WAIPAHU — Turns out there was a winner after all at Hans L'Orange Park yesterday.

It just wasn't one of the Hawaii Winter Baseball teams.

The North Shore Honu rallied from three-run deficits in the top of the sixth and seventh innings in a 6-6 tie with the West Division-leading West Oahu CaneFires to stave off elimination on military appreciation day. The game was scheduled for and called after seven innings because of pitching shortage issues.

The Honu (13-18) remain 3 1/2 games back of the CaneFires (16-14) with four to play before Sunday's championship at Les Murakami Stadium.

The only winner was U.S. Army Sgt. Michael Burgos. With the help of Honu outfielder Matt McBride, Burgos won a postgame home run hitting contest. The two Pennsylvania natives combined for five home runs. Of course, the professional hit four of them, but Burgos made the military proud with a shot over the center-field fence.

"It felt awesome," said Burgos, stationed at Wheeler Army Airfield. "I can't believe I hit it off center field, the deepest part of the field. It feels almost like growing up wanting to be a major league baseball player. This is the closest I can get. This is awesome."

He won a trip for two to a Neighbor Island of his choice and a round of golf at Turtle Bay.

McBride, who has three homers in HWB, didn't want to embarrass himself.

"Everybody's worried about making sure they get off the goose egg, to get at least one," McBride said. "Just get one out, so you don't look bad. It was a lot of fun."

The Penn pals beat out CaneFires' first baseman Miles Durham (three homers) and Air Force weatherman Rick Kienzle (none); Honu catcher Sung Woo Jang (one homer) and Navy electrical technician Ryne Miller (none); and CaneFires outfielder Cyle Hankerd (one homer) and Pearl City High senior Carlton Tanabe (one homer), who represented the HWB staff. Tanabe works with the grounds crew.

As for the game, there have been better days for the CaneFires, who would have clinched the division title with a win.

But three consecutive errors paved the way for the Honu's three-run seventh that tied the game after Mark Hallberg had put West Oahu ahead, 6-3, with a three-run home run to left off Shawn Nottingham.

Moises Robles was victimized by two fielding errors by shortstop Brian Friday and one by center fielder Greg Burns. A one-out, RBI double by McBride tied it at 6.

West Oahu starter Chris Cody threw five scoreless innings with two strikeouts. He used only 31 pitches in the four innings he retired the side in order. But he struggled in a 23-pitch fourth, when he allowed a single and two walks, but escaped the bases-loaded situation.

"That seems to be the story of my whole Hawaiian trip," Cody said of the fourth inning. "It's always one inning where I get into a little trouble. But fortunately, I was able to dodge a bullet and not have any runs score against me.

"I started to nibble too much. The heart of the order was up."

But Andrew Hess could not hold the lead in the top of the sixth. He walked Ryan Kalish to start the inning and Corey Brown homered to right-center to pull the Honu to 3-2.

Kyle Martin doubled and Hess was replaced by Harrison Bishop, but McBride greeted him with a bunt single to third that advanced Martin to third. After McBride was caught stealing second, Jang's ground single to left scored Martin to tie the game at 3.

Hallberg's homer restored the three-run advantage by the CaneFires, who then gave it back with the three-error seventh.

After McBride's double tied it at 6, the Honu still had runners at second and third with one out. But Jang popped out to first and Moon hit a liner off Robles' midsection. The ball bounced off the pitcher, who recovered the ball quickly and ran to first base himself for the out.

"Our team, it seems, the whole year, never really ever gives up," McBride said of the rallies. "Even the last batter. Moon hit a nice line drive, but the pitcher was able to keep it down."

SHARKS 4, BEACHBOYS 1

Starter Kyle Drabek pitched one-hit ball over six innings to pull the Sharks (16-15) to within a half-game of the East-leading BeachBoys (17-15) yesterday at Les Murakami Stadium.

Drabek (1-1) walked one and struck out three. Roosevelt and Hawai'i Pacific alumnus Kaimi Mead added two scoreless innings, allowing three hits and a walk with one strikeout.

Roger Kieschnick spoiled the shutout with a homer off Blake King in the bottom of the ninth.

Waldis Joaquin (2-3) gave up a run, which was unearned, in five innings. He allowed two hits, but walked five.

Honolulu's Michael Taylor and Darin Holcomb each went 3 for 4 with an RBI apiece. Taylor's came on an eighth-inning home run.

'Iolani alumnus Kala Ka'aihue also had an RBI, as did Eric Eiland for the Sharks.

The league is off today. There are four regular season games left before Sunday's title game.