The Menehunes (10-2) will meet Kailua (10-3) in tonight's 7 o'clock championship, a rematch of the 2001 final, won by the Surfriders, 9-3. The game will be played at Central O'ahu Regional Park's field No. 4.

The all-Eastern Division final also is a rematch of a regular season meeting, won by Moanalua, 8-4.

The slugfest featured a combined 23 runs on 27 hits, including two home runs, a triple and nine doubles in a game that lasted two hours, 57 minutes.

"Scrappy 'Aiea kept coming back at us," Moanalua coach Scott Yamada said. "I give them credit."

Moanalua had an 11-2 lead cut to 11-9 when 'Aiea scored three in the fourth and four in the fifth. Of the combined seven pitchers in the game — three by 'Aiea and four by Moanalua — only Menehune right-hander Adam Arakawa came out unscathed, pitching 2· scoreless innings of relief, allowing three hits and a walk with three strikeouts. He pitched two scoreless inning the day before in a 7-6 win against Wai'anae.

"You gotta do it for your team," Arakawa said. "You just have to suck it up, even if your arm is hanging."

Since starter Kekoa Lee didn't go the minimum four innings (3°), and because Arakawa was the most effective of the three relievers, he was credited with the win.

'Aiea starter Lance Powell gave up seven runs in two innings in taking the loss.

Andrew Blomberg paced Moanalua's 18-hit attack by batting 5 for 5, while Peter Arakawa had a two-run home run and double. Brother Adam aided his own cause by batting 3 for 4 with a triple.

Kurt Nishi had a three-run home run for 'Aiea.

'Aiea will play Pearl City for third place at 2 p.m. today at CORP No. 4. Both have secured state tournament berths.

"As much as it hurts today, we're going to get that third-place spot and play the next four games of the state tournament and hopefully come out on top," 'Aiea coach Ryan Kato said. "I told them that's the big prize."

• 'Aiea (9-4) 101 340 0— 9 9 1
• Moanalua (10-2) 254 021 x—14 18 4

Lance Powell, Shane Koga (3), Kahoku Piho (4) and Brian Morihara. Kekoa Lee, Michael Amorozo (4), Markus Miyashiro (5), Adam Arakawa (5) and Donovan Souza. W—Arakawa. L— Powell.

Leading hitters: 'Aiea—C.J. Tausaga 3-5, Marc Alejo 1-3, double; Lance Powell 1-3, double; Brian Morihara 2-4, 2 doubles; Kurt Nishi 1-2, home run, 4 RBIs. Moanalua—Peter Arakawa 2-4, double, home run, 2 RBIs; Markus Miyashiro 3-4, double, 2 RBIs; Adam Arakawa 3-4, triple, 2 RBIs; Andrew Blomberg 5-5, double, 3 RBIs; Wayde Iwanaga 2-3, double, RBI.

Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8042.

Surfriders score run in bottom of eighth to beat Pearl City

By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer

KAILUA — Aaron Kunioka's ground single to right field scored Preston Nakata from second base with the winning run with one out in the bottom of the eighth inning yesterday to lift Kailua over Pearl City, 3-2, in the O'ahu Interscholastic Association semifinals.

Kailua (10-3) will play Eastern Division rival Moanalua (10-2) for the championship at 7 p.m. today at Central O'ahu Regional Park. The game will be televised live on OC-16.

Kailua began the tournament as the East's No. 5 seed, but has a chance to win its fifth league title in six seasons. The Surfriders started the East season with six straight victories before losing three of their last four regular-season games.

"Coach Corey (Ishigo) said those three losses made us play more as a team," said Kunioka, who went 3 for 4 and also had a double in the fourth inning. "We've been working harder at practice."

Kailua was one strike away from winning yesterday's game in the seventh, but Chargers' pinch hitter Matthew Ko sliced a two-out triple into the right-field corner to score courtesy runner Anthony Sabog from first base, tying the score at 2-2.

"That's the only place on the field where he could have hit it to score the run," Kunioka said. "That gave them momentum, but I knew we had it in us to still win it, because of the last two games we played (victories over Campbell and Kalani)."

Ko was stranded at third after the next batter walked and got caught in a rundown between first and second.

In the eighth, Nakata walked with one out and advanced to second on a hit batter. Kunioka then hit a sharp grounder that skirted just to the left of the lunging second baseman and into right field.

Nakata raced around third and slid home just barely ahead of catcher Paul Domingo's tag.

"I thought we had him (at home)," Pearl City coach Mel Seki said. "But it was a close play."

The Chargers took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on Casey Fugishige's sacrifice fly, but the Surfriders answered in the bottom half by scoring on a wild pitch and a hit batter with the bases loaded.

Starting pitchers Jason Rasa (Pearl City) and Mike D'Alessio then dueled for the next five scoreless innings. Rasa was just recently brought up from the JV team, and D'Alessio normally is Kailua's starting catcher.

"Mike battled," Ishigo said. "He kept us in the game."

• Pearl City (8-5) 100 000 10 — 2 8 0
• Kailua (10-3) 200 000 01 — 3 9 2

Jason Rasa, Thomas Yamasaki (8) and Paul Domingo; Mike D'Alessio and Rayner Yokoi. W — D'Alessio. L — Rasa.

Leading hitters — Pearl City: Tate Ikehara 2-4, RBI; Matthew Ko triple, RBI. Kailua: Aaron Kunioka 3-4, double, RBI; Tyler Harrison double.