It all escalated so quickly.
A hit by pitch, a walk, an error, a well-placed hit, and suddenly the game gets away, an avalanche of momentum going the other way as the roof caves in. Kamehameha is familiar with the drill, but it’s usually the one applying the pressure.
The Warriors were the ones walking off the field as the victim of a TKO on Friday night at Wong Stadium, with Damien pulling away for a 12-2 victory in an HHSAA Division II semifinal game it trailed but an inning earlier.
Brandon Deth pitched six smooth innings for the ILH runner-up Monarchs, who seek their second state championship at 7 p.m. Saturday at Wong against Waimea.
The top-seeded Warriors (8-1) face Nanakuli for third at 4:30 p.m.
Since winning its lone state D-II title in 2016, Kamehameha has yet to get past the semifinals.
Starter Noah Palea looked well on his way to pitching the Warriors back to the final, allowing just one hit over the first four innings. Palea opened the fifth with his fourth strikeout but that was last out he got, and he was lifted after a hit batter and a walk. Dyson Yasuda’s hit tied the game, and a key throwing error allowed Damien to take a 3-1 lead.
The Monarchs scored five times in the inning. Kamehameha got a run back in the sixth when Spencer Yoshizumi reached on an error, stole second, took third on Clemson Julian’s hit and scored on Jonah Reich’s groundout, but a double play ended the threat.
Damien ended the game with a seven-run sixth, the product of two hits, three errors, two walks and a hit batter.
Each team finished with six hits, but Kamehameha made five errors.
Francis O’Connor was 2 for 4 with an RBI single for Damien.
The Warriors took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first when Kaohu Kawelu walked with one out. Yoshizumi moved him to third with a hit ahead of Julian’s sacrifice fly.
Konawaena 4, Waipahu 0 (5 innings)
A four-run burst in the bottom of the fifth inning propelled Konawaena to a victory in their HHSAA Division II consolation contest against Waipahu at Wong Stadium.
Five of the Wildcats’ seven hits came in the bottom of the fifth, scoring Riki Furuto, Taven Hiraishi, Ethan Yamaguchi and AJ Blanco. Charlie Kuwada, Maika Akamu and Kamehu Makanui each drove in one run for the Wildcats.
Trez Uemoto got the start and the win on the mound for Konawaena, allowing just four hits and striking out four in five shutout innings.
The Wildcats will advance to face Waianae in the HHSAA Division II fifth-place game. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. at Francis Wong Stadium.
Hilo 5, Mililani 0
Hilo’s Eli Yamanaka pitched seven shutout innings, allowing just four hits to lift the Vikings to the HHSAA Division I fifth-place game.
Kaynan Kaku Jr. led the Vikings offensively, driving in three runs on two hits and scoring another run himself.
Hilo will face Pearl City in Saturday’s fifth-place game. First pitch at Iron Maehara stadium is scheduled for 12:30 p.m.
Water Polo
Hawaii Prep’s quest for a state title ended Friday, as they fell to Kamehameha-Kapalama 14-2.
Led by Jordyn Nishimura’s hat trick, the Warriors had niine players score at least once. Maile Imonen and Ali Wawner were the only Ka Makani players to find the back of the net; Imonen scored to make it a 1-1 game in the first quarter, while Wawner’s goal gave the game its final score of 14-2.
Hawaii Prep will play either Punahou or Kaiser on Saturday in the HHSAA third-place game. Start time at Kamehameha-Kapalama is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.
KS-Hawaii 9, Kahuku 5
Waiahuli Akau’s five goals led the way as the Warriors defeated Kahuku to earn a spot in Saturday’s HHSAA fifth-place match against Roosevelt.
Kamehameha’s lead was never smaller than two goals after the game’s first quarter. A three-goal fourth – with Akau, Oliliu Wise and Kaiulani Rocha – ensured the Warriors’ season would be extended one more day.
Start time for Saturday’s fifth-place game is scheduled for 3:15 p.m. at Kamehameha-Kapalama.
Boys volleyball
BIIF champion Kamehameha beat Castle in three sets in consolation play and will play for fifth place Saturday at Blaisdell Arena.
West Hawaii Today contributed to this report
