Big game: Baldwin faces Lahainaluna

By Fred Guzman

It has become Maui’s best football rivalry. The drawing power of their showdowns is why No Koa Ikaika wisely opted to postpone Game 3 of the Golden Baseball League playoffs until tomorrow night.

So tonight, the entire focus for fans of local sports will be on War Memorial Stadium, where the MIL’s two defending champions – Division-I Balwin and D-II Lahainaluna – will do battle.

Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m., and the game will be aired on ESPN 550 and espn550.com.

On Saturday morning, the University of Hawaii caps a 13-day road trip with a 9:30 game against the Colorado Buffaloes. The game will be aired AM 900. UH opened the trip with a dramatic 31-28 road win over Army last week. Colorado, meantime, was dismantled by Cal, 52-7.

Later, Na Koa will try to bounce back from an 0-2 deficit in the best-of-five championship series against the Chico Outlaws. First pitch is set for 6:35. In necessary, Game 4 is set for Sunday night and again, if necessary, Game 5 at 1 p.m. Monday.

Our focus turns to the pros on Sunday. The best match-ups: Pittsburgh at Tennessee, Miami at Minnesota, Baltimore at Cincinnati, New England at the Jets and capped by the Manning Bowl showdown between Peyton’s Colts and Eli’s Giants.

On Monday night, the defending champion Saints visit San Francisco.