STATE CHAMPIONSHIP!!!!!

Going into the championship game, we knew that we could win, but we wanted to make sure. We were not going to take anyone lightly again. This is why for a 7:00 game, we were at school at 4:00 hitting getting ready and preparing. We wanted to make sure that we were ready for everything that was going to come.

Both teams started the game off strong, and it seemed like it was going to be a tight game. Josh Saio of St. Louis and Reece Kiriu of Punahou were having a pitchers dual. There was not much hitting except for the second inning where we scored the only 4 runs of the game. From then on, we played tuff defense and held our opponents to zero runs. Reece had a total of 7 strikeouts and held St. Louis to only 3 hits. It is because of this that we won and are now the 5 time defending state champions. We made necessary changes when we had to, and everyone came up big for us in tight situations.

Second Game of States (semi-finals)

On the second day of the tournament, we played Maui High. The outcome of this game was a lot better than the first since we had a new way of thinking. We started the game strong and continued it throughout and didn’t give up till the game ended. Our pitcher was dominating on defense, and our offense was supporting him for an all around team effort. Also, the cheering and support coming from the dugout was much better. It was a team effort that put this win together. With a bunch of 1 and 2 run scoring innings, we were able get the 9-0 shutout win and advance to the state championship game.

First game of states

Starting on May 7, 2008, we the Punahou baseball team would be playing for our 5th state baseball championship. The first team that we were to play is Roosevelt. Going into the tournament, we were the number one seed, and were expected to win. In the end we won, but it was not the kind of win that we wanted. This was because from the start, we were taking the team too lightly.
Before the game started, we were doing our usual pregame hitting in the batting cages, warmed up the same, and it seemed like we were going into the game like any other. But it was our attitudes that changed the way we played. We came in thinking lets 10 run rule these guys and go home. We thought that we could just come into the state tournament and destroy the other teams.

Because we came in with that attitude, we did not come with our best game. Right off the back that showed. We had a season high 5 errors in just the first 3 innings. Roosevelt took an easy 5-0 lead. But luckily we came back with 6 runs to top that. It was pretty even the rest of the game and they made us fight for the win. We were each scoring one run an inning and matching each other. Finally it was the last inning, and the score was tied at 7-7. But Roosevelt scored a run and we were now losing with only 3 outs left. But in the bottom of the inning 3 of our players clutched up and we scored 2 runs to win with a final score of 9-8.

Now that we had just seen our entire season flash in front of our eyes, we decided that we needed to change the way that we think. We were no longer going to go into the game thinking that we were the dominant team. Just the better team on that day. This is because it is not the better team that wins, but the team that performs better on that day. We wanted to be the better team on that day. By thinking this way, we would have to try our hardest to win and be that team.

ILH Championship

Punahou faced off against St. Louis for the ILH championship on 5-3-08. This game was for the first seat in states. The first six innings created a tense game because it went back and forth as the score was even at 7-7. Finally, Reece Kiriu was able to RBI single into left field which led to Punahou breaking open the game and winning 11-7. Thus making Punahou the ILH champions and the number one seat at States. This was important because the tournament started for Punahou on Thursday rather than Wednesday letting them rest and conserve pitching arms.

ILH tournament Championship

After beating St. Louis, Punahou had to play them again for the ILH tournament Championship. The date was 5-1-08 at Ala Wai field. Punahou had starting pitcher Reece Kiriu taking the mound. Reece pitched his way to a complete game by beating St. Louis 12-7 in seven innings of play. Thus making Punahou the ILH tournament champions. Their next game would be on 5-3-08 against none other than St. Louis again for the ILH Championship and the first round bye into States.

ILH tournament 3rd game.

After beating Mid-pac, Punahou faced off against St. Louis. Previously, St. Louis had beaten them twice. Punahou played on 4-26-08 at Ala Wai field. Punahou faced off against St. Louis to try and secure a birth into States through this game. Starting Pitcher was Paul Snieder who went 4 innings. The game was a high scoring game due to the fact that both teams were hitting their opposing pitchers. Punahou brought in Jeremy Fujimoto and Jacob Ellis to relieve Paul Snieder in the fifth inning. After the game was brought to a closer score, Punahou brought in Reece Kiriu to close from the 6th inning to the 7th. Punahou was able to pull off the upset victory 11-9 over number one seated St. Louis.

Leading Hitters: Matt Suiter, 2-3, Josh Bninski, double, Snider, 2-3

W-Reece Kiriu

ILH tournament Game 2 (mid-pac)

After the close game against Damien Memorial, Punahou faced off against Mid-pac. The date was 4/23/2008, at ALa Wai field. In the bottom of the first, Mid-pac took an early 2-0 lead. In the bottom of the third, they scored one more run making the score 3-0. But Punahou battled back into the game by scoring 4 runs to put them ahead of Mid-pac 4-0. From that inning on, Punahou held down Mid-pac till the top of the seventh when they scored one more run to close the door on Mid-pac for the 5-3 victory.

Reece Kiriu-W

Robert Dittrick-L

Leading Hitters: Paul Snieder, 1-3, 2-b, RBI

ILH tournament

Being that Punahou was the third place team going into the ILH tournament, they needed to secure a birth into states by finishing at least third place, with St. Louis and Mid-pac finishing in places 1 and 2. Punahou was lined up with Damien Memorial for their first game in the ILH tournament. The date was set at April 19, 2008 at Hans L'Orange park. Punahou being the 3rd place team, got to play the 6th seated team. The team thought that the game would be a rompt, but Damien put up a good fight. Into the last inning, the score was tied up at 5-5. Punahou got to bat in the bottom of the seventh. Finally, Punahou came through by driving in the winning run to secure the win against Damien.