Posted on: Friday, May 7, 2004
Pearl City edges Kalani
| • | Round Up: Toyama wins playoff to repeat in ILH golf |
By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer
As in almost every one of his other starts this season, Kalani High School pitcher Randy Kitagawa was cruising along and seemingly on his way to victory through six innings yesterday.
But Pearl City stunned the crowd of about 200 at Kahala Field by tying the score with two runs in the seventh and then broke it open with four runs in the eighth to defeat the Falcons, 6-2, in an O'ahu Interscholastic Association quarterfinal.
The Chargers (9-3) will host Roosevelt, a 5-3 upset winner over Leilehua, in today's 4 p.m. semifinal. 'Aiea (10-1) will play at Kaiser (10-1) in the other semifinal, also at 4 p.m.
All four semifinalists have clinched state tournament berths; yesterday's losers will fight it out today and tomorrow for the OIA's fifth and final state berth.
"Nothing was going to stop us from coming back," said Pearl City catcher Corey Giammalvo, whose two-run single in the eighth inning broke the 2-2 tie. "We came in knowing we could do it."
It was a big challenge against Kitagawa, a left-hander who had posted several double-digit strikeout games for Kalani (8-3) during the regular season. He had five strikeouts through the first six innings of shutout ball yesterday, and the Falcons had given him a 2-0 lead in the third inning after Chassis Moody's RBI triple and an error.
But in the seventh, the Chargers' Blake Kaneshiro slapped a leadoff single to right field and Rex Yamaguchi followed with a triple to left-center. Yamaguchi then scored one out later on a fielder's choice grounder to first to tie it.
Yamaguchi had almost been tagged out at third on a sacrifice bunt, but an umpire ruled a Kalani fielder dropped the ball.
"(Yamaguchi's) triple was big, and then we dropped the ball," Falcons coach Shannon Hirai said. "Our (lack of) execution hurt us."
In the eighth, Pearl City's Devin Fukunaga reached on an error to lead off and Michael Higa followed with a single. After a strikeout and double steal, Yamaguchi was intentionally walked, setting up Giammalvo's two-run single.
Giammalvo went 0 for 4 in Wednesday's first-round victory over Kalaheo and had hit into a double play yesterday in the fourth inning.
"I just had to try and pull through for the team," Giammalvo said. "I was hoping for a fastball, and I got it."
The Chargers added two more runs on a wild pitch and delayed steal.
Kaneshiro, a 5-foot-6 right-hander, had pitched only five innings all year but tossed four perfect innings after the third inning yesterday.
"Let's give some credit to Blake," Pearl City coach Mel Seki said. "I didn't expect him to go more than four innings."
Kaneshiro said his arm "felt like rubber" in the late innings, but he did not want to come out.
"I felt kind of run down, but I told the coach to keep me in," Kaneshiro said.
Kalani got two runners on in the eighth but Pearl City ended the game with a 6-4-3 double play.
Blake Kaneshiro and Cory Giammalvo. Randy Kitagawa, Darren Takemoto (8) and Preston Pires. W — Kaneshiro. L — Kitagawa.
Leading hitters: Pearl City— Rex Yamaguchi 2-2, double, triple; Giammalvo 2-3. Kalani—Chassis Moody triple.
Reported by Shannon Hirai
• ROOSEVELT 5, LEILEHUA 3: Kalani Yoshimura and David Chow teamed on a four-hitter and Derek Shigano batted 3 for 4 as the Rough Riders upset the West's No. 1 seeded Mules.
Ricky Eusebio homered for the Rough Riders, who strung together five hits after two were out in the sixth to score what proved to be the deciding runs.
Kalani Yoshimura, David Chow (7) and Kevin Fujii. Spencer Omalza and Jesse Matsuura. W —Yoshimura. L — Omalza.
Leading hitters: Roosevelt—Derek Shigano 3-4; Fujii 2-4; Jared Furtado 2-4, Ricky Eusebio 2-4, homer. Leilehua—Ross Masuhara double; Melvin Ferriera double.
Reported by Garrett Yukumoto
• Kaiser 10, Moanalua 2: Michael Heu pitched a six-hitter and Jeffrey Peters homered and drove in two runs to propel the East No. 1 seeded Cougars.
Chance Daskauskas, Trevor Bell (3), Shawn Kaulukukui (6), Michael Amorozo (6) and Donovan Souza. Michael Heu and Jarred Maeda. W—Heu. L—Daskauskas.
Leading hitters: Moanalua—Souza double. Kaiser—Kolby Ho double; Jeffrey Peters 2-3, homer, 2 RBIs.
Reported by Peter Ho
• 'Aiea 14, Wai'anae 1: Blake Lamug and Hoku Piho teamed on a five-hitter, and Aaron Sato had three hits and four RBIs to propel Na Ali'i.
Dillon Guzman, Allen Holt (2) and Mike Ferreira, Peter Carba (2). Blake Lamug, Hoku Piho (4) and Aaron Asher. W—Lamug. L—Guzman.
Leading hitters: 'Aiea—Blaze Moleta 2-4; Dylan Libadisos double, 2 RBIs; Kepa Wong 2 RBIs; Lance Powell 2-4, double, 2 RBIs; Aaron Sato 3-3, 4 RBIs.
Reported by Ryan Kato
ILH
• KAMEHAMEHA 3, MID-PACIFIC 2: Kanekoa Texeira pitched a four-hitter with nine strikeouts as the Warriors advanced in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu tournament at Aloha Stadium.
Dayne Ogawa's single in the top of the sixth inning drove in the go-ahead run for Kamehameha, which will play Punahou tomorrow.
Kanekoa Texeira and Eli Chee. Chris Freshour, Jayson Kramer (6) and Kip Masuda. W—Texeira. L—Kramer.
Leading hitters—Kamehameha: Dayne Ogawa 2-3, 2 RBIs; Travis Young 2 runs. Mid-Pacific: Masuda 2 RBIs.
Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2456.
