Aiva Arquette’s two powerful extra-base hits proved to be the dagger Saint Louis used to edge Punahou 2-1 on Saturday night in the ILH baseball championship game at Hans L’Orange Park.
The junior Crusader’s mighty bat was pretty much the only difference as the two teams put on a great show for the TV audience (fans were not allowed to attend due to COVID-19) nearly all the way until the final out.
Arquette’s 390-foot triple to center in the second inning and Xander Sielken’s sacrifice fly gave Saint Louis (8-2) a 1-0 lead.
Hunter Hirayama and Aiea Arquette helped Saint Louis edge Punahou 2-1 on Saturday night
to capture the ILH baseball championship. (Bedrock Sports Hawaii photo by Nick Abramo).
In the other dugout, the Buffanblu (6-3-1) went hitless through five innings, but went to Mr. Bunting’s Manufacturing Company for a run in the fourth to tie it 1-1. After back-to-back walks by Ryne Umemoto and Justin Tsukada, the pair moved up a base on Cody Kashimoto’s sacrifice. Umemoto then motored home on Kaikea Harrison’s squeeze.
Leading off the bottom of the sixth, Arquette bashed a double to left center, took third on an error and scored what turned out to be the winning run on Makamae Dupont’s sacfrice bunt. Punahou first baseman Nolan Souza charged the ball and tried to get Arquette at home with a scooping glove throw, but it was too late.
“Aiva’s a talent,” Crusaders coach George Gusman said. “He’s 6-4 and a tremendous athlete and maybe the best basketball player in the state. People are finding out about him.”
In the top of the seventh, the Buffanblu went down quietly — 1-2-3 — to reliever and game winner Hunter Hirayama.
Arquette, Hirayama and their teammates celebrated heartily after that final out.
“Punahou’s a tough team for sure,” said Arquette, who is committed to play for Cal Poly next season. “They have crafty pitchers. I was just trying to do my job by getting on base and hopefully my brothers would move me. It was a great team win, though, and I’m proud of them. It feels so good.”
Earlier, in the top of the sixth, Hirayama made a gigantic defensive play, and perhaps that gave the Crusaders the momentum they needed. With two out and a man on second, Punahou’s Cody Oshiro sent a hard grounder Hiryama’s way. The 5-8, 165-pounder knocked it down with his glove, sped four steps to his right, picked up the ball and fired to first for the third out.
Without Hiryama’s hustle and drive, that play was surely a base hit, giving Punahou new life.
“Hunter’s a gamer, there’s no other way to put it,” Gusman said.
In relief of Nuu Contrades, Ray Seabury and Kahiau Schenk, Hirayama gave up one hit (the Buffanblu’s only one of the game) in his three innings for the win.
“This win is for our school, our alumni, our families and it’s for our team as well,” Gusman added.
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For Punahou, Rustin Katsura, who came in for starter Rylan Burigsay in the fifth, took the loss by giving up that one unearned run on one hit in the sixth. Burigsay went four innings, limiting the Crusaders to one earned run and four hits.
“Saint Louis earned the win with a scrappy team and executed when they needed to,” Buffanblu coach Keenan Sue said. “Great job by the boys and the entire Saint Louis coaching staff. I’m very proud of our guys. Nobody thought we’d be in the conversation this year and the kids proved to themselves that they have what it takes to compete at a high level, and most importantly, earn the trust and respect of their teammates.”
With the win, the Crusaders dethroned the Buffanblu as league champions and they are top dogs for the first time since 2017. Punahou won the championship in 2019 and there was no winner in 2020 because of COVID-19.
2021 ILH Baseball Championship Game
At Hans L’Orange Park
Punahou (6-3-1) 000 100 0 — 1 1 2
Saint Louis (7-2) 010 001 x — 2 5 1
Rylan Burigsay, Rustin Katsura (5) and Justin Tsukada. Nuu Contrades, Ray Seabury (3), Kahiau Schenk (5), Hunter Hirayama (5) and Caleb Lomavita. W—Hiryama. L—Katsura.
Leading hitters: Punahou — Tsukada 2 BBs; Cody Kashimoto 2 SACs; Kaikea Harrison SAC, RBI; Kikaha Nakamura 1-3; Jacob Ornellas SAC; Ryne Umemoto run. Saint Louis — Hirayama 1-3; Aiea Arquette 2-3, 2b, 3b, 2 runs; Xander Sielken 1-2, SF, Makamae Dupont 1-2, SAC, RBI; Cody Antone SAC.
ILH Baseball Champions Since 2007
>> 2021: Saint Louis
>> 2020: No season (COVID-19)
>> 2019: Punahou*
>> 2018: Mid-Pacific
>> 2017: Saint Louis
>> 2016: Mid-Pacific
>> 2015: Mid-Pacific
>> 2014: Mid-Pacific
>> 2013: Mid-Pacific*
>> 2012: Mid-Pacific
>> 2011: Saint Louis
>> 2010: Saint Louis
>> 2009: ‘Iolani
>> 2008: Punahou*
>> 2007: Punahou*
*-also won state tournament in same year
