Baldwin Clinches Baseball Title and State Bye with Win

Maui High first baseman Chazz Ishikawa tags out Baldwin’s Makana Victorine after an infield hit in the sixth inning. Maui High pitcher Mark Karaviotis looks on. Photo by Rodney S. Yap.

By Rodney S. Yap

Baldwin High School’s Daulton Cabacungan delivered a clutch pitching performance Wednesday, setting up the Bears for an opening-day bye next week when the Division I state baseball championships come to Maehara Stadium.

Cabacungan scattered three Maui High hits and had the support of a solid Baldwin defense that put an exclamation point on Wednesday’s 4-1 triumph with a game-ending double play and no errors.

The senior right-hander struck out five and walked three before an standing-room-only crowd. His complete-game victory enabled Baldwin to collect its fifth consecutive MIL Division I baseball championship and kept the Saber hitters off balance. Maui High had its leadoff batter reach base five times, but only had one run to show for it.

Baldwin pitcher Daulton Cabacungan delivered the heat in Wednesday’s playoff game at Maehara Stadium. Photo by Rodney S. Yap.

As MIL champion the third-ranked Bears (13-2) will be awarded a bye in the four-day, 12-team Wally Yonamine Foundation Baseball Championships.

Baldwin second baseman Lane Kashiwamura doubles up Maui High runners Micah Isagawa (25) at second before throwing to first. The double play was one two Baldwin executed defensively in the last two innings of the game. Photo by Rodney S. Yap.

As the MIL runner-up, Maui High (11-4) will have to play on Wednesday, May 7, while seeded-champion Baldwin automatically advances to the quarterfinals on Thursday, May 8.

As the host league, however, baseball fans on the Valley Isle can expect to see Maui High and Baldwin play in the marquee time slots the first two days of the tournament.

Offensively, Baldwin had nine hits, two coming in the big three-run third inning against starter Micah Isagawa.

Baldwin first baseman Noah Apolo stretches for the second out of Maui High baserunner

Maui High scored first, in the bottom of the second inning, getting one run on two hits. Jaylen Suda’s two-out single to left scored Mark Karaviotis from second.

Baldwin comeback with three runs on two hits in the third inning, 3-1.

Aaron Victorino of Baldwin steered a pitch to right field with two strikes and no outs, advancing Anoai Moe-Keahi, who got on base with a leadoff single. He would later score on an error, putting a pair of runners in scoring position. Two batters later Noah Apolo ripped a RBI single to left field.

The Bears later added an insurance run in the sixth inning when Patrick Burrows scored on Moe-Keahi’s two-out single to center.

Baldwin’s Victorino finished with two hits and a run, batting in the ninth spot.

Maui High’s Isagawa gave way to relief pitcher Mark Karaviotis in the sixth inning.

Baldwin shortstop Akoni Arriaga closed out the game with an unassisted 6-4-1 double play.

Wednesday’s Linescore

Baldwin 003  001  0—4  9  0

Maui High 010  000  0—1  3  1