Aquino helps 'Aiea hold off Roosevelt
By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer
'Aiea didn't need an ace to advance to today's O'ahu Interscholastic Association quarterfinal at Mililani.
Instead, it used its "trump card" in left-handed relief pitcher Cody Aquino to hold off Roosevelt, 5-3, yesterday in opening-round play of the tournament at Stevenson Middle School field.
The defending OIA champion Na Ali'i (8-3) will face the West champion Trojans (9-1) at 4 p.m. today. 'Aiea handed Mililani its only loss.
Aquino inherited runners at the corners from starter Kahoku Piho with one out in the fifth inning and Kalani Yoshimura representing the tying run at the plate. On a 1-2 pitch, Aquino got Yoshimura to hit a grounder to shortstop Lance Powell, starting an inning-ending double play.
Roosevelt was never heard from after that, as Aquino was perfect in 2á innings to save the win for Piho, who allowed three runs — one unearned — on eight hits with three strikeouts in 4¡ innings.
"He's our trump card," 'Aiea coach Ryan Kato said of Aquino. "We can use him either way (start or relief) because he throws strikes right off the bat."
Aquino used his curveball to get the double-play grounder. He also had four other grounders for outs and one strikeout. The only hard-hit ball was a liner to short off the bat of Blake Parado.
"I was pretty nervous," Aquino said of the circumstances he entered the game. "But I like pressure situations."
Roosevelt (7-4) had four hard-hit balls in the fifth against Piho. Darren Delovio doubled before Kevin Fujii lined out to right. Nicolas Wong lined a single to right to put runners at the corners to set up Keoni Manago's line single to left-center for one run. That's when Aquino came in to save 'Aiea.
All of 'Aiea's offense came on two strokes. Shane Koga drilled a three-run home run to center about 300 feet away off Roosevelt starter David Chow in the first inning. Derek Grace added a two-run shot to right, a high fly over the 24-foot-high fence that is about 290 feet from the plate.
"I didn't think I hit it that hard," Koga said of his fourth home run of the season.
The game ended with controversy. Fujii hit a grounder to shortstop Powell, whose throw was low, forcing first baseman Keenan Naeole to do a split to field the throw. Roosevelt's coaches contended Naeole's foot was off the bag and that he did not hold on to the ball. Their protests were to no avail.
"I was fighting for my kids, making sure the call was correct," Roosevelt coach Kerry Higa said. "It was close, but I was out there backing up my kids."
Roosevelt had its opportunities early against Piho. But the Rough Riders saw a runner picked off first, left the bases loaded in the second and stranded runners in scoring position after getting two runs in the fourth.
"We had chances," Higa said. "We hit the ball hard at guys sometimes.
"As far as how we played, I think this was the best game we've played all season, as far as defensively. They kept fighting to that last pitch. We're proud of them."
Sophomore Wong (2 for 2), who hit a solo home run over the right-center field fence, played well at third for the Rough Riders. He robbed C.J. Tausaga of two hits with back-handed diving stops of hard grounders and denied Marc Alejo with a stop in the hole.
'Aiea (8-3) 302 000 0—5 10 2
Roosevelt (7-4) 000 210 0—3 8 1
Kahoku Piho, Cody Aquino (5) and Brian Morihara. David Chow, Kalani Yoshimura (3) and Kevin Fujii. W—Piho. L— Chow. S—Aquino
Leading hitters: 'Aiea— Lance Powell 3-3, 2 runs; Derek Grace 2-4, home run, 2 RBIs; Shane Koga 3-run home run; Keenan Naeole 2-3. Roosevelt—Darren Delovio 2-4, double; Nicolas Wong 2-2, home run; Brent Maeda double.
Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8042.
