Kamehameha clinches state berth
By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer
The Kamehameha Schools baseball team clinched the Interscholastic League of Honolulu regular season championship last night with a 9-5 victory over Punahou at Ala Wai Field.
The win also secures an automatic state tournament berth for the Warriors, who are 11-2 and hold a two-game lead over Punahou and Mid-Pacific (both 9-4) with one game remaining.
But appropriately enough in a wild and wacky ILH season, last night's clincher wasn't easy.
Kamehameha jumped to a 7-0 lead in the first three innings, but had to withstand a four-run rally by the Buffanblu in the bottom of the seventh. The final out came on a hard-hit grounder to short with the bases loaded and the potential tying run at the plate.
"It's never easy," Warriors coach Vern Ramie said. "There's a lot of quality teams in this league, and we faced a quality one tonight. They showed what they're made of — they were only a couple of hits away from winning it."
Early on, the game did not look like it would come down to that. Keoni Ruth's three-run triple capped the Warriors' five-run second inning, and Aaron Fuller's two-run single in the third made it 7-0.
The lead grew to 9-0 in the sixth after Ruth's sacrifice fly and Shannon Kahale's RBI single.
Meanwhile, Kahale had been effective through the first five innings, striking out six and working himself out of two early jams.
"He handcuffed us," Punahou coach Eric Kadooka said. "Shannon's been the difference for them in the second round. In tough situations, he gets tougher. All the good pitchers in this league are like that — it's like they have something extra and the pitches get tougher."
The Buffanblu finally scored a run in the bottom of the sixth on Ryen Shimizu's RBI single.
Landon Nakata led off the bottom of the seventh with a double and scored on an error to make it 9-2, but Kamehameha got a double play to clear the bases.
The last out, however, proved to be elusive as Punahou sent seven batters to the plate and got RBI singles from Mark Veneri, Chad Moriyama and Kyle Seminara to make it 9-5.
Kahale needed only 72 pitches through the first six innings but threw 40 to get the final three outs.
"I wanted to finish, I wanted to get the 'W,' " Kahale said. "But the strike zone seemed to get smaller and smaller. I just tried to bear down and make them hit ground balls and get out of the inning."
Ramie said making it through the difficult ILH schedule with only two losses is a feat in itself.
"You gotta tip your hat to our kids, because in this league, you never know what's going to happen," he said.
Kamehameha (11-2) 052 002 0—9 13 1
Punahou (9-4) 000 001 4—5 11 1
Shannon Kahale and Baba Merino; Jared Pate, Kasey Ko (3), Reyn Nakamasu (7) and Todd LaFountaine. WP—Kahale. LP— Pate.
Leading hitters: Kam— Tyler Perkins 2-3; Keoni Ruth 1-3, triple, 4 RBIs; Kahale 2-4, RBI; Nick Freitas 2-3; Zach McAngus 2-4; Aaron Fuller 2-4, 3 RBIs; JP Kennedy 2-3. Pun—Mark Veneri 3-4, 3 RBIs; Ryen Shimizu 3-3, RBI.
• IOLANI 5, ST. LOUIS 4: The Crusaders stranded 13 runners and left the bases loaded in the first, third and fifth innings as the Raiders held on for a win at Ala Wai Field.
Iolani took a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the first inning, highlighted by Reed Tanaka's two-run single. St. Louis closed to 5-4 in the seventh, but Kila Ka'aihue recorded his third save to preserve the victory.
Ka'aihue also batted 3-for-3 with a double and RBI.
ST. LOUIS (7-6) 100 200 1 — 4 13 1
IOLANI (8-5) 310 100 X — 5 8 0
Leon Julian, Kaimi Mead (6) and Jowen Murray-Thornton. Chris Loo, Eric Muraoka (5), Dustin Goto (6), Kila Ka'aihue (7) and Reid Saito. W—Muraoka. L—Julian. S—Ka'aihue.
Leading hitters: SL—Danny Lee 3-4, RBI; Justin Humalon 2-2, triple, RBI. Iol— Ka'aihue 3-3, double, RBI; Reed Tanaka 2 RBIs.
• Mid-Pacific 14, Damien 2: Troy Hanzawa and Ryan Basco each went 3-for-5 to lead the Owls past the Monarchs.
Mid-Pacific (9-4) 902 000 3—14 19 0
Damien (1-12) 110 000 0—2 10 1
Harrison Kuroda, Kurt Uwaine (7) and Matt Inouye, Ivan Kabei (7). Brandon Tamanaha, Destin Alameida (1), Chase Masuda (7) and Jarrett Takayama. WP—Kuroda. LP— Tamanaha.
Leading hitters: MPI— Troy Hanzawa 3-5; Inouye 3-4, 2 doubles, 2 RBIs; Ryan Basco 3-5, 3 RBIs; Justin Pate 3-4, double, RBI; Justin Kashiwaeda 2-4, 2 RBIs; Tyler Okamura double, 2 RBIs. Dami—Chase Masuda 3-4; Tamanaha 2-4, RBI; Destin Alameida 2-4, double, RBI.
Reported by Donnie Martin
• PAC-FIVE 7, MARYKNOLL 5: Jeris Nakamasu had three hits and Kevin Yamada and Paul Nishimura had two apiece for the Wolf Pack.
Pac-Five (3-10) 401 110 0—7 10 4
Maryknoll (4-9) 212 000 X—5 9 3
Tyler Inouye and Colby Holt. Reily Maeda and Brandon Goshima. WP—Inouye. LP—Maeda.
Leading hitters: Pac—Kevin Yamada 2-4, double, triple; Paul Nishimura 2-4; Jeris Nakamasu 3-4. Mary—Goshima 2-3, double; Reid Nakamura 2-4.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
• KAMEHAMEHA 63, MARYKNOLL 47: Mounia Nihipali scored 12, Megan Ching 11 and Amber Carter 10 for the Warriors.
Cheryl Lee led the Spartans with 14 points.
Maryknoll (6-4) 10 10 11 16—47
Kamehameha (9-1) 16 10 18 19—63
Maryknoll—Diana Samson 0, Shannon Riley 11, Michelle Baduria 9, Whitney Wong 2, Jessica Ho 0, Stacey Doran 0, Michelle Tang 0, Cheryl Lee 14, Sela Fisilau 11. Totals 15 16-26 47.
Kamehameha—Jeneka Taeoalii 0, India Soo 2, Ashley Ruff 8, Courtney Chai 2, Kekai Crabb 6, Amber Carter 10, Chrystal Hodson 4, Lehua Wood 4, Mounia Nihipali 12, Megan Kanoa 4, Megan Ching 11. Totals 25 10-16 63.
3-point goals—Maryknoll 1 (Baduria). Kamehameha 3 (Carter 2, Hodson).
• SACRED HEARTS 45, MID-PACIFIC 29: Brittney Aiwohi scored 16 points and Nicole Lehner 10 to lead the Lancers.
Sacred Hearts (4-6) 11 12 11 11—45
Mid-Pacific (2-8) 2 7 7 13—29
Sacred Hearts—Kathryn Rutland 8, Cherie Kinoshita 0, Brittney Aiwohi 16, Nicole Lehner 10, Shalei Soueira 0, Kim Young 0, Colbey Aiwohi 2, Nikki Agor 0, Lani Faumuina 2, Nicole Raiola 7. Totals 16 10-13 45.
Mid-Pacific—Kelli Kajiwara 3, Leihoku Pedersen 0, Kristy Minamishin 4, Ashley Sato 2, Jasmine Vieira 0, Stephanie Toshi 12, Mariko Strickland 0, Valerie Aficial 0, Talia Onosai 8. Totals 8 10-20 29.
3-point goals—Sacred Hearts 3 (Rutland 2, B. Aiwohi). Mid-Pacific 3 (Toshi 2, Kajiwara).
Reported by Jenny Tom
ILH Division II
Iolani 41, Hawai'i Baptist 32
Iol—Kelly Asato 13, Jessica Wong 10. HBA—Kara Morita 10.
• MCKINLEY 45, ROOSEVELT 34: Amber Lee scored 21 points, including all 12 of the Tigers' points in the first quarter.
Kahea Rodrigues led Roosevelt with 10 points.
McKinley (7-0) 12 5 14 14—45
Roosevelt (1-6) 5 9 13 7—34
McKinley—Chantal Yadao 5, Rayna Isaki 4, Kristi Fukumoto 1, Meagan Miyasaka 3, Chyloh Rodrigues 4, Janin Corpuz 0, Noelani Correia 0, Amanda Leopoldo 5, Amber Lee 21, Tania Liufau 2. Totals 15 14-23 45.
Roosevelt—Ashlie Dutro 1, Justina Yanuaria 0, Chelsie Kadota 8, Capi Uyechi 0, Larissa Nakasone 9, Kahea Rodrigues 10, Nicole Yoshimoto 1, Nicole Okada 5. Totals 8 13-29 34.
3-point goals—McKinley 1 (Rodrigues). Roosevelt 5 (Kadota 2, Rodrigues 2, Nakasone).
JV—Roosevelt 39, McKinley 28
Reported by Bobby Keanini
• KAHUKU 48, KAIMUKI 43: Michelle Peters and Kelci Naihe scored six apiece, and Charlotte Leitupo and Karla Tailele added four each as the Red Raiders outscored the Bulldogs 20-12 in the fourth quarter.
Chyenna Souza led Kaimuki with 13 points.
Kaimuki (4-3) 14 8 9 12—43
Kahuku (6-1) 11 10 7 20—48
Kaimuki—Flora Mesa 4, Kara Hayashida 0, Jessica Arakawa 0, Dalia Solia 9, Chyenna Souza 13, Tyleen Tausaga 8, Lovely Moyle 2, Alana Burgess 7, Ching Man Ying 0. Totals 16 8-12 43.
Kahuku—Mereani Lewenilovo 3, Lesina Funaki 3, Krisha Kai 5, Karla Tailele 10, Charlotte Leitupo 6, Michelle Peters 8, Nancy Vave 0, Tanya Alo 1, Kelci Naihe 12, Alberta Fotu 0. Totals 16 14-26 48.
3-point goals—Kaimuki 3 (Souza 2, Solia). Kahuku 2 (Naihe, Funaki).
JV—Kahuku 43, Kaimuki 28
Reported by Jeri Tugman
• Moanalua 53, Kalaheo 45: Christina Sierra scored a game-high 20 points to lead the Menehune.
Bre Carson and Latoya Wily each scored 16 points for Kalaheo.
Kalaheo (5-2) 11 12 2 20—45
Moanalua (5-2) 11 14 9 19—53
Kalaheo—Bre Carson 16, Shaina Siliga 3, Kalena Hatori 3, Shantel Marumoto 0, Brandi Benson 2, Natasha Lagapa 3, Dawnelle Nahina 0, Brina Fritzsche 2, Kaiena Huihui 0, Hauoli Kahlbaum 0, Latoya Wily 16. Totals 18 3-6 45.
Moanalua—Christina Sierra 20, Alice Ra 0, Jessica Moran 1, Jen Light 0, Jessie Kamakura 4, Sasha Silva 0, Patti Hardimon 12, Ashley Kaono 0, Marleen Leautu 8, Brittany Briem 0, Kepua Lee 8. Totals 14 21-25 53.
3-point goals—Kalaheo 6 (Carson 4, Siliga, Lagapa). Moanalua 4 (Sierra 4).
JV—Moanalua 55, Kalaheo 47
Reported by Adeline Delrosario
• Kalani 54, Castle 43: Tamari Miyashiro and Ashley Takata each scored 14 points as the Falcons beat the Knights.
Shantel Tilton scored 11 for Castle.
Castle (1-6) 16 10 10 7—43
Kalani (5-2) 17 17 13 7—54
Castle—Kele Tukushi 0, Donna Echalas 0, Audrey Ako 0, Shardae Ingano 4, Jessica Beard 0, Shantel Tilton 11, Tiare Kahoekapu 6, Puna Waialama 6, Rachel Hirokawa 6, Ven Agallana 10. Totals 15 12-14 43.
Kalani—Tamari Miyashiro 14, Alisa Lum 0, Kristy Hirahara 2, Ashley Takata 14, Karlie Saiki 0, Leeann Shimabukuro 4, Chenty Bonifacio 9, Lauren Cheng 2, Jodi Segawa 7, Kristi Saiki 0, Keri Hee 0, Jessica Cruciana 0, Danielle Lindo 2. Totals 22 10-20 54.
3-point goals—Castle 1 (Agallana).
JV—Kalani 35, Castle 27
Reported by Tanner Takata
• Kailua 39, Kaiser 31: Alberta Lui and Ana Fisilau each scored nine points to lead the Surfriders past the Cougars.
Kailua (1-6) 10 8 9 12—39
Kaiser (2-6) 9 13 7 2—31
Kailua—Taryn Imai 0, Kalina Kama 0, Johnalynn Ilae 0, Jaushlyn Mansinon 4, Konnie DeCaires 7, Alberta Lui 9, Ana Fisilau 9, Loke Lastimosa 8, Ruth Pedro, Kamaile Hughes 2. Totals 15 8-12 39.
Kaiser—Sarah Black 0, Shera Yamamoto 7, Nanea Kamauoha 8, Heather Dick 0, Karen Poon 0, Jasmine Yoshino 5, Julia Paulo 3, Leigh Raymond 0, Kelly Niiro 0, Kehau Bangay 0, Amanda Petterson 8, Kilioe Aliifua 0. Totals 11 8-23 31.
3-point goals—Kailua 1 (Lee). Kaiser 1 (Yamamoto).
JV—Kaiser 41, Kailua 35.
Reported by Matt Ching
CORRECTIONS
• Kalaheo High girls basketball player Latoya Wily's last name was misspelled in yesterday's Weekly Honors story.
• Sacred Hearts basketball player Amber Juan's last name was misspelled in a story posted yesterday.
