Freshman reliever helps Iolani beat Saint Louis, 8-4
By Kyle Sakamoto
Advertiser Staff Writer
Iolani freshman reliever Wally Marciel was in it for the long haul last night in an Interscholastic League of Honolulu baseball game against Saint Louis at Ala Wai field.
Marciel, a left-hander, replaced Eric Muraoka, who retired just one batter, committed two balks, and left with a run in and a runner on third.
Marciel stymied the Crusaders the rest of the way, giving up two runs in the final 6 2/3 innings as Iolani beat Saint Louis, 8-4.
"Wally is only a freshman, but he pitched like a senior out there," Iolani coach Dean Yonamine said. "He's real composed.
"You don't get a pitcher like this too often that can take control of the game and dominate it the way he can."
Marciel allowed an RBI groundout to Danny Lee and induced a groundout to end the first.
Marciel allowed four hits — three in the sixth — walked three and struck out three.
"He did a super job keeping the hitters off-balance with the pitches that he threw," Saint Louis coach Nick Wong said.
The Raiders cut the deficit to 2-1 on an RBI double by Galen Komo in the third, and broke the game open with five runs in the fourth on three hits and four errors.
In the fourth, Iolani's Bert Mitsunaga reached on a throwing error by the shortstop and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Travis Nishioka.
Iolani tied the score at 2 when Kahiwa Letman's fly to deep right was dropped by the right fielder, allowing Mitsunaga to score.
Letman was erased after Darin Yamashita bunted into a fielder's choice.
No. 9 hitter Shawn Agustin singled to left-center on a hit-and-run, which allowed Yamashita to score from first. Agustin reached third when the throw to the plate got by the catcher.
Kelly Teramoto drove in Agustin with a single to left. Teramoto then stole second and scored on Komo's single to left. The ball got past the left fielder, which allowed Komo to circle the bases and make the score 6-2.
"We got to play small ball," Yonamine said. "We got to take advantage of walks, bunts, other teams' mistakes. We're not the type (of team) that we can sit back and swing the bat."
The Raiders made it 8-2 with runs in the fifth and sixth.
Marciel threw 91 pitches (55 strikes). He gave up two runs in the sixth on three consecutive singles and a sacrifice fly.
"In the beginning I struggled with my curveball, but at the end I came through with my curveball because my fastball wasn't working," Marciel said.
"This is my first time pitching this far."
Iolani and Kamehameha are atop the ILH with 7-1 records. Saint Louis dropped to 3-4-1.
"I think we're a contender; I don't think we're the team to beat," Yonamine said.
Chester Wilson batted 2-for-3 for Saint Louis.
Iolani (7-1) 001 511 0—8 10 2
Saint Louis (3-4-1) 200 002 0—4 5 4
Eric Muraoka, Wally Marciel (1) and Kala Kaaihue. Justin Goo, Marc Nobriga (4), Michael Grado (5), Ed Apostol (6) and Jowen Thornton-Murray. W—Marciel. L—Goo.
Leading hitters: Iolani—Galen Komo 3-4, double, 2 RBIs; Kaaihue double; Bert Mitsunaga double. Saint Louis—Ryan Sasaki double; Chester Wilson 2-3, double.
• KAMEHAMEHA 17, MARYKNOLL 5: Keoni Ruth batted 4-for-4, including a double and triple, and drove in two runs to lead the Warriors.
Nine of Kamehameha's 16 hits were for extra bases.
Kamehameha (7-1) 102 405 5—17 16 4
Maryknoll (0-8) 001 004 0— 5 6 5
Jacob Cockett, Brandon Ogimi (4), Matt Morgado (6), Ekolu Pacarro (6) and Baba Merino. Kody Seminara, Chris Lum (4), Nick Holmsberger (5), Matt Fukumoto (6), Scott Fukuhara (7) and Peter Kirst, Kawika Calizar (7). W—Cockett. L—Seminara.
Leading hitters: Kamehameha—Keoni Ruth 4-4, double, triple, 2 RBIs, 2 runs; J.P. Kennedy triple, 2 RBIs, 2 runs; Kahe Santos 2-4, triple, 2 RBIs, 3 runs; Merino double, 2 RBIs; Pacarro double; Ryson Mauricio 2 runs; Dayne Ogawa 2-3, double, 2 runs; Travis Young double, 2 RBIs, 2 runs; Jesse Matsuura home run, 2 RBIs.
• PUNAHOU 13, PAC-FIVE 3: Mark Veneri, Landon Nakata, Kasey Ko and Kyle Kabei each had two hits as the host Buffanblu defeated the Wolfpack.
Shaun Kiriu hit a three-run double in Punahou's six-run fifth inning that halted the game because of the mercy rule.
Pac-Five (3-5) 001 11— 3 4 2
Punahou (5-3) 003 46—13 11 2
Tyler Inouye, Nick Miyamoto (4), Cheyne Abbey-Chong (5), Andrew Ontai (5) and Colby Holt. Mark Veneri, Shaun Kiriu (4) and Michael Kim. W—Veneri. L—Inouye.
Leading hitters: Pac-Five—Owen Simmons 2-2, double; Ontai double. Punahou—Veneri 2-4, double; Landon Nakata 2-3; Kasey Ko 2-3, double; Kyle Kabei 2-3, triple, 2 RBIs; Kiriu double, 3 RBIs; Kaohi Downing double.
• MID-PACIFIC 13, DAMIEN 1: Grant Yamaguchi and Blake Kaneshiro combined for a four-hitter and six strikeouts for the Owls.
Troy Hanzawa and Ryan Leong each had three hits to lead Mid-Pacific.
Damien (2-6) 001 00— 1 4 1
Mid-Pacific (4-3) 470 2X—13 13 0
Chase Masuda, Ranson DeCosta (2), Brandon Baguio (3) and Nick Zieser. Grant Yamaguchi, Blake Kaneshiro (4) and Jeffrey Mizokawa, Kip Masuda. W—Yamaguchi. L—Masuda.
Leading hitters: Damien—Masuda double. Mid-Pacific—Troy Hanzawa 3-4, triple, 3 runs, 2 RBIs; Ryan Leong 3-3, 3 runs; Marc Inamasu 2-2, 2 runs, 2 RBIs; Ryan Asato 2-3, 2 RBIs; Mizokawa double.
