Kailua shuts down Kalaheo to clinch East title
By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer
Chris Mahelona pitched a two-hitter with 11 strikeouts yesterday to lead the Kailua High School baseball team to a 10-0 victory over rival Kalaheo, a win that clinched the O'ahu Interscholastic Association Eastern Division championship for the Surfriders (8-1) with one game remaining.
But like their title journey itself, yesterday's victory at Kailua Rec Field was not as easy as it appears.
Kailua led only 1-0 through four innings, before Mustangs starter Kalani Lingo had to leave the game with a sprained ankle suffered while backing up a throw behind home plate. The Surfriders made it 3-0 in the fifth on Sean Medeiros' two-out, two-run single to center field.
Kailua then exploded for seven runs in the sixth, highlighted by Ryan Rodrigues' grand slam to left-center. Mahelona then retired Kalaheo (5-4) in the bottom half to end the game on the 10-run rule.
"I wanted this game from the beginning of the season," said Mahelona, a right-handed junior. "We lost to them the last three years, so this is the game I wanted the most."
Mahelona wasted no time, striking out six of the first seven batters he faced. Kailua took a 1-0 lead in the third on Bronson Ho's sacrifice fly to left, scoring Michael Kealoha. The Mustangs then loaded the bases with no outs in the fourth, but Mahelona struck out the side to escape the jam. For the third out, he threw an outside slider for a called strike three.
"That was the big thing today, going outside," said Mahelona, who also used effective fastballs, sliders and cut fastballs. "I figured I might as well go with the wind. I felt good from the beginning, and after I got the first strikeout, I knew it was my day."
The only hits he allowed were Eric Nau's blooper to right in the third and Cody Racoma's single to right in the fourth. Mahelona had four walks, including one to load the bases in the fourth.
"That was clutch on his part, he did a great job getting us out of that jam," Surfriders coach Corey Ishigo said.
Kalaheo coach Alex Racoma said the Mustangs could have tried to squeeze a run home in that situation, but opted to swing away.
"That's the chances we took with our batters, but we just didn't get the hit," Racoma said. "But (Mahelona) did a good job, no question. He threw strikes."
Lingo twisted his ankle behind home plate while covering the throw on Ho's sacrifice fly and stayed in to pitch the next inning, but he was limping noticeably and was removed for a pinch-hitter in the fourth.
"He was holding 'em down, and he's a bulldog, he wanted to stay in the game," Racoma said. "But we didn't want to risk it anymore. We still have a shot at the playoffs, everybody's tight (in the East)."
Kailua knows that, having slipped past McKinley in 16 innings and Moanalua in eight.
Kailua (8-1) 001 027—10 8 1
Kalaheo (5-4) 000 000— 0 2 2
Chris Mahelona and Sean Medeiros, Ho'o Obed (6). Kalani Lingo, Scott Galusha (5), Sonny Harbottle (5) and Jacob Myking. W—Mahelona. L—Lingo.
Leading hitters: Kailua—Ryan Rodrigues 2-3, grand slam; Medeiros 2-3, 2 RBIs; Michael Kealoha 2-4.
• KAISER 7, FARRINGTON 0, forfeit: The umpire called the forfeit of the game, according to Farrington coach Brian Okada. In the top of the third inning, a Farrington assistant coach was ejected. The umpire didn't think the assistant had completely left the field and ruled the forfeit, according to Farrington athletic director Harold Tanaka. Kaiser is 4-4, while Farrington is 2-6.
• ROOSEVELT 14, MOANALUA 4: Kevin Fujii hit a grand slam and a three-run homer to lead the host Rough Riders by the Menehunes.
Moanalua (5-3) 100 03— 4 4 3
Roosevelt (6-2) 040 82—14 11 3
Chance Daskauskas, Ryan Wallsinger (4), Trevor Bell (4) and Brett Tanigawa. Rickey Eusibio, Ransen Tamai (5) and Kevin Fujii. W—Eusibio. L— Daskauskas.
Leading hitters: Moanalua— Glenn Taueron 3-run double. Roosevelt—Fujii 2-2, 3-run homer, grand slam, 7 RBIs, Brandon Morimoto 2-3, double; Eusibio 2-3, double; Josh Danz 2-3.
• CASTLE 16, KAHUKU 7: Noah Kon went 2-for-3 and Scott Shinsato went 2-for-3 with a triple as the Knights won.
Castle (3-5) 610 311 4—16 14 3
Kahuku (5-3) 101 400 1— 7 11 5
Jeff Syrop and Daniel Chinen. Kaipo Souza, Cory Supranovich (2), Brent Au (7) and Alex Ponciano. W—Syrop. L—Souza.
Leading hitters: Castle— Noah Kon 2-3; Scott Shinsato 2-3, triple; Syrop 2-4, 2 doubles; Darin Hamada 2-4, double, triple; Travis Paaga 2 RBIs; Chinen triple; Brian Kahele triple. Kahuku—Supranovich 3-4, 2 runs; Mel Silva 2-2, triple; Josh Bohnet double; Souza 2-4; Au 2-4.
• MCKINLEY 9, KAIMUKI 4: John Mai hit a two-run double to lead the Tigers.
Kaimuki (1-7) 102 000 1—4 7 4
McKinley (1-8) 522 000 X—9 8 2
Reid Yamane, Baba Kaluna (2) and Jansen Hew, Kaeo Neal (3). Kai Kaino and Andy Mitani, Shannon DeMello (6). W—Kaino. L—Yamane.
Leading hitters: Kaimuki—Tony Mitani 4-4, triple. McKinley—Jarren Hirasaki 2-3; John Mai double.
• 'AIEA 6, CAMPBELL 0: Kepa Wong hit a solo home run in the third inning to help Na Ali'i defeat the Sabers. 'Aiea clinched the Western Division title and receives a first-round bye in the OIA playoffs.
Campbell (5-3) 000 000 0—0 6 0
'Aiea (8-0) 211 200 X—6 9 1
Prentiss Anderson, James Bannister (4), Brandon Tanigawa (6) and Ian Pantorilla. Blaze Moleta, Lance Powell (6), Blake Lamug (7) and Aaron Asher, Herbert Chung. W—Moleta. L—Anderson.
Leading hitters: Campbell—Jonah Canionero double; Bill Tennent double. 'Aiea—Taylor Watanabe 2-4, triple, 2 RBIs; Kepa Wong home run; Bryson Tajiri triple.
• PEARL CITY 7, MILILANI 3: Ren Acosta went 2-for-4 to lead the Chargers, who benefitted from five Mililani errors to score six unearned runs.
Pearl City (6-2-1) 000 240 1—7 4 3
Mililani (5-3) 000 003 0—3 4 5
Anthony Ganigan, Davin Nakasone (6), Chad Itokazu (7) and Corey Giammalvo. Christopher Balatico, Ason Oda (6), Craig Sato (7) and Kamaka Crabbe. W—Ganigan. L—Balatico.
Leading hitters: Pearl City—Ren Acosta 2-4. Mililani—Chaz Miyashiro 2-3, double.
• KAPOLEI 15, LEILEHUA 14: Drake Kula singled to center in the bottom of the 11th inning, and the throw to get Jonathan Kang running from first to third was off the mark, allowing Kang to score the winning run for the Hurricanes. Spencer Omalza hit a two-run home run with two outs, his third home run of the game, in the top of the seventh inning to tie the game.
Leilehua (5-3) 105 014 200 10—14 18 6
Kapolei (3-5) 550 111 000 11—15 18 3
Patrick San Nicolas, Spencer Omalza (2) and Daylen Hale, Ricky Paderes (2). Colin Dumlao, Howard Vinhasa (11) and Drake Kula. W—Vinhasa. L—Omalza.
Leading hitters: Leilehua—Edward Garma 2-6, home run, 2 RBIs, 2 runs; Paderes 3-7, 4 runs; Omalza 5-6, double, 3 home runs, 6 RBIs; Ryan Basco 4-7, double, 3 RBIs. Kapolei—Dumlao 2-6, home run; Kula 5-7, 2 doubles, home run, 3 RBIs; Vinhasa 2-5, triple, 3 RBIs; Bryan Padayao 4-6, double, home run, 2 RBIs.
• WAI'ANAE 3, WAIPAHU 2: Calvin Uyechi scored the winning run from second off a throwing error to first as the Seariders rallied to defeat the Marauders.
Waipahu (4-3-1) 000 001 10—2 6 2
Wai'anae (6-2) 110 000 01—3 6 1
Shane Jelf and John Fauatea. Chevy Teves and Darryl Ohelo. W—Teves. L—Jelf.
Leading hitters: Waipahu—Travis Atualevao 2-3. Wai'anae—Calvin Uyechi 2-3, 2 doubles.
JV
Leilehua 13, Kapolei 4
Pearl City 9, Mililani 0
Kaiser 12, Farrington 3
'Aiea 10, Campbell 4
• KAMEHAMEHA 8, MARYKNOLL 6: Keoni Roth hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the seventh inning as the Warriors rallied to beat the Spartans in an Interscholastic League of Honolulu contest.
MARYKNOLL (1-14) 002 100 3—6 8 5
KAMEHAMEHA (13-3) 110 301 2—8 9 0
Peter Kirst, Brett Ikei (6) and Brian Tabata. Kaulana Chang, David Parrow (4), Alvis Satele (7), Issac Kamai (7) and Baba Merino. W—Chang. L—Kirst.
Leading hitters: Maryknoll—Kawika Caliza 2 RBIs, Kirst 2-3. Kamehameha—Keoni Roth 2-4, homer, 3 RBIs; Spencer McCreedy 3-4, double; J.P. Kennedy 2-3, double.
• SAINT LOUIS 3, MID-PACIFIC 0: Marc Nobriga pitched a complete game, allowing seven hits, one walk and striking out four as the Crusaders beat the Owls.
Mid-Pacific (7-7) 000 000 0—0 7 1
Saint Louis (8-6) 100 020 X—3 7 1
Harry Kuroda and Kip Masuda. Marc Nobriga and Jowen Thornton-Murray. W—Nobriga. L—Kuroda.
Leading hitters: Team 1—Randi Rundgren 2-3; Marc Inamasu 2-3. Team 2—Shane Butcher 2 RBIs; John Gentry 2-3.
• PUNAHOU 9, PAC-FIVE 4: Kasey Ko went 2-for-4 with a double and Michael Kim went 3-for-4 to lead the Buffanblu.
Pac-Five (5-8) 103 000 0—4 8 2
Punahou (10-5) 103 410 X—9 13 2
Tyler Inouye, Nick Miyamoto (5) and Colby Holt. Jared Pate, Shaun Kiriu (5), Landon Nakata (7) and Michael Kim. W—Pate. L—Inouye.
Leading hitters: Pac-Five—Jeris Nakamasu 2-3, 2 runs. Punahou—Kim 3-4; Michael Lam double; Jordan Moss 3 runs; Kasey Ko 2-4, double; Mark Veneri triple; Kaohi Downing 2-3.
• IOLANI 14, DAMIEN 0: Eric Muraoka, Jon Sakoda and Dustin Goto combined for a one-hitter to shut out the Monarchs.
Damien (2-12-1) 000 00— 0 1 3
Iolani (12-4) 274 1X—14 8 0
Chase Masuda, Justin Cole (2), Brandon Baguio (4) and Nick Zieser, Baguio (3), Zieser (4). Eric Muraoka, Jon Sakoda (4), Dustin Goto (5) and Kala Ka'aihue. W—Muraoka. L—Masuda.
Leading hitters: Iolani—Shawn Agustin 2-3, 3 runs; Ka'aihue triple, 2 RBIs; Reid Saito 2 RBIs; Kahiwa Letman 2-3, 3 RBIs.
• KING KEKAULIKE 5, LAHAINALUNA 2: Dane Shimabuku had a triple and Grant Koga went 2-for-3 to lead King Kekaulike over the Lunas in a Maui Interscholastic League game.
King Kekaulike (6-8) 101 000 03—5 8 1
Lahainaluna (6-8) 000 020 00—2 4 1
Joe Donovan and Kealii Murray, Kato Pua (4). Blaine Bernardes and Charles Wallace. W—Donovan. L—Bernardes.
Leading hitters: King Kekaulike—Dane Shimabuku triple; Grant Koga 2-3; Ivan Mende 2-4. Lahainaluna—Wallace 3-3.
• SEABURY HALL 15, KAAHOUMANU HOU 5: Joe MacFarlane went 3-for-3 with a home run and a double and Scott Murrish went 3-for-4 with a triple, to lead Seabury Hall to the easy victory.
Seabury Hall (2-12) 435 21—15 13 3
Kaahoumanu Hou (0-14) 201 02—5 1 6
Corey Spence, Joe MacFarlane (2) and John David-Torres. Ethan Cravalho, Kealii Washington (1), Caleb Pacheco (1), Washington (5) and Pacheco, Brandon Tancayo. W—MacFarlane. L—Cravalho.
Leading hitters: Seabury Hall—MarFarlane 3-3, double, homer, 2 RBIs; Scott Murrish 3-4, triple; Torres 2-3, double; Sean Greengard 2-3, tripe, Kyle Feig 3-3, double; Spence double.
• KEA'AU 9, KONAWAENA 4: Tyrone Ferriera hit a two-run single in the third as the Cougars defeated the Wildcats to advance to the second round of the BIFF tournament. Kea'au will face Hilo on Wednesday.
Konawaena (6-5) 002 000 2—4 10 7
Kea'au (9-2) 023 310 X—9 8 1
Sky Valenzuela, Elton Haina-Sesson (4) and Rickey Bailey. Kai Calip, Rico Mahaulu (7), Kamalu Blaisdell (7) and Kie Awong. W—Calip. L—Valenzuela.
Leading hitters: Konawaena—Valenzuela 2-2, double, 2 RBIs; Cody Maeda 2-4, 2 RBIs; Haina-Sesson 3-4, 2 runs. Kea'au—Tyrone Ferriera 3 RBIs; Calip 2 runs; Blaisdell 2 runs.
