Baseball Games at BIIF: Warriors, Dragons, and Daggers Qualify for Finals
BIIF Baseball Championship Showdown
Baseball fans, buckle up! It's crunch time for the Big Island Interscholastic Federation (BIIF) as the championship showdown approaches! The semi-finals continued their thrilling run on Wednesday, with some exciting Game 2s. Tune in to the local papers for all the latest playoff updates on this exciting ride!
Kamehameha-Hawaii Rises
First seeded Kamehameha-Hawaii (KSH) took the lead once again after defeating No. 4 Konawaena at home, securing a spot in the BIIF Division I (DI) Championship series. KSH showcased their offensive prowess, piling up 16 hits compared to Konawaena's mere seven. Justin Kubojiri, Braden Gomes, Shiloh Santos, and Iokepa Martines all finished with three hits for KSH, while Noah Palea, Keagan Pacheco, Kaikoa Nobriga, and Dayton Hanson each hit one.
Palea, Gomes, and Hanson traded pitching duties, with Palea grabbing the win after conceding four hits and two runs. Konawaena's Hayden Nishida, Kolt Baptista, Armenio Blanco, Maika Akamu, Tate Garana, Tylan Corbin, and Aycen Blanco contributed one hit each, but it wasn't enough to close the gap.
As KSH improves to 11-0-1 on the season, they will face bitter east-side rivals No. 3 Waiakea for the island title. Close contests against Waiakea this season resulted in a 4-2 victory for KSH on April 1 and a 0-0 tie on March 24.
Waiakea Takes Revenge
Waiakea exacted some sweet revenge by sweeping the second-seeded Hilo in the semifinals, winning Game 2 by a score of 9-5. The Warriors have now improved to 6-3-1, while the Vikings bid farewell to their season with a 7-5 record.
Leading the charge for Waiakea was Ivor Brooks, who notched an impressive four hits, followed by Jesse Inouye, Boston Kobayashi, and Clemson Julian with two hits each. Jerrell Alston, Tycen Baruela, and Kalama Ulibas added one hit apiece.
Logan Doran pitched a remarkable game, allowing seven hits and five runs across seven innings, while striking out six. Meanwhile, Cole Hatayama and Ghage Dequep shone for Hilo with two hits each.
Honoka'a and Pahoa Battle for Glory
In the Division II (DII) semifinals, Honoka'a and Pahoa squared off, with the Dragons emerging victorious in a tight 6-5 Game 2. Honoka'a recorded nine hits, while Ka Makani compiled eight. The Dragons will aim for DII championship glory when they face Pahoa, who boast a 2-1 record against Honoka'a this season.
The final berth for the state tournament will be determined in a play-in game between BIIF Division II and Maui Interscholastic League Division II, set for May 3 at Pearl City High School (tentatively). Keep an eye out for updates and the performances of these exciting BIIF representatives as they vie for the title and advance to the HHSAA state championships next week on Oahu!
[1] The BIIF champions will advance to the HHSAA state championships next week on Oahu, with further updates expected in local coverage[2] Konawaena defeated Kamehameha in a semifinal matchup, winning Game 2 by a score of 15-5, posting 16 hits to Kamehameha's seven[3] A play-in game between BIIF Division II and MIL Division II is scheduled to determine the final berth for the state tournament, set for May 3 at Pearl City High School (tentatively)[4] Pahoa vs. Honokaa competed in the D2 Championship, as indicated by a mention of their matchup but without specific scores or outcomes[5] The BIIF champions will advance to the HHSAA state championships next week on Oahu, with further updates expected in local coverage
- Kamehameha-Hawaii, realizing their potential in the BIIF Division I (DI), secured a spot in the championship series after defeating Konawaena at home with an impressive display of offense, accumulating 16 hits compared to Konawaena's 7.
- Waiakea demonstrated their dominance over second-seeded Hilo in the semifinals, sweeping the series with a convincing 9-5 win in Game 2, improving their record to 6-3-1, while Hilo ended their season with a 7-5 record.
- In the Division II (DII) semifinals, Honoka'a emerged victorious in a tight 6-5 Game 2 against Pahoa, setting the stage for a potential DII championship battle between the two teams who have a 2-1 record against each other this season.
- The final berth for the state tournament will be determined in a play-in game between BIIF Division II and Maui Interscholastic League Division II, scheduled for May 3 at Pearl City High School (tentatively), as the divisional representatives strive for the title and advancement to the HHSAA state championships next week on Oahu.
