Kitagawa carries Kalani over Kailua
By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer
Kalani High School senior Randy Kitagawa is putting up the kind of pitching numbers once posted by another Falcons strikeout artist from six years ago.
Kitagawa, a 5-foot-9, 135-pound left-hander, may not have the blazing fastball of former Kalani and University of Nebraska standout Shane Komine. But his curve is getting Komine-like results, illustrated best by yesterday's 12-strikeout performance in a 4-1 victory over four-time defending O'ahu Interscholastic Association champion Kailua.
The outcome at Kahala Field improved the Falcons' record to 7-1 and dropped the Surfriders to 6-2.
Kitagawa pitched a four-hitter and walked only one, although Kailua brought the tying run to the plate with two outs in the top of the seventh inning. But like he had several times before, Kitagawa ended the threat with an outside curve for strike three.
"I wouldn't say I was nervous, but I was more excited," Kitagawa said of the final inning. "I knew that with the guys behind me (on defense), they would pick me up even if I gave up hits. They would tell me, 'That's all right, just get the next guy.' "
Kitagawa had done a good job on his own through the first six innings, allowing only two hits and striking out 10. Ryan Rodrigues, who doubled in the second inning, was the only Kailua player to reach scoring position through the first six innings.
Most of the other Surfriders never got to first, either swinging at and missing Kitagawa's looping curves or flying out to right field.
"We had no discipline at the plate," Kailua coach Corey Ishigo said. "(Kitagawa) was bouncing balls in the dirt and we were swinging at them. But he kept us off-balance by hitting his spots, and he owned the outside part of the plate."
Kalani took a 1-0 lead in the second inning with a two-out rally. Dustan Goya walked, advanced to second on an error and came home on Chassis Moody's single to left field.
The Falcons made it 4-0 in the fifth after Preston Pires' RBI single, Kitagawa's run-scoring triple and Marcus Fujita's RBI double.
The Surfriders scored in the seventh on a throwing error and had runners on second and third with two outs, but Kitagawa killed the rally with his 12th strikeout.
"I just came out and tried to keep them off-balanced," Kitagawa said. "I wasn't thinking of the strikeouts, just anything to get them out. Fortunately, they started to swing at pitches."
Kailua, which has had a tendency to peak during the OIA and state tournaments, now is in a position where it must rally to clinch a league playoff berth. The Surfriders play Moanalua (4-3-1) on Saturday and finish the season at Kaiser (8-0) on Wednesday.
"I think we've still got it in us — these are the same guys (who won the OIA last year)," Ishigo said. "But we've still got Moanalua and Kaiser, and that's no walk in the park. If we don't win, maybe there won't be playoffs for us to peak for."
Kailua (6-2) 000 000 1 — 1 4 1
Kalani (7-1) 010 030 x — 4 5 2
Chris Mahelona, Bronson Kamaka (5) and Sean Medeiros; Randy Kitagawa and Preston Pires. W —Kitagawa. L — Mahelona.
Leading hitters: Kailua — Ryan Rodrigues 2-3, double. Kalani — Chassis Moody 2-3; Kitagawa triple.
Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2456.
KAISER 6, MOANALUA 0: Andy Uehara hit a two-run homer in a five-run second inning and Michael Heu pitched a four-hitter to help the Cougars remain unbeaten.
Moanalua (4-3-1) 000 000 0—0 4 0
Kaiser (8-0) 050 010 x—6 7 2
Chance Daskauskas and Donovan Souza. Michael Heu and Andy Uehara. W—Heu. L—Daskauskas.
Leading hitters: Kaiser—A. Uehara 2-3, HR, double, 2 RBIs; Scott Uehara double, RBI; Nyles Nakama double.
Reported by Peter Ho
FARRINGTON 10, KAHUKU 9: Matt Bell homered and drove in three runs to rally the Governors over the Red Raiders.
Kahuku (1-7) 022 005 0— 9 12 0
Farrington (4-4-1) 043 012 x—10 9 3
Kurtney Silva, Mel Silva (3) and Mel Silva, Bronson Pronciano-Ahue (3). Brian Cabral, Chandler Mitchell (6), Alison Tolentino (6) and Matt Bell. W—Tolentino. L—M. Silva.
Leading hitters: Kahuku— Ponciano-Ahue 2-4, triple; Kimball Niumatalolo 2-4, 2-run HR, 3 runs; M. Silva 3-4, 2 doubles; Maka Desoto 3-4. Farrington—Bell 2-3, HR, 3 RBIs; Davin Alexander triple; Cabral 2-3, double, 2 runs; Anthony Gabrillo 2-3, 2 runs.
Reported by Brian Okada
KALAHEO 7, MCKINLEY 2: Kalani Lingo hit a two-run homer to rally the Mustangs.
Kalaheo (4-4) 022 003 0—7 8 1
McKinley (1-7) 200 000 0—2 7 2
Cody Racoma, Chris Gonzales (5) and Jacob Myking. Jarren Hirasaki and Andrew Mitani. W—Racoma. L— Hirasaki.
Leading hitters: Kalaheo—Kalani Lingo 2-4, HR; Scott Galusha 2-3, double; Myking 2-4. McKinley—Devin Okinaga 2-4; Hirasaki triple.
Reported by Lester Higa
CASTLE 13, KAIMUKI 2: David Mohika had four hits and four RBIs, and Travis Paaga pitched a three-hitter for the Knights.
Castle (3-6) 412 301 2—13 15 1
Kaimuki (1-7) 000 020 0— 2 3 3
Travis Paaga and David Mohika. Desmond Johnston and Jason Hew. W—Paaga. L— Johnston.
Leading hitters: Castle— Mike Hayasaka 2-3, triple, 2 runs; Ikaika Reppuhn 2-3; Paaga 2-4, 2 runs; Mohika 4-4, triple, double, 4 RBIs, 2 runs; Naeole McFadden triple; Baron Hashimoto triple.
Reported by Duke Chinen
OIA WEST
'AIEA 11, KAPOLEI 7: Kepa Wong had two hits and two RBIs, and Na Ali'i scored five runs in the sixth to pull away.
'Aiea (7-1) 050 105 0—11 11 5
Kapolei (3-6) 022 010 2— 7 10 4
Blake Lamug and CJ Tausaga. Jon Santiago, Colin Dumlao (6) and Drake Kula. W—Lamug. L—Santiago.
Leading hitters: 'Aiea— Jordan Shibata double, RBI, 2 runs; Blaze Moleta 2-5; Kepa Wong 2-4, double, 2 RBIs; Dylan Libadisos 2-4; Aaron Sato double; Tausaga double. Kapolei—Howard Vihasa 2-4 double; Aaron Santiago 2-3, 2 doubles, 2 runs; Jason Vierra double; Bryan Padayao double.
Reported by Tom Ebanez
LEILEHUA 12, WAIPAHU 2: Andrew Ontai batted 4 for 4, including two doubles, and John Olley pitched a five-hitter to fuel the Mules.
Waipahu (2-5) 000 110— 2 5 3
Leilehua (7-1) 310 701—12 13 3
Derek Kiyabu, Jaren Rios (3) and Jake Tabieros. John Olley and Jesse Matsuura. W—Olley. L—Kiyabu.
Leading hitters: Waipahu—Glen Santa Maria 2-2. Leilehua—Andrew Ontai 4-4, 2 doubles, 2 RBIs, 3 runs; Spencer Omalza 2-3, double, 3 RBIs, 2 runs; Matsuura 2-4, 2 RBIs; Josh Fetters 2-3, double, 2 runs; Ross Matsuhara double, 3 RBIs.
Reported Garett Yukumoto
PEARL CITY 9, RADFORD 1: Anthony Ganigan pitched a three-hitter with 10 strikeouts to lead the Chargers.
Pearl City (6-2) 230 301 0—9 12 0
Radford (2-6) 000 100 X—1 3 3
Anthony Ganigan and Corey Giammalvo. Andrew Atmospera, Kahoku Tampos (6) and Kyle Howell. W—Ganigan. L—Atmospera.
Leading hitters: Pearl City—Blake Kaneshiro 3-5, double; Rex Yamaguchi 4-5, double; Casey Fujishigi 3-4; Kyle Fukuda double. Radford—Atmospera single, RBI
Reported by James Sunday
Campbell 25, Waialua 4: Ramsey Sakamoto's three-run triple spurred the Sabers' 11-run fifth inning.
Campbell (6-3) 540 5(11)—25 20 1
Waialua (0-7) 003 0 1 — 4 4 6
Pake Coloma, Ian Pantorilla (4) and Pantorilla, Kendall Hodgon (4). Michael Kuraoka, Kelson Silva (4), Shawyn Peiler (5) and Justin Mangallan, Kuraoka (4). W—Coloma. L—Kuraoka.
Leading hitters: Campbell— Pantorilla 2-3, 2 RBIs; Jacob Kaku triple; James Bannister 2-2, RBI; Ramsey Sakamoto triple, 3 RBIs; Tristan Bailey 3-5, 4 RBIs. Waialua—Justin Barit double, 3 RBIs.
Reported by Herb Onizuka
MILILANI 21, NANAKULI 3: Troy Flores and Tony Aquino each batted 4 for 4 to boost the Trojans' 18-hit offense.
Mililani (5-3) 236 37—21 18 0
Nanakuli (2-6) 120 00— 3 3 4
Ryan Tsubui, Ian Koki (5) and Kamaka Crabbe. Albert Distajo, Devan Harris (3), Bryson Felisi (5) and Curtis Wright. W—Tsubui. L—Distajo.
Leading hitters: Mililani—Troy Flores 4-4, double; Tony Aquino 4-4, 2 triples; Brandon Oshiro double; Koki 2 doubles.
Reported by Huston Anderson
