Waikiki Clinches HWB East On Smith's Blast

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Waikiki Clinches HWB East On Smith's Blast

Kyle Galdeira
11/15/08

Marquez Smith smashed a pinch-hit, two-run home run over the center field fence to give Waikiki a 5-4, come-from-behind victory over Honolulu tonight before a crowd of 1,609 at Les Murakami Stadium.

The victory allowed the BeachBoys (19-17) to clinch the Hawaii Winter Baseball East Division, and a berth in Sunday’s championship game against HWB West champion West Oahu.

Waikiki reliever David Pfeiffer (1-0) notched the victory after tossing a scoreless eighth inning. The Los Angeles Dodgers prospect gave way to Jeremy Papelbon who, despite loading the bases in the ninth, closed out the inning and earned his league-best seventh save.

The Sharks (17-18) got on the board with two runs in the first inning on a Bradley Emaus sacrifice fly that plated Dominic Brown, and a Jim Rapoport RBI single to left that allowed Ryo Hijirisawa to score from second.

Honolulu added its third run on Lars Davis’ solo home run in the second frame, the first long ball of the season for the Colorado Rockies prospect.

But the BeachBoys battled back to tie the game at three with a three-run rally in the fifth inning highlighted by RBI singles from Damon Sublett and James McOwen.

Hijirisawa put the Sharks ahead, 4-3, in the home half of the sixth inning with an RBI single up the middle to score Davis from second.

Dominic Brown led Honolulu offensively with three hits, while teammates Kala Ka’aihue, Rapoport and Hijirisawa each chipped in two base knocks.

Waikiki starter Waldis Joaquin surrendered three runs on five hits through 1 2/3 innings, but did not factor in the decision.

Honolulu starter Scott Shaw allowed three runs on two hits through four innings, and received a no-decision.

The HWB Championship Game gets underway at 1 p.m. tomorrow at Les Murakami Stadium. West Oahu has been designated the home team by way of a coin toss.