Maui strong.

For the first time in state tournament history, the Wally Yonamine Foundation/HHSAA Division I Baseball Championship was shared by two teams.

Maui and Baldwin, who hails both from the Maui Interscholastic League, were declared co-state champions after inclement weather and numerous factors saw their championship game matchup halted in the top of the third inning at Moanalua Saturday afternoon.

History was already made with the title game being the first-ever all-MIL final in the 64th year of the state tournament in what would be the sixth meeting between the two teams this year, but rain and time constraints prevented the matchup from being completed.

The tournament started on Tuesday at Les Murakami Stadium, but weather postponed all semifinal matchups from Thursday to Friday. Murakami Stadium was unavailable on Saturday and Sunday due to Farrington and Mililani graduations respectively, while the Sabers and Bears have graduations scheduled for Sunday and Monday as well.

The Division II final between Kamehameha-Hawai’i and Damien was relatively unaffected by weather before heavy rain delayed the 12:45 p.m. start of the Division I title game by one hour and three minutes. Once the rain subsided, the decision to start the game was made between the HHSAA officials, school administrators, coaches and players. The game officially began at 1:48 p.m. but umpires called a rain delay at 2:53 p.m.  Forty-six minutes later, at 3:39 p.m., HHSAA officials and school administrators called the game due to safety concerns.

Multiple scenarios were considered to complete the game at a later date and venue, however due to end-of-the-school-year activities, including graduations, no viable options were available to complete the game.

The stoppage in play also came after two Baldwin batters were hit by pitches, possibly due to the ball being slippery to control. Players were not made available to the media for comment.

“We tried to get the game in,” said Baldwin coach Craig Okita. “There were different scenarios. I guess with the rain not letting up, the (Baldwin batter) getting beaned in the head, they felt safety-wise, it would be the best thing for our kids. I actually agree with the decision.”

He continued, “It sucks, as you can see from both sides. This is not the feeling you have after winning the state championship. It sucks and I feel for my seniors because they’ve been close twice and haven’t gotten it. This was our opportunity and we weren’t able to do it again. I mean, co-champs is still champs, but it’s not the same.”

The Bears were runners-up the past two tournaments, to Kamehameha last year and Waiakea the year before that.

The game was halted after Baldwin tied the game at two in the top of the third with one out and the bases loaded. However, Saturday’s game did not meet regulation standards (at least five innings), so it was as if it wasn’t played. Statistics do not count and the game does not record as a tie, official scorer Thomas Yoshida said. Since the game did not meet the requirements of a regulation game, it was an administrative decision to declare the teams co-champions.

“It was hard on all the boys, even Baldwin, too,” said Maui coach Chase Corniel. “Everybody playing this game, it was a tough battle for two great teams.”

This is Baldwin’s seventh title and first since 2018 and Maui’s third and first since 2017. Each team will receive a championship trophy.

The Sabers won three of five matchups against the Bears this year and were the MIL champions.

There is a new champion in Division II baseball.

Third-seeded Kamehameha-Hawai’i dethroned two-time champion Damien in convincing fashion with a 12-1 mercy-rule win Saturday morning at Moanalua in the Wally Yonamine/HHSAA Baseball Championships.

The Warriors (16-1) used a nine-run surge in the top of the first to pull away for their second state title in school history, their first since 2016.

“It’s means a lot,” said winning pitcher Shiloh Santos. “We wanted it for Hilo, our school, our families and for each other and that’s really important for us.”

KS-Hawai’i sent 15 batters to the plate and scored nine runs on eight hits in the first half-inning of the game.

“You can’t ask for anything better when you score nine in the first and you don’t even have to go out on the mound,” said coach Andy Correa. “It’s a real comforting thing and it really puts you in a relaxed state to play the rest of the game.”

Kaohu Kawelu, Dominic Christensen and Santos all recorded multiple hits for the Warriors. Kawelu, Elijah Okano and Braden Gomes also scored twice.

“Our mindset was just to hit,” said Kawelu, an HPU-commit. “No matter where, to hit the ball, hit it hard and put it where they weren’t so it worked out in our favor.”

The first state title in KS-Hawai’i’s history was won on Hawai’i Island at Wong Stadium, but this year was different. The Warriors also had to resume their semifinal game against Kauai with inclement weather forcing numerous schedule changes during the tournament.

“It was really nice to overcome adversity in the trip during the season,” said Correa. “It was a nice reward for the kids.”

SEMIFINALS – MAY 16 (at Les Murakami Stadium)

#2 Kauai vs. #3 Kamehameha-Hawaii (10 a.m.)

#1 Waianae vs. Damien (1 p.m.)

* Due to weather conditions rendering one field unplayable, and anticipated adverse weather for the rest of the week, the HHSAA has canceled ALL consolation games

QUARTERFINALS – MAY 15
Waianae defeats Konawaena, 4-0
— Chaseten Rice pitched complete game shutout in birthday win

Kauai defeats Kahuku, 12-1 (five innings)
— Joshua Rego drives in three and strikes out six

Damien defeats Molokai, 18-0 (five innings)
— Nainoa and Kona Begonia combine for eight RBIs

Kamehameha-Hawaii defeats Radford, 7-1
— Shiloh Santos homered and earned the pitching win

QUARTERFINALS – MAY 15
#4 Hilo vs. Baldwin (10:00 a.m.)

#2 Maui vs. Waiakea (1:00 p.m.)

#3 Kailua vs. Saint Louis (4:00 p.m.)

#1 Kamehameha-Kapalama vs. Pearl City (7:00 p.m.)

* Due to weather conditions rendering one field unplayable, and anticipated adverse weather for the rest of the week, the HHSAA has canceled ALL consolation games

OPENING ROUND – MAY 14
Baldwin defeats Moanalua, 5-4
— Douglas Mortensen: pinch-hit sac fly in top of seventh for go-ahead score

Waiakea defeats Iolani, 1-0
— collision in outfield in the bottom of sixth leads to only score

Pearl City defeats Aiea, 3-2 (11 innings)
–Devin Fujino: walk-off RBI, also pitched five innings

Saint Louis defeats Roosevelt, 10-0 (five innings)
–Shannon Fee and Jonah Brub combine for two-hit shutout