Sophomore's two-hitter lifts 'Aiea into first in OIA West
By Dennis Anderson
Advertiser Staff Writer
Ranon Aquino, a left-handed sophomore with an array of pitches from slow to slower, pitched 'Aiea High into first place yesterday in O'ahu Interscholastic Association Western Division baseball.
Cory Lum • The Honolulu Advertiser
Na Ali'i will stay alone atop the OIA West standings until the public school teachers' strike ends.
Chase Nakamura, right, of 'Aiea watches the action while waiting for his turn to bat in yesterday's game with Pearl City.
Aquino, who couldn't pitch last year because of tendinitis in his left arm, allowed two hits and three baserunners in six innings in a 6-0 victory over previously unbeatenPearl City at 'Aiea Rec.
'Aiea (3-0) leapfrogged into first place when Mililani (4-1) was ambushed at Wai 'anae, 5-3.
Aquino retired 12 of the first 13 Pearl City batters and the last six he faced. He walked one and struck out two, both called. 'Aiea closer Matt Yoshimura pitched the seventh.
"We were way ahead of him," said Pearl City's Blane Kagamida, whose line-drive and fly-ball outs to center were the Chargers' hardest hit balls. "He hit his spots."
'Aiea broke open the game in the home fourth with four runs. A walk, error and single filled the bases with none out. Ross Akimoto brought home the first run with a sacrifice fly and Bryan Tucker lashed a two-out double to the fence in right-center to drive in two more. Tucker later scored on a double steal.
Pinch hitter Omar Tucker (no relation) ripped a two-run single in the fifth.
Though 'Aiea could wind up as de facto division champions if the strike isn't settled in time, senior first baseman Casey Onaga said Na Ali'i "don't want it that way."
"It would be nice to see how we fare against the rest of the competition," Onaga said. "But if it (the strike) happens, it's out of our hands. It's a different issue."
Cory Lum • The Honolulu Advertiser
Onaga said he and the other eight Na Ali'i seniors would organize the team for daily practices at 'Aiea Rec, a city facility where they will be in sight of teacher-picketers at the adjacent campus. "We'll use our own balls and equipment and try to stay sharp," he said.
Aiea first baseman Casey Onaga stretches for the throw to get the out as Pearl City's Gavin Concepcion hustles down the first baseline in yesterday's O'ahu Interscholastic Western Division game.
The teachers union will not let coaches supervise their teams or allow any games or practices on campus during the strike.
Pearl City's captains, including Kagamida and Jay Egusa, will try to hold practices "on our own" at Pacheco Park. "It's a frustrating and helpless feeling," Kagamida said, "but we want to keep going."
Egusa said "I'm not really angry, but I don't know what to do. I have no control."
PEARL CITY (3-1)
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'AIEA (3-0)
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Shawn Benson, Cory Fujinaga (4), Chad Itozaki (5) and Gavin Concepcion. Ranon Aquino, Matt Yoshimura (7) and Aaron Powell.
WP — Aquino. LP — Benson. 'Aiea: Aaron Powell 2-3, 2 runs; Ross Akimoto double; Omar Tucker 2 RBIs; Bryan Tucker 2-2, triple, 2 RBIs.
• • •
• Wai'anae 5, Mililani 3: Brandon Lopez hit a triple in the bottom of the sixth, then stole home on the next pitch to give the Seariders a two-run cushion and the win over the previously undefeated Trojans in an OIA Western Division game at Wai'anae. Cy Donald went 3-for-3 to lead the Trojans.
MILILANI (4-1)
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WAI'ANAE (3-1)
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Adam Inava, NIck Mizusawa (6), Weston Kurisu (6) and Kurt Miyahira. SId Moses, Chad Fuller (5), Brian Gaspar (5) and Peter Serano.
Leading hitters: Mililani — Cy Donald 3-3. Wai'anae — Brandon Lopez 3-3, 2 triples.
• • •
• CAMPBELL 8, NANAKULI 1: Chad Bailey pitched a one-hitter, allowing one run and striking out 11 as the visiting Sabers defeated the Golden Hawks in the OIA West. Campbell's William Tennent went 3-for-3, with two doubles.
CAMPBELL (3-1)
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NANAKULI (1-3)
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Chad Bailey and Ikaika Trinidad. Jeral Alapai, Maka Vickers (6) and Kaipo Bright. WP — Bailey. LP — Alapai.
Leading hitters: Campbell — William Tennent 3-3, 2 doubles, 2 runs; Keohi Kapana 2-4, double; Trinidad 2-4.
• • •
• WAIPAHU 2, WAIALUA 1: Shane Jelf hit a run-scoring triple, then scored on a balk in the bottom of the fifth inning to lift the Marauders in an OIA West game.
Winning pitcher Jaryd Kiyabu pitched a three-hitter and struck out five while losing pitcher Gavin Nakamura pitched a two-hitter and struck out 10.
WAIALUA (0-4)
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WAIPAHU (1-4)
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Gavin Nakamura and Charlie Pantog. Jaryd Kiyabu and Jannsen Rivera. WP— Kiyabu. LP — Nakamura
Leading hitters: Waialua — Pantog double. Waipahu — Shane Jelf triple.
• • •
• Kalaheo 3, Roosevelt 2: The Rough Riders stranded 10 runners on base in the game, including a bases-loaded, two-out opportunity in the bottom of the sixth inning, as the visiting Mustangs held on to an OIA Eastern Division victory at Stevenson Field.
KALAHEO (2-1)
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ROOSEVELT (3-2)
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Chris Rego, Ikaika Hollenger (6) and Mike Garcia. Jason Yasuda and JOey Shimabuku. WP — Rego. LP — Yasuda.
Leading hitters: Kalaheo — Alex. Zapata double, 1 RBI.. Roosevelt — Booth Kiyota 2-3; Matthew Terukina 2-3.
• • •
• Moanalua 6, Castle 5: Rick Fukushima scored from second base on an error by the Knights' first baseman in the bottom of the sixth to lift the host Menehunes to an OIA East victory. Abe Manutai led Moanalua with a homer and three RBIs.
CASTLE (3-1-1)
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MOANALUA (3-2)
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Kurt Okumura, Kaulana Chang (6) and Jason Taniguchi. Kyle Nakamichi, Michael Miagi (5), Geoffrey Say (6) and Lorin Nakagawa, Brett Tanigawa (6). WP — Say. LP — Okumura.
Leading hitters: Castle — Jordan Tom 2-4, 1 RBI; Taniguchi 2-4 1 RBI; Noah Kon 2-4 1 RBI. Moanalua — Abe Manutai 2-3, homer, 3 RBIs; Tanigawa, double; Ric Fukushima 2-3, double, 2 RBIs; Steven Green 2-3.
• • •
• KAILUA 10, KAHUKU 0: Levi Manutai had two hits and drove in three runs, and Chris Ching had two RBIs as the visiting and unbeaten Surfriders beat the Red Raiders in a game called after five innings due to the 10-run mercy rule. No Kahuku player advanced past second base.
KAILUA (3-0)
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KAHUKU (2-3)
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Chad Kajiyama and Kawika Kekaula. Mel Silva, Spencer Colburn (3) and Alex Ponciano. WP — Kajiyama. LP — Silva.
Leading hitters: Kailua — Levi Manutai 2-3, 3 RBIs; Chris Ching 2 RBIs.
• • •
• KAISER 6, KALANI 2: The Cougars scored four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning on five walks, mixed with a single and a fielder's choice to beat the Falcons in the OIA East. Kaiser also turned four double plays.
KALANI (2-3)
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KAISER (3-0-1)
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Bryce Sumida, Gert Koenigs (5), Rodney Roque (5) and Sean Kaku. Todd Nishihira, Jason Peters (6) and Chris Gallego. WP — Nishihira. LP — Sumida. S — Peters.
Leading hitters: Kaiser — David Chu 2-3; Eric Ching 2-2; Kasey Fukuda double; Ian Matsuda 2-2, 3 stolen bases.
• • •
• KAIMUKI 10, MCKINLEY 2: The Bulldogs broke open a tight game in the seventh, scoring seven runs on four hits and three Tiger errors. Tino Caires had two hits and three RBIs for Kaimuki.
KAIMUKI (2-3)
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MCKINLEY (0-4)
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Ryan Hiromasa, Sean Nomura (5) and Leland Ohelo. Shaughn Kayatani, Casey Lee (5), Reid Goto (7) and Justin Book. WP — Horimasu, LP — Kayatani.
Leading hitters — Kaim: Tino Caires 2-4, 3 RBIs; Leland Ohelo 2-4, double, 1 RBI. McK: Kai Lopez 2-3.
• • •
BIIF BASEBALL
• KOHALA 3, KA'U 2: Relief pitcher Elliot Naito wiggled out of self-made trouble to save Kohala's Big Island Interscholastic Federation victory yesterday in Pahala.
In the seventh inning, Naito struck out the first two hitters, then walked the next two. Naito fanned the next Trojan to earn the save.
Bryce Dela Cruz pitched six innings for the victory. He allowed two hits and eight walks and struck out six.
Ka'u left 11 runners on base.
KOHALA (2-3)
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KA'U (1-6)
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WP — Bryce Dela Cruz. LP — Gerik Akamu. Kohala: Kekai Nakamura 2-3.
• • •
• Hawai'i Prep 9, Kealakehe 8: Ka Makani scored one run on a wild pitch and both the tying and winning runs on an error in the bottom of the seventh inning at Waimea to overtake the Waveriders.
Bully Fergerstrom gave up 11 hits and four walks but went the distance to earn the victory. Kealakehe hurt itself with seven errors.
KEALAKEHE (3-3)
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HAWAI'I PREP (2-3)
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WP — Bully Fergerstrom. LP — Jake Vancil.
Leading hitters — HPA: Bully Fergerstrom 2-3, 2 runs; Kaiao Archer 2-3, RBI. Kealakehe: Ganesh Lange 2-4; Jake Vancil 3-4, RBI.
BIIF standings: Waiakea 4-0; St. Joseph 5-1; Konawaena 3-1; Hilo 3-2; Kealakehe 3-3; Pahoa 2-2; Kohala 2-3; Hawai'i Prep, 2-3; Honoka'a, 1-5; Ka'u, 1-6.
• • •
KIF BASEBALL
• Waimea 7, Kapa'a 3: The Menehune took advantage of eight Warrior errors to get their first Kaua'i Interscholastic Federation victory.
Winning pitcher Rayson Cacal was rescued with two outs in the seventh by Shawn Yadao, who stopped a Kapa'a rally after two runs scored.
Cacal drove in a run with a solo homer in the first.
KAPA'A (2-2)
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WAIMEA (1-3)
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WP — Rayson Cacal (4 hits in 6 2/3 innings). LP — Robin Lore.
Leading hitters — Kapa'a: Robin Lore 2-4. Waimea: Rayson Cacal 2-3, solo homer; Leonard Zalapony 2-4.
