rough like I said, but he was able to settle down and make pitches. We didn't kick the ball around too much today. As you saw, we had a lot of guys in positions they don't normally play. We got some guys sick, we got some guys on a day of rest, so hopefully we get well and show up and play our best game on Tuesday."

King Kekaulike's season ended at 4-10 under first-year coach George Kitagawa.

"From the beginning of the season, hard-working boys, they battle hard, do their best, a real scrappy bunch of kids," Kitagawa said. "Gotta credit Baldwin, that is a good team."

* Robert Collias is at rcollias@mauinews.com

King Kekaulike 200 000 0--2 8 1

Baldwin 030 00 x--3 7 2

Jaxon Wong and Kamakalei Stone; Kadon Antolin, Kade Fujioka (7) and Anu Chaves. W--Antolin. L--Wong. Sv--Fujioka.

Leading hitters--King Kekaulike, Jacob Poouahi 2-4, run, RBI; Wong 2-3, RBI; Taydem Hashimoto 2-4, run. Baldwin, Maddela 2-3, RBI.

MIL Baseball Tournaments

At Maehara Stadium

Friday's Results

D-I semifinal: Baldwin 3, King Kekaulike 2

D-II final: Seabury Hall 16, Molokai 2, 6 innings

Today's Games

D-II overall championship: Molokai vs. Seabury Hall, 10 a.m.

D-I semifinal: Maui High vs. Kamehameha Maui, noon

Tuesday's Game

D-I final: Baldwin vs. Maui High-Kamehameha Maui winner, 5:30 p.m.

Wednesday's Game

D-I overall championship or second-place playoff, if necessary, 5:30 p.m.

Starting at /week.