Executing "small-ball" to perfection and making key defensive plays behind crafty pitching, Moanalua stunned 'Iolani, 4-2, last night to reach its first-ever Wally Yonamine Foundation Baseball State Championship semifinal.

Na Menehune, the O'ahu Interscholastic Association's third-place team, improved to 13-4 in the regular and postseason and will face OIA runner-up Kailua (13-4) at 4 p.m. today at Les Murakami Stadium, followed by Interscholastic League of Honolulu runner-up Kamehameha (18-5) vs. ILH third-place team Punahou (13-8).

Both games will be televised live statewide on OC16.

'Iolani won its first ILH title since 1997 and the state tournament's No. 2 seed largely behind power hitting and solid defense, but the Raiders struggled in both areas last night. Dae Yang Kim, a 6-foot-4 senior right-hander with a sidearm delivery, limited 'Iolani to one run on two hits in 5 1/3 innings and reliever Jacob Fukuyama earned the save by allowing one unearned run on one hit in 1 2/3 innings.

Moanalua's offense, meanwhile, took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the third inning after back-to-back triples by Miles Higa and Tim Arakawa, and Chris Liu-Saguid's sacrifice fly. Na Menehune then made it 3-1 in the fourth after Daniel Sugihara's leadoff single and three consecutive bunts, none of which 'Iolani could turn into outs.

"That's part of our game, we ask our guys to bunt," Moanalua coach Scott Yamada said. "Every run counts, we need every run we can get, especially against a good team like 'Iolani."

Na Menehune made it 4-1 after Arakawa led off the fifth with a walk, advanced to second on Liu-Saguid's groundout and scored on Daniel Sugihara's two-out single.

The Raiders made it a bit interesting in the seventh, when Kela Marciel led off with an infield single and Breland Almadova reached on an outfield error that put runners at second and third with one out. Jarrett Arakawa then hit a fly ball to right-center, which was caught by center fielder Michael Egami.

Marciel scored on the sacrifice fly, but Almadova was tagged out by third baseman Sugihara after a throw by Egami.

"We just did basic plays," Yamada said.

Moanalua needed to, as Kim and Fukuyama did not strike out a batter.

'Iolani took a 1-0 lead after Reyn Nagamine led off the second with a single, advanced to second on Grant Iwamoto's sacrifice bunt, to third after two hit batters and scored on Jensen Park's sac fly.

But that would be it for the Raiders' offense until the last play of the game.

"I thank God, and I thank my defense," Kim said. "Honestly, I had my doubts (about winning), but I just tried to go after them anyway. This is pretty crazy."

'IOLANI (18-5) 010 000 1—2 3 2

MOANALUA (13-4) 002 110 X—4 6 3

Sheldon Lee, Breland Almadova (4) and Grant Iwamoto. Dae Yang Kim, Jacob Fukuyama (6) and Chris Liu-Saguid. W — Kim. L — Lee. Save—Fukuyama.

Leading hitters — 'Iolani: Reyn Nagamine 2-2, run. Moanalua: Miles Higa 2-3, triple, double, run; Timothy Arakawa triple, 2 runs, RBI; Daniel Sugihara 2-3, RBI, run.

WAIAKEA 4, CAMPBELL 4

Waiakea advanced to the consolation final after tying Campbell and winning a tiebreaker.

CAMPBELL (9-8) 201 100—4 8 3

WAIAKEA (12-3) 220 000—4 10 2

Allyn Oliva-Respicio and Chadwick Kaalekahi. Jacob Marciel, Sheldon Shishido (3), Michael Kenui (5) and Kody Ono, Bryson Aoki (4).

Leading hitters — Campbell: Oliva Respicio 3-4, triple; Kaalekahi 2-4, double, 2 runs; Keanu Kapana double, RBI. Waiakea: Cody Kaua 2-2; Marciel 2 RBIs.

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