From wild to wildly effective, David Nakamura looked a whole lot different two days later.
Otherwise, Waiakea appeared the same. Strong pitching, clutch defense, just enough offense and key contributions from up and down the roster.
Team of destiny, anyone?
Warriors coach Rory Inouye wouldn’t go there – yet.
“This team, they just pick each other up,” Inouye said. “One more game.”
Backed by an otherworldly acrobatic catch Friday from center fielder Gehrig Octavio, Nakamura unleashed 105 pitches in weaving a seven-hit shutout as the Warriors beat Kamehameha-Kapalama 2-0 to parade into the HHSAA Division I championship game at Les Murakami Stadium in Honolulu.
Seeking the school’s first state crown since 2012, BIIF runner-up Waiakea (16-2) faces Maui at 7 p.m. Saturday in the final.
“We were little kids back then,” Nakamura said on the OC16 telecast. “We have all the confidence.
“Man, we’re here. Now we just have to put all we did into practice, put it out on the field and see what we can do.”
With all four seeds bowing out Thursday, the semifinals were anyone’s guess.
Nakamura provided one of the answers, driving in a run with a hit in the top of the first and then outdueling Kamehameha-Kapalama’s Hunter Breault, who pitched a three-hitter.
“He slowed himself down, he was getting that low strike and his team made plays behind him,” Inouye said.
Nakamura’s gem was a far cry from his two-inning, walk-filled stint Wednesday in the opening round against Moanalua. The junior left-hander kept ILH runner-up Kapalama (16-7) off-balance, walking three and striking out two.
“We knew that they were going to come out with big bats,” he said. “Our main goal was to make our defensive plays, make the routine plays and just get the crucial outs when we needed them.”
Octavio’s catch was anything but routine.
Kapalama put a runner in scoring position in each of the first six innings only to see Nakamura escape unscathed each time. In the bottom of the seventh, after Waiakea added an insurance run, Nakamura allowed a one-out single and up to the plate stepped Nakea Hanohano, who hit a bomb to deep center.
“He just smoked it,” Octavio said. “I turned around, put my head down and saw I was going to be a little bit short, so I just dove and got it.”
After landing at the start of the warning track to secure the second out, Nakamura induced a fly ball to center that was a can of corn for Octavio for the final out.
The senior was on a Hilo PONY League team in 2013 that went to the World Series, falling short.
“This is the best feeling I’ve had since 2013,” Octavio said. “This is by far the best team.”
Waiakea went ahead with a two-out rally in the first. Nathan Minami singled to left, moved to second when Jacob Igawa was hit by a pitch and scored on Nakamura’s hit.
Ever resourceful during this improbable run at states, Waiakea scratched across another run when pinch-hitter Anthony Benevides reached first after striking out on a wild pitch with one out in the seventh. Octavio’s bunt single moved pinch-runner Chris Hatakenaka-Gibbs to second, and he came all the way around to score on Khaden Victorino’s grounder.
Nakamura and co-ace Makoa Andres, who threw 89 pitches in the quarterfinal win against Kailua, are ineligible to pitch in the championship game. Waiakea will regain the services of Casey Yamauchi, who earned saves the first two days at states.
Among the pitching options are Cody Hirata, who threw three hitless innings against Moanalua, Devin Midel, Victorino and Jamieson Hirayama.
“No idea, ” Inouye said.
Division II
Kauai 2, Kamehameha 1
In a semifinal at Les Murakami Stadium that was full of twists and turns, the Red Raiders scored the go-ahead run in the top of the 10th on a two-out throwing error to oust the defending state champion Warriors (17-3).
Two Red Raiders pitchers held six-time BIIF champion Kamehameha to just four hits and four walks.
The Warriors put runners aboard in the eighth and ninth innings but hit into double plays. Looking to tie the game in the bottom of the 10th, Kekona Naipo-Arsiga coaxed a one-out walk and was on second when DallasJ Duarte lined out to right field to send the Red Raiders (11-3) to the championship game against Damien.
Pitching in relief of Christian Manera, Ricky Rego worked 3 1/3 scoreless innings to get the win.
Kamehameha’s third pitcher, Kyran Kai, took the loss after Zakaia Michaels went 5 1/3 scoreless innings in relief of Justyce Ishii.
Bulla Ahuna collected two hits for Kamehameha, one of which started a rally in the second, allowing Koby Kinzie to tie the game on a sacrifice fly.
Damien 14, Hawaii Prep 3
The Monarchs scored a run in each inning, pulling away from BIIF runner-up Ka Makani (10-11) to reach the final in their first state appearance.
Kaimana Cameron was a big problem for HPA and losing pitcher Finn Richmond, driving in four runs with three hits.
In a rematch of the BIIF championship series, Ka Makani play Kamehameha at 11 a.m. Saturday for third place.
Consolation
Saint Louis 9, Hilo 2
The top-seeded Crusaders jumped out early with eight runs in the first two innings to beat the BIIF champion Vikings (14-4) at Hans L’Orange Field in Waipahu, Oahu.
Toa Barclay worked 1 1/3 innings in defeat and Joey Jarneski closed out his high school career with two hits for Hilo.
