WAILUKU — The Maui Interscholastic League Division I second-place playoff game between the Maui High School and Kamehameha Schools Maui baseball teams was suspended by rain in the top of the fifth inning on Wednesday evening at Maehara Stadium.

The Warriors were leading 1-0 and had runners on first and second bases with one out at the time the game was halted. The MIL announced Wednesday night that the game will be picked up at the same spot in the action at 5:30 p.m. Friday at Maehara.

Admission to the rest of the game will be free, league officials said after the decision to delay. The winner qualifies for the Wally Yonamine Foundation/HHSAA state tournament next week on Oahu.

Both coaches agreed with the decision to postpone the action with heavy rain coming down.

“It’s the safety of the kids comes first,” Kamehameha Maui coach Shane Dudoit said. “Wins and losses come later. This is for the benefit of us, Maui High and us as well.”

Sabers coach Chase Corniel concurred.

“Yeah, it is going to get sloppy, the rain is staying stagnant,” Corniel said. “So, I told my boys we have to just deal with it and focus on what we can do.”

Both coaches said they are in favor of coming back as soon as possible.

“I definitely want to continue this game,” Corniel said. “I don’t want this game to go away, I want to solve this right now.”

Said Dudoit: “Those decisions are out of my hands, the rules are the rules. And whatever way it goes is whatever way we’ll deal with it. And we move on, hopefully tomorrow.”

Kamehameha Maui’s Bransyn Hong smacked a one-out, ground-rule double over the left-field fence in the top of the second. He took third on a wild pitch.

Maui High’s Logan Kuloloia struck out Kamahao Akima for the second out and Japheth Joaquin walked to put runners on first and third. The Sabers threw out Joaquin in a rundown, but Hong scored on the play to make it 1-0.

Kamehameha Maui’s Nakea Kahalehau, the No. 9 hitter, walked with one out in the top of the third, but was promptly picked off by Kuloloia for the second out. Ziah Chang flew out to end the inning.

Meanwhile, Warriors starting pitcher Raige Velez was rolling, retiring the first nine hitters he faced.

Nariyuki Dumlao, the first Sabers batter of the fourth, broke up the perfect game with a double to center field. Dumlao reached third on a fly ball to right field by Nicholas Nashiwa for the second out, but David Vergel de Dios lined out to third base to end the threat.

Akima and Joaquin both walked with one out in the fifth when rain forced the stoppage.

Each team had one hit apiece when the game was postponed.

* Robert Collias is at rcollias@mauinews.com.