KEALAKEKUA — Hawaii Preparatory Academy junior ace Jonah Hurney allowed a hit against the first Konawaena batter he faced on Friday.
It wouldn’t become a theme, as he was nearly flawless the rest of the way in the team’s playoff opener.
Hurney delivered a three-hit shutout to give Ka Makani a 1-0 victory over the Wildcats and a lead in the three-game BIIF Division II playoff semifinal series.
The DII rivals meet up again today at Gabby Inaba Field for Game 2 at 1 p.m. With a win, Hawaii Prep would punch its ticket to the title game and lock up a spot in the HHSAA state tournament for the first time since 2014.
“It’s a huge win and a nice confidence builder,” Hurney said. “We just need to come in the same way and get it done.”
Konawaena took both regular season matchups by a combined score of 11-2. However, they didn’t see much of Hurney in those contests, who seemed to have just about everything working for the playoff matchup. He cited his cutter as his go-to pitch against the Wildcats, but used a well-rounded arsenal to keep Konawaena off-balance for most of the afternoon.
“I was just feeling great out there,” Hurney said. “The first pitch strikes were big for us. We always try to get ahead in the count. And my catcher Braden (Kojima) did a great job calling the pitches.”
Hawaii Prep head coach Jordan Hayslip has grown accustomed to seeing Hurney deliver stellar outings on the mound, so he didn’t seem too surprised by the junior’s stellar stat line.
“He was just being himself,” Hayslip said. “He’s a great pitcher and did a nice job with his off-speed stuff and control.”
Hurney didn’t just do it with his pitching. He also made some stellar defensive plays to help his cause in the shutout. That included a double-play on a pop-up bunt in the final inning, and a laser throw to second off a bunt that stifled a Konawaena rally in the sixth.
Hawaii Prep as a whole didn’t record an error either, another essential element of winning a tightly contested playoff matchup.
“I think we played a solid game defensively. But nine strikeouts will always help your cause,” Hayslip said with a laugh. “It’s a three game series though, so we still have to win another one.”
Konawaena pitcher Kolu Alani didn’t get the win, but still managed an almost equally impressive showing. He struck out six in the complete game effort, allowing six hits. He also registered one of Konawaena’s three hits in the game.
Austin Ewing had the other two hits for Konawaena, while also drawing a walk.
The Wildcats are now in win-or-go home mode, but that doesn’t have Konawaena head coach Adam Tabieros too worried about his team’s chances going forward.
“There was no reason for them to hang their heads after this one. It makes it harder for us, but far from impossible,” Tabieros said. “When they know it is a big game, they seem to step up.”
After the first inning, it didn’t look like it was going to be much of a defensive struggle. Both squads managed to get a pair of runners on, but couldn’t punch in the runs.
Ka Makani managed to break the scoreless tie in the second, capitalizing on a deep, lead-off double from Sheldon Aribal. Tristan Sienkiewicz registered the lone RBI of the game, scoring Aribal on a perfect bunt down the first base line.
The rest of the way, the bats stayed relatively quiet until the bottom of the seventh inning, when it seemed like Konawaena would find a way to claw back.
Much to the delight of the Konawaena crowd, Alani led off with a hard hit ball to the outfield. However, the next batter would pop up a bunt to Hurney, who threw over to first for the double-play. Hurney ended the game appropriately — with a mighty thud into the glove of Kojima for his ninth strikeout of the the contest.
One thing in Konawaena’s favor going forward is the pitch count rule. After tossing 91 pitches in the opener, Hurney can’t take the mount for the rest of the series, which would include a game Monday if Konawaena forces a rubber match. With 70 pitches thrown, Alani stayed within the threshold to pitch in the decisive Game 3, if necessary.
Kamehameha 13, Honokaa 0
Sophomore ace Tai Atkins allowed only one hit during four smooth innings, and the homestanding Warriors needed only three hits to score big and claim Game 1 of their best-of-three semifinal series.
Dragons pitchers were their own worst enemy, issuing eight walks and hitting six batters.
Game 2 is 11 a.m. Saturday back at the Warriors’ field.
Jai Cabatbat hit an RBI double in the first for Kamehameha (13-2) and Kyran Kai had the only hit in the second as the Warriors, aided by three hit batters, two walks and an error, scored six runs. Kalanikealii Marquez’s single was the only hit for the Warriors as they tacked on five more runs in the third.
Atkins walked one and struck out four before Braeden Coloma struck out a batter in an inning pitched. Kelvin Falk started and pitched 1 1/3 innings for Honokaa (4-11).
Cabatbat, Marquez, Kai and Kegan Muira each drove in two runs apiece.
