Marzo’s hit helps Mililani win D-I baseball title against Pac-Five
The author of the greatest moment in Mililani baseball history will have to wait for the television replay to fully appreciate it. Koa Marzo bounced Colten Amai-Nakagawa’s 103rd pitch over the third baseman’s head and into left field for a walkoff single in a 1-0 win over Pac-Five in the Division I championship of the Wally Yonamine Foundation/HHSAA State Baseball Championships at Les Murakami Stadium on Saturday for Mililani’s first title. “To be honest, I didn’t even know I walked it off until I saw all of my boys rushing toward me,” Marzo said.
“I was just trying to get there. It felt great, I mean that’s what we came here for and worked so hard for. ” Mililani and Pac-Five were locked in a scoreless duel until the Wolfpack’s defense finally cracked.
Ian Murasaki started the telling inning by pulling a grounder to third but was safe when the first baseman came off the bag to receive the throw. A perfect bunt by Taye Marxen put him on first when the Wolfpack didn’t come up with the ball and Kameron Pongasi loaded the bases with no outs when Pac-Five’s first baseman tried to nab the runner at third but was late. That set up Marzo’s heroics.
“Sometimes you need a little bit of luck to win this tournament,” Mililani coach Mark Hirayama said. “You just have to keep coming out and battling. These guys love each other and like playing for each other.
They are close, they are tight. That is the big difference with this group. ” Both pitchers, Mililani’s Ezra Ugale and Amai-Nakagawa of Pac-Five, were superb.