Hilo didn’t pitch ace right-hander Joey Jarneski and lost to Waipahu 7-5 in the first round of the HHSAA Division I state baseball tournament on Maui.
The BIIF runner-up Vikings (13-6) play ILH runner-up Punahou (12-10) in a consolation game at 8:15 a.m. Thursday at Iron Maehara Stadium.
The OIA No. 4 Marauders (6-11) play MIL champion and No. 2 seed Baldwin (21-2) in the quarterfinals at 7 p.m. Thursday at Maehara Stadium.
BIIF champion and No. 4 seed Waiakea (15-3) plays the Maui-Pearl City winner in the quarterfinals at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at Maehara Stadium.
The Vikings started No. 2 pitcher, senior right-hander Josiah Factora, and had Jarneski at designated hitter.
Factora got a no-decision in four innings. He gave up five runs (one unearned) on five hits and five walks and struck out two.
Hilo senior reliever Brett Komatsu pitched three innings in a tough-luck loss. He allowed two runs (both unearned) on three hits and two walks and whiffed five.
The Vikings committed two errors, which led to three unearned runs. The Marauders also had two errors, which led to two unearned runs.
Jarneski, who is a verbal commit to UH-Manoa, pitched Game 1 in the BIIF semifinals and the championship series.
He threw 109 pitches in a 2-1 win over Keaau in the semifinals. A week later, Jarneski threw 119 pitches in a 4-2 victory over Waiakea in a game that included a 45-minute rain delay.
Though Jarneski also plays shortstop, UH coach Mike Trapasso recruited 6-foot Viking for his pitching prowess.
Against Waipahu, Factora surrendered four runs in third inning on a grand slam by Michael Price.
The Vikings answered with a four-run rally in the fourth inning to tie it 5-5. A wild pitch and error scored two runs, Jarneski had a sacrifice fly, and Factora hit an RBI single.
In the seventh, Khaine Viliamu doubled and Price reached on a fielder’s choice and advanced to second on catcher Josh Breitbarth’s error.
Pinch runner Brian Breceda advanced to third and scored. Two batters later, Blazen Ferreira singled off Komatsu to score another unearned run.
Waipahu also scored an unearned run in the third on a Hilo fielding error.
Breitbarth batted 3 for 4 to lead Hilo, which left seven on base. No one else paired hits.
Kobie Russell went the distance in the win for the Marauders, who stranded 10 runners on base.
Waipahu 014 000 2 — 7 8 2
Hilo 010 400 0 — 5 6 2
