Suspense shrouds OIA baseball tournament
By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer
The O'ahu Interscholastic Association did not wait for its baseball tournament to give fans games with playoff-type atmosphere.
Today First round East No. 6 Kalaheo (5-5) at West No. 3 Pearl City (7-3) West No. 6 Wai'anae (6-4) at East No. 3 Kailua (7-3) East No. 5 Moanalua (5-4-1) at West No. 4 Campbell (7-3) West No. 5 Mililani (6-4) vs. East No. 4 Roosevelt (7-3) at Stevenson Intermediate Tomorrow Quarterfinals Kalaheo-Pearl City winner vs. East No. 2 Kalani (8-2) at Kahala Field Wai'anae-Kailua winner vs. West No. 2 'Aiea (9-1) at 'Aiea Recreation Center Moanalua-Campbell winner at East No. 1 Kaiser (9-1) Mililani-Roosevelt winner vs. West No. 1 Leilehua (9-1) at Fred Wright Park Friday Semifinals and consolation Quarterfinal winners at sites of higher seed Quarterfinal losers at sites of higher seed Saturday 9:30 a.m. — Fifth place game Note: Admission will be charged for Saturday's games — $6 general (high school and above), $4 students (with activity book, or 8th grade and under)
An unusually competitive regular season in both the Eastern and Western divisions was an appropriate springboard for the OIA tournament, which begins today with first-round action at four sites.
OIA Baseball Playoffs
(all games at 4 p.m.)
(all games at 4 p.m.)
(all games at 4 p.m.)
(all games at Mililani High School)
1 p.m. — Third place game
4 p.m. — Championship game
To show how tough the 12-team field is this year, consider that four-time defending league champion Kailua — a team that returns most of its starters — is the No. 3 seed in the East and faces a big challenge against Wai'anae (6-4) today just to stay alive.
"Both sides (East and West) were really tough this year and not one game in this tournament is going to be a walk in the park," said Leilehua coach Garrett Yukumoto, whose Mules (9-1) are seeded No. 1 in the West. "We have to treat every game as a championship game."
Leilehua had plenty of practice with that during the regular season. The Mules opened with a 6-5 victory over 'Aiea, scoring the winning run in the bottom of the sixth inning. They then erased an 8-1 deficit against Wai'anae with a nine-run fifth inning to win, 11-9.
Leilehua's only loss came to Campbell, 1-0, but the Mules rebounded to squeak past Mililani, 6-4, in 10 innings and scored in the bottom of the seventh to edge Pearl City, 2-1, in the finale.
"These kids just have a never-say-die attitude," Yukumoto said. "We had a shaky preseason, but then they finally woke up and believed they could compete with anybody. Our motto is, 'First pitch to last out — give it your all.' "
Leilehua has four sophomores in the starting lineup and a freshman — Bryant Moniz — in left field. Moniz also bats second.
Kaiser, another young team, earned the East's No. 1 seed with one game to spare. The Cougars, who start three juniors and four sophomores, lost only to Kailua.
Ace Michael Heu, a senior right-hander, won't amaze anyone with a blazing fastball but his record (4-0, one save) is sizzling.
"He just hits his spots and gets the job done," Kaiser coach Peter Ho said.
The Cougars are batting .330 and each of their top five hitters is batting .450 or better.
As far as tournament sleepers, Yukumoto and Ho said 'Aiea and Kailua are particularly dangerous.
'Aiea (9-1) had five players suspended the first week of the season.
"They're fully loaded now," Yukumoto said. "They've got the pitching, hitting, running and defense."
As for Kailua, the four straight titles speak for themselves. In last year's OIA tournament, the Surfriders won all three games in their final at-bat.
"I think Kailua is the scariest team out there," Ho said. "You never know which team will show up with them, but in the tournament you know they'll bring their 'A' game."
• Coach needed: Kaiser is taking applications for its varsity softball head coach opening. Resume may be faxed to 394-1247 or mailed direct to Kaiser High School, attn: Ricky Shimokawa.
Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2456.
