Don't let Maryknoll's record fool you.

These Spartans scrapped and battled with the best of 'em in Division II baseball and are walking away with the state championship.

Maryknoll scored the winning run on Joshua Arakaki's two-out single in the bottom of the seventh to beat defending champion Kaua'i, 3-2, yesterday in the final of the Wally Yonamine Foundation/HHSAA Division II State Baseball Championships at Les Murakami Stadium.

"I think all the coaches are floating on a cloud right now," Maryknoll coach Kevin Uyehara said.

Maryknoll (6-14) finished 2-14 in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu season, but won all four state tournament games.

Craig Shoji, a 5-foot-4 mighty mite, pitched a five-hitter despite taking a vicious liner off his right thigh in the fourth inning.

"It hit me in the leg," said Shoji, a junior. "It didn't bother me much. Just the will to win and the heart to win pushed me through, and the support of all my teammates."

The Spartans' winning rally in the seventh started after the first two batters struck out. Tyler Todd then singled to shortstop and Shoji followed with a single to right.

Arakaki hit the first pitch off the second baseman's glove and into right field. Todd slid in safely just ahead of the throw.

"I never thought it was going to come down to me in the bottom of the seventh with two outs and runners on base," said Arakaki, a senior shortstop. "I'm glad it did. I'm glad I pulled it off."

Arakaki had been 0 for 3 prior to the at-bat and struck out looking in the fifth.

"I did talk to him in the dugout (after the strikeout) and told him you're going to have another chance," Uyehara said. "This is your time. He had his chance and he came through."

It was Maryknoll's first state baseball title. This was the second year of the DII state tournament.

"A lot of people had negative thoughts," Shoji said. "Everyone who said we couldn't be here, we proved them wrong. We can be here and we can win."

And the Spartans toppled a Red Raiders' team that had dominated its foes over the past two state tournaments. Kaua'i, the No. 1 seed and Kaua'i Interscholastic Federation champion, had outscored its previous two tournament opponents, 23-2, and both games lasted five innings because of the mercy rule.

"It's good being here, but it's hard to swallow, you come this far," Kaua'i coach Hank Ibia said. "Somebody gotta win and somebody gotta lose."

Kaua'i (11-4-1) scored in the top of the first after Dustin Prem led off with a double to left-center, advanced to second on a bunt by Kaylen Wakumoto and scored on Jordan Leanio's ground out to first.

Maryknoll tied it at 1-1 in the bottom of the inning, but missed out for more when an illegal slide was called on a Spartans' base runner after a force play at the plate.

Kyle Hirata hit a bases-loaded single to left, scoring Arakaki.

Maryknoll took a 2-1 lead in the fourth on a safety squeeze. With two runners in scoring position and one out, David Nishiki bunted back to the pitcher and Hirata came in as the throw went to first for the out.

Kaua'i tied it 2-2 in the fifth on Prem's ground-rule double to right, which scored Lanan Rice-Kashima.

Reach Kyle Sakamoto at ksakamoto@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8041.

MOLOKA'I 6, ST. ANTHONY 2

Scott Rapanot went 3 for 4, including a triple and three RBIs, as the Farmers took third place.

MOLOKA'I (10-4) 000 201 3—6 9 3

ST. ANTHONY (10-3) 100 001 0—2 5 2

Joseph Akaka, Ryan Rapanot (4), Kinohi Kelly-Paleka (6) and Kamakana Duvauchelle-Andrade, Ehukai Rawlins. Taylor Silva, James Maddela (4), Ryan Rodriguez (6), Rory Racadio (7) and Jordan Kahalekai-Bermoy, Maddela (7). W — Rapanot. L — Maddela.

Leading hitters — Moloka'i: Scott Rapanot 3-4, triple, 2 runs, 3 RBIs; Kamakaohua Sproat 2-4; Rawlins 2-2, double, 2 RBIs. St. Anthony: Kahalekai-Bermoy 2-3, double.

HAWAI'I PREP 6, WAIPAHU 5

Trent Schutte tripled to left-center field and scored on a balk in the bottom the seventh to lift Ka Makani to fifth place.

WAIPAHU (12-3) 301 010 0—5 7 1

HAWAI'I PREP (10-6) 130 100 1—6 9 0

Drake Yoshioka and Aldrin Padilla. Jesse Alvord, Devin Fujioka (5) and Nathaniel Adams. W — Fujioka. L — Yoshioka.

Leading hitters — Waipahu: Samuel Chee 2 RBIs; Jerry Tanupo, double, 2 RBIs; Tryton Gante double; Samuel Chee double; Kaimi Haina triple. Team 2: Trent Schutte, 2-4, triple; Mika Nickel 2-3, double; Matthew Kiyota 2-3, 2 runs; Nathaniel Adams 2-3, double, triple, 3 RBIs.

MCKINLEY 11, KAHUKU 6

Cody Reyes had a three-run triple in a five-run first inning as the Tigers won the consolation final.

KAHUKU (10-6) 000 402— 6 9 8

MCKINLEY (11-4) 511 211—11 6 2

AJ Kubota, Joseph Nozawa (1) and Bryan Kukahiko, St. John Lessary (5). Kelsen Ganeku, Kurtis Kometani (6) and Cody Reyes. W — Ganeku. L — Kubota.

Leading hitters — Kahuku: Lessary 2-4; Joseph Nozawa 2-4; Hekilo Graycochea 2-4. McKinley: Masa Kato 2 runs; Kometani 2-3, 2 runs; Brandon Maeda-Onogi 2-2, triple, 3 runs; Cody Reyes triple, 4 RBIs.