Posted on: Saturday, April 9, 2005
'Aiea holds off Leilehua 8-5 in OIA West
By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer
WAHIAWA — Like it did in its previous two victories, the 'Aiea High School baseball team jumped out to a big early lead. But unlike the other games, yesterday's win was not easy.
Na Ali'i held off Leilehua, 8-5, at Fred Wright Park to improve to 5-0 in the O'ahu Interscholastic Association's Western Division. The Mules dropped to 4-1.
Last week, 'Aiea scored a combined 46 runs in its two victories, and Na Ali'i took an 8-0 lead after two innings yesterday. But Leilehua stormed back with a five-run fourth inning and got a runner on third in the bottom of the seventh before reliever Reid Nakamura finally ended it by getting a groundout back to the mound.
"This is a big step for us right here, knowing we can do it against a really good team," said 'Aiea starter Lance Powell, who earned the victory after pitching the first six innings. "We know we won't be breaking down in a pressure situation."
There turned out to be plenty of those situations yesterday.
With Na Ali'i up, 2-0, and the bases loaded with one out in the top of the second inning, the Mules had an 'Aiea runner in a run down between third and home but somehow allowed him to return to the base. Even the runner on second, who had tried to advance to third during the rundown, was able to scramble back to his base safely.
Derek Grace then hit a single to left to score two runs, and Shane Koga followed with another single. When the damage was finally done, it was 6-0 instead of 2-0.
"It ended being huge," 'Aiea coach Ryan Kato said of the rundown play. "We already had one guy hung out to dry, and at that point we were just trying to get the other guy to take third. There was no skill involved on our part there — it was a gift. But hey, we'll take whatever we can get."
Powell said the resulting six-run lead "was a key" to the game.
"It put us up big and gave me a lot of confidence," Powell said.
Na Ali'i added two more runs in the top of the third, after Marc Alejo's RBI single and Kurt Nishi scored on a delayed steal.
But Leilehua rallied with five runs in the fourth, sparked by Casey Yamaguchi's two-run single, RBI singles from Gavin Uyeda and Kelsey Yoshikami and Melvin Ferreira's sacrifice fly.
"When we played them in the preseason, we were down 5-0 in the first inning and came back to win," Mules coach Kevin Tosaka said. "So our kids knew they could come back from a deficit."
But Powell and Nakamura shut out Leilehua the rest of the way to prevent a total comeback.
"This was our first really tight game this year," Kato said. "For our guys to perform the way they did, I've gotta be happy with that."
Lance Powell, Reid Nakamura (7) and Brian Morihara; Joshua Pastor, Andrew Ontai (3) and Gavin Uyeda. W — Powell. L — Pastor. S — Nakamura.
Leading hitters — 'Aiea: Marc Alejo 3-3, double, RBI; Shane Koga 2-3, double, 2 RBIs; Kurt Nishi 2-4, double; Derek Grace 2 RBIs. Leilehua: Uyeda 2-3; Casey Yamaguchi 2 RBIs.
Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2456.
Chaz Miyashiro threw a three-hitter with six strikeouts to help the visiting and unbeaten Trojans stay tied atop the OIA West. Kamaka Crabbe had a pair of doubles for Mililani.
Chaz Miyashiro and Kamaka Crabbe; Sean Irish, Kyle Blair (4) and Kyle Howell. W — Miyashiro. L—Irish.
Leading hitters — Mililani: Miyashiro 3-4; Crabbe 2-3, 2 doubles; Kelsey Nakata double.
Reported by James Sunday
Kaiser 7, Kalani 6
A passed ball in the bottom of the seventh inning allowed Neale Asato to score the winning run as the Cougars beat the Falcons. Four of Kaiser's seven runs were unearned and Kaiser was aided by three Kalani errors.
Kalani's Ridge Carpenter had a three-run double in the fifth.
Reid Matsumura, Seamus Kumashiro (3), Micah Takahashi (3) and Preston Pires; Reyn Kimura, Trent Hamada (5), Toby Inouye (6) and Ho'o Obed. W — Inouye. L — Takahashi.
Leading hitters — Kalani: Trevor Teraoka 2-4, double; Pires 2-3, home run, RBI; Marcus Fujita 2-4; Matsumura 2-4, RBI; Ridge Carpenter double, 3 RBIs. Kaiser: Colby Ho home run, RBI; Nanea Baird double; Neale Asato double, RBI.
Reported by Peter Ho
Shane Dydasco pitched a four-hitter and Scott Argue went 3 for 3 with a double to lead the Knights.
Brandon Uehara, Sean Brown (6) and Doug Cox; Shane Dydasco and David Mohika, Dallas Olsen (7). W — Dydasco. L — Uehara.
Leading hitters — Kalaheo: Uehara double; Sean Tamba double. Castle: Scott Argue 3-3, double; Corey Paredes triple; Jordan Nakayama double.
Reported by Joe Tom Jr.
Kamehameha 4, Punahou 3
The Warriors (7-1) used a three-run first inning to beat the previously-unbeaten Buffanblu (6-1-1) at Aloha Stadium.
David Parrow earned the complete-game win.
Nick Freitas had an RBI single and Stuart Kam belted a double in the first inning for Kamehameha.
A linescore was not available.
The second game of the ILH doubleheader between Saint Louis and Iolani was not reported.
Nathan Rice went 2 for 3 with a double and drove in two runs to lead the Owls over the Monarchs at Mid-Pacific's field. Kaimana Balanon accounted for Damien's scoring with a solo home run in the fourth inning.
Robert Cuizon, Jonathan Awa (5), George Martin (5) and Kai Higa; Jared Hara and Kip Masuda. W — Hara. L — Cuizon.
Leading hitters — Damien: Kaimana Balanon home run, RBI; T.J. Esclito double. Mid-Pacific; Adam Tamashiro 2-4, RBI; Aaron Fujiki RBI; Garrett Ikeda double; Masuda home run, RBI; Nathan Rice 2-3, double, 2 RBIs; Nick Furumoto 2-3, double; Feob Yoon 2-2.
Reported by Pua Hayashi
Ronel Trias went 3 for 3 with a double and three RBIs to lead the Wolfpack to a victory at Ala Wai Field. Pac-Five scored three runs in the fifth inning to break a 5-5 tie.
Nick Holmberg, Chris Lum (6) and Brian Tabata; Samson Aina, Nick Miyamoto (5) and Aaron Chilcote. W — Miyamoto. L — Holmberg.
Leading hitters — Maryknoll: Peter Kirst 2-3; Brennan Young 2-4; Ryan Matsumoto 2-4. Pac-Five: Ronel Trias 3-3, double, 3 RBIs; Kendal Tanigawa 2-3; Aaron Chilcote 2-4, double; Tony Onisuka triple; Colin Inamasu 2 RBIs.
Reported by John Krason
Mililani 10, Radford 0
OIA EAST
Castle 7, Kalaheo 0
ILH
Mid-Pacific 10, Damien 1
Pac-Five 8, Maryknoll 6
