Epic. You often see the word in our sports section, in stories and headlines.

In truth, how many games that have been played in Hawai'i truly deserve to be called "epic."

One does. It happened on a Wednesday night in April of 1976 at Aloha Stadium. Radford vs. Pearl City. A baseball game that seemingly would never end.

The Rams and Chargers battled for 18 scoreless innings — yes, a double shutout — before Chris Tatum singled on a 2-2 count to score Kenny Moore with two outs in the bottom of the 19th. Radford prevailed, after 5 hours and 29 minutes.

How could a game go scoreless for 18 innings? A closer look helps answer that question:

• Pearl City amassed 15 hits, but stranded 26 runners — leaving the bases loaded in the second, sixth, 13th and 18th innings.

• Radford had just seven hits, but nearly won it in the 18th when it put runners on first and third with no outs. The next batter hit into a triple play.

• Radford starter Mark Olmos pitched 15° innings, offsetting 13 hits and seven walks by striking out 13. He was supported by a defense that threw out three runners at the plate, including one who tried to stretch a triple into an inside-the-park homer.

• Pearl City starter Kevin Kamai struck out 10 and walked six, over 13 brilliant innings. At one point, he retired 18 in a row and also went through 28 batters without allowing a hit.

Epic. Indeed.

Note: Credit for the headline, arguably the best ever written in The Advertiser, goes to then-Sports Editor Ron DeLacy.

— Clyde Mizumoto