Wai'anae routs Mililani in OIA West game, 10-4
By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer
The road to the O'ahu Interscholastic Association Western Division championship usually goes through Mililani, and it's usually a rough one.
TODAY • SAILING — Interscholastic League of Honolulu: Regatta No. 4 off Magic Island, 4:30 p.m. TOMORROW • GIRLS BASKETBALL — O'ahu Interscholastic Association: Campbell (4-1) at Radford (6-0); Pearl City (5-0) at 'Aiea (5-0), 6:30 p.m. • JUDO — Interscholastic League of Honolulu: 2 girls and 4 boys matches at Saint Louis, 6 and 6:30 p.m. O'ahu Interscholastic Association: 5 Eastern Division matches at Roosevelt, 2 p.m. SATURDAY • BASEBALL — Interscholastic League of Honolulu: Mid-Pacific (4-3-1) at Iolani (7-1), 1 p.m. O'ahu Interscholastic Association: 'Aiea (4-0) at Wai'anae (4-0), Kahuku (3-1) vs. Roosevelt (4-0) at Stevenson Intermediate, both 2 p.m. • TENNIS — O'ahu Interscholastic Association Post Season classic (divisional championships): Times and locations to be announced. • TRACK & FIELD — O'ahu Interscholastic Association divisional championships: Eastern Division at Kaiser, 2 p.m. Western Division at Mililani, 2 p.m.
But Wai'anae cleared that hurdle yesterday with a surprisingly decisive 10-4 victory over the host Trojans to stay undefeated at 4-0. Mililani dropped to 4-1.
Events to watch on O'ahu
An anticipated pitchers' duel between Mililani's Chris Balatico and Wai'anae's Calvin Uyechi unraveled in the top of the first inning when the Seariders sent eight batters to the plate and scored four runs on just two hits.
The Trojans answered with two runs in the bottom half, but Wai'anae made it 6-2 in the fourth inning after scoring on two wild pitches and 10-2 in a four-run fifth with Uyechi's two-run double being the highlight.
Mililani got a run back in the bottom of the fifth, but Uyechi stayed in control for the complete game win.
"I didn't expect this kind of score, especially with Balatico going for them," Seariders coach Kekoa Kaluhiokalani said. "He beat us last year. But it's good to see our kids compete like they did, and our hitting coach (Walter Grilho) helped us prepare for him. And I knew it could come down to the team that makes the least mistakes."
The Trojans actually out-hit Wai'anae 11-9, but made four errors compared to two for the Seariders. Three Mililani pitchers also combined for nine walks.
"Whenever you walk somebody, there's almost always a good chance it's going to turn into a run," Trojans coach Cary Kihara said. "Not only do you put a guy on base, but it's kinda demoralizing because you feel like you didn't do your job."
Kihara added that Wai'anae's hitters capitalized on the walks with timely hits and by putting the ball in play.
"They put a lot of pressure on our defense," Kihara said. "We hit the ball, too, but the difference was we hit balls in the air, which are easier to catch. They put more balls on the ground, which forced us to catch and make the throw. They were clutch with runners on base."
Uyechi, meanwhile, called his performance "shaky" but credited his teammates for holding things together.
"We worked on our hitting in practice, and all the hitters pulled through," Uyechi said. "The defense played a good game, too — they caught a lot of fly balls, and we have a good infield. And my catcher (Darryl Ohelo) calls the whole game. I just stayed with the fastball away with a few curves and a change-up to throw them off."
Kihara said Uyechi deserves credit, too.
"He's a tough battler," Kihara said. "I don't think he had his best pitches today, but he still did a good job despite not having everything. His curve finally started working in the later innings, and that just made him tougher."
The Seariders' victory sets up another showdown of West unbeatens on Saturday, with 'Aiea (4-0) traveling to Wai'anae at 2 p.m.
Wai'anae (4-0) 400 240 0 — 10 9 2
Mililani (4-1) 200 010 1 — 4 11 4
Calvin Uyechi and Darryl Ohelo. Christopher Balatico, Jordan Mikami (5), Craig Sato (5) and Kamaka Crabbe. W — Uyechi. L — Balatico.
Leading hitters: Wai'anae — Chevy Teves 3-5, 2 runs; Uyechi double, 2 RBIs; Kevin Kauweloa 2-4; Allen Holt double. Mililani — Kyle Nakamoto 2-4, double, 2 runs; Dustin Nuibe 4-4, 2 double; Dane Mizusawa double; Sato double.
• ROOSEVELT 5, KALAHEO 1: Kaimi Mead pitched a four-hitter, while striking out 14, as the visiting Rough Riders beat the Mustangs.
Roosevelt's Joshua Danz batted 3-for-4 and Ivan Fujii went 2-for-3.
Roosevelt (4-0) 002 003 0—5 10 4
Kalaheo (4-1) 000 100 0—1 4 4
Kaimi Mead and Kevin Fujii. Sean Fernandez, Sunny Hardbottle (6) and Myking Jake. W — Mead. L — Fernandez.
Leading hitters: Roosevelt—Ivan Fujii 2-3; Joshua Danz 3-4, triple.
• KAILUA 4, FARRINGTON 1: Chris Mahelona pitched a four-hitter and Mike Kealoha hit a two-run double to keep the Surfriders unbeaten at 5-0.
Joseph Gabrillo batted 2-for-3 for Farrington.
Farrington (1-3) 100 000 0—1 4 1
Kailua (5-0) 000 220 X—4 6 1
Alex Mendoza and Orry Collazo. Chris Mahelona and Sean Medeiros, Ho'o Obed. W — Mahelona. L — Mendoza.
Leading hitters: Farrington—Joseph Gabrillo 2-3; Collazo double. Kailua—Mike Kealoha double, 2 RBIs; Bronson Ho 2-2.
• KALANI 12, MOANALUA 8: Randy Kitagawa, Scott Shimada and Chad Lum drove in two runs apiece as the visiting Falcons beat the Menehunes.
Kawika Kaululukukui doubled and homered for Moanalua.
Kalani (2-3) 024 203 1—12 12 2
Moanalua (2-2) 003 220 1— 8 11 1
Davin Muramoto, Asher Tamanaha (4), Chassis Moody (5) and Preston Pires. Chance Gaskauskas, Adamm Bird (3), Ryan Wallsinger (4), Andrew Blomberg (7) and Brett Tanigawa. W — Tamanaha. L — Gaskauskas.
Leading hitters: Kalani—Moody 2-4; Shannon Chung 2-5, double; Randy Kitagawa 2-3, double, 2 RBIs; Scott Shimada double, 2 RBIs; Allen Komori 2-2; Chad Lum 2-4, 2 RBIs. Moanalua—Glenn Taijeron 2-4, 2 RBIs; Kawika Kaululukukui 2-2, double, homer; Blomberg 2-4, 2 double, 2 RBIs; Dayne Dela Cruz 2-3.
• KAISER 9, KAIMUKI 2: Landon Kaaua batted 3-for-3 with two doubles and Niles Nakama had three RBIs as the host Cougars beat the Bulldogs.
Jeffrey Peters and Colby Ho drove in two runs apiece for Kaiser.
Kaimuki (1-4) 100 100 0—2 5 3
Kaiser (2-3) 430 011 X—9 10 1
Reid Yamane, Baba Kaluna (1) and Shane Asoau, Jansen Hew. Michael Heu, Sean Samson (5) and Jarryd Maeda. W — Heu. L — Yamane. S — Samson.
Leading hitters: Kaimuki—Asoau triple. Kaiser—Landon Kaaua 3-3, 2 doubles; Jeffrey Peters 2-4, 2 RBIs; Maeda 2-3; Neale Asato triple; Niles Nakama 3 RBIs; Kolby Ho 2 RBIs.
• CASTLE 4, MCKINLEY 1: Jeff Syrop and Darin Hamada combined on a one-hitter as the host Knights beat the Tigers.
Syrop pitched five innings and Hamada pitched the sixth and seventh.
Mckinley (0-5) 000 001 0—1 1 2
Castle (1-3) 112 000 X—4 5 1
Jarren Hirasaki and Andrew Mitani. Jeff Syrop, Darin Hamada (6) and David Mohika. W — Syrop. L — Hirasaki.
Leading hitter: Castle—Scott Shinsato double.
• PEARL CITY 14, KAPOLEI 0: Shawn Benson pitched a four-hitter and struck out five as the Chargers improved to 4-0.
Jayson Kira hit a two-run double and Ren Acosta added a two-run single to spice a nine-run first inning in a game shortened to five innings because of the mercy rule.
Kapolei (1-3) 000 00— 0 4 2
Pearl City (4-0) 914 0X—14 15 1
Howard Vinhasa, Robert Romero (1), Daryl Figueroa (3) and Drake Kula. Shawn Benson and Jayson Kira, Kyle Boentis. W — Benson. L — Vinhasa.
Leading hitters: Pearl City—Ren Acosta 3-3, 3 RBIs; Ryan Tanabe 3-4, 2 RBIs; Chad Itokazu 2-2, 2 RBIs; Nolan Kugiya 2-2; Kira double, 2 RBIs; Rex Yamaguchi double.
• CAMPBELL 5, NANAKULI 4: Tristan Bailey pitched a four-hitter and recorded his 11th strikeout with the bases loaded in the top of the seventh to halt the Golden Hawks' rally.
Prentiss Anderson and Victor Cachuela had two hits apiece for Campbell.
Nanakuli (0-5) 100 000 3—4 4 3
Campbell (3-1-1) 002 021 X—5 8 6
Mario Bartholomew and Nathan Naehu. Tristan Bailey and Kendall Hodson. W — Bailey. L — Bartholomew.
Leading hitters: Nanakuli—Clyde Asinsin double. Campbell—Prentiss Anderson 2-3; Bailey double; James Bannister 2-3; Victor Cachuela 2-3.
• LEILEHUA 9, WAIALUA 0: Ryan Basco pitched a four-hitter, striking out 10 and walking one, to lift the Mules.
Edward Garma batted 3-for-4 with a double, three RBIs and two runs.
Waialua (0-5) 000 000 0—0 4 2
Leilehua (3-2) 232 020 X—9 8 2
Gavin Nakamura and Grant Yamanouchi. Ryan Basco and Ricky Paderes. W — Basco. L — Nakamura.
Leading hitters: Leilehua—Edward Garma 3-4, double, 3 RBIs, 2 runs; Dalen Hale 2-4; Patrick San Nicholas double.
• WAIPAHU 10, RADFORD 3: Shane Jelf hit a two-run double in the first and the Marauders scored in every inning.
Matt Ryan had two hits for Radford, which hurt itself by committing nine errors.
Radford (0-5) 000 300 0— 3 6 9
Waipahu (1-2-1) 231 121 X—10 8 3
Andrew Atmospeva, Synny Belcher (6) and Matt Ryan. Jaryd Kiyabu and John Fauatea, Maifala Laa (6). W —Kiyabu. L — Atmospeva.
Leading hitters: Radford—Ryan 2-3. Waipahu—Fauatea 2-3, double, 2 RBIs; Shane Jelf 2-4, double, 3 RBIs; Dave Tausa 2-4, double.
GOLF
• Abreu shoots 4-under 66: Brandon Abreu of Pearl City shot a 4-under-par 66 yesterday at the Kalakaua Golf Course in O'ahu Interscholastic Association Western Division competition.
In Big Island Interscholastic Federation play yesterday, Stefan Tachibana of Waiakea shot a 3-under-par 69 at the Big Island Country Club.
