HONOLULU — Hilo senior right-hander Jalen Carvalho’s pitching toughness and resiliency couldn’t compensate for his team’s errors, mental mistakes and lack of execution against fundamentally sound Mililani on a windy Tuesday at Les Murakami Stadium.
HONOLULU — Hilo senior right-hander Jalen Carvalho’s pitching toughness and resiliency couldn’t compensate for his team’s errors, mental mistakes and lack of execution against fundamentally sound Mililani on a windy Tuesday at Les Murakami Stadium.
The Vikings failed to capitalize on numerous scoring opportunities, and the Trojans prevailed 5-4 in nine innings in the first round of the Hawaii High School Athletic Association Division I state baseball tournament.
“The kids fought and played their hearts out,” Hilo coach Tony De Sa said. “That’s baseball.”
The Big Island Interscholastic Federation runner-up Vikings (9-5-1) play Aiea (6-11) in a consolation game at 9 a.m. today at Hans L’ Orange Field in Waipahu.
No. 3 seed and BIIF champion Waiakea (13-1) plays in the quarterfinals against Saint Louis (15-6) at 5 p.m. today at Murakami Stadium. The Crusaders beat Roosevelt 13-0.
In Division II first-round quarterfinal games at Hans L’ Orange Field, it’s BIIF runner-up Hawaii Preparatory Academy (10-5) vs. No. 3 Waianae (12-1) at 11:30 a.m., followed by No. 2 seed and BIIF champion Kamehameha (12-1-1) vs. Nanakuli (10-4) at 2 p.m.
Carvalho appeared poised to finish with a complete-game win. The Vikings held a 4-3 lead going into the seventh inning. But Mililani’s aggressive base running led to the tying run.
Trevor Inouye singled off Carvalho with one out. He stole second and third; the Trojans went 5 of 5 on steal attempts. Cleanup hitter Sean Sonognini struck out before Adam Connell lined an RBI single to center for a 5-all game to force extra innings.
Hilo’s defense made four errors, including two in the ninth that led to an unearned go-ahead run. Inouye reached on a fielding error, and went to third on a groundout. Then Connell lofted a flyball to left field that was dropped for another error, and a 5-4 lead.
“We made too many mistakes and they executed perfectly,” Carvalho said. “They were catching up to my pitches and they got some hits. But my teammates kept me going. … That’s what kept me going.”
In the bottom of the ninth, Mililani reliever Micah Chinen struck out Noah Serraro, and gave up a hit to Isaiah Banasan, who was later thrown out at first base. Chinen got Joey Jarneski to ground out for the save.
“We were talking about this game for a long time. We had pregame jitters,” Banasan said. “Jalen pitched a hell of a game. Our job was to back him up and we never did our jobs.”
Trojan senior ace Cole Nakachi went five innings and gave up two runs. He left with a 3-2 lead, but left-hander Koa Eastlack allowed two runs in one inning. Tyler Kaneshiro followed with two scoreless innings for the victory before Chinen’s one inning of work.
In nine innings, Carvalho surrendered five runs, one unearned, on eight hits and three walks, and struck out two.
The Vikings stranded nine runners on base, including the sacks full in the fifth inning.
In the eighth inning, the Vikings had a golden shot for a walk-off victory when Noah Higa-Gonsalves walked and Micah Kaaukai reached on a bunt single.
With no outs, the Trojans (10-6) expected Carvalho to sacrifice bunt to get the winning run to third base. To the Oahu Interscholastic Association No. 3 team’s surprise, Carvalho swung away and popped out to third baseman Inouye, who made a fine catch in foul territory.
Then Jodd Carter, the No. 3 hitter, grounded into a double play. That was that and Mililani’s relievers smothered the threat before it could turn into trouble.
Mililani 210 000 101 — 5 8 1
Hilo 010 012 000 — 4 13 4