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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, April 5, 2007

Vierra's walkoff homer boosts Kailua

 Photo gallery Moanalua vs. Kailua baseball photo gallery

By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer

Kailua second baseman Kili Vierra shows off his defensive prowess against Moanalua. Vierra didn't do too badly on offense, too, hitting a game-winning two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth for a 4-2 victory.

JOAQUIN SIOPACK | The Honolulu Advertiser

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KAILUA — Kili Vierra hit a two-run homer with one out in the bottom of the eighth inning yesterday to lift Kailua to a 4-2 victory over Moanalua in a key O'ahu Interscholastic Association showdown.

The Surfriders improved to 5-0 in the OIA Eastern Division, while Na Menehune fell to 3-1.

Kailua had been no-hit by Moanalua starter Kekoa Lee for five innings and trailed 2-0 before tying it in the sixth. Then, Zach Akamine got aboard on an error in the eighth and Vierra followed by sending a low 2-2 curveball over the left-field fence, putting the Surfriders on the winning side of their brand new electronic scoreboard.

"Magic happens on this field every year," said Vierra, a senior second baseman who had struck out on a similar pitch in his previous at-bat. "I was actually looking for a fastball, but I just had to relax and try to get a hard hit somewhere. I tried to keep my hands loose, and I thought it was going into the gap, but then I saw the umpire circle his hand."

It was a tough loss for Lee, a hard-throwing senior left-hander. He finished with a two-hitter, striking out five and walking none with one hit batter.

"Kekoa Lee is one of the best pitchers in the state," Kailua coach Corey Ishigo said.

Surfriders starter Preston Nakata also went the distance, with five strikeouts, two walks and one hit batter. He was the victim of two unearned runs in the third, after Jordan Monico got aboard on a throwing error and later scored on Lee's single to right. Jay Yoshizawa then scored from third when a Kailua fielder dropped the ball on an attempted pickoff at first.

Freshman Jared Iha broke up Lee's no-hit bid with a leadoff double in the sixth, then scored when Akamine reached on a throwing error to first. Akamine later scored on a wild pitch.

MOANALUA (3-1) 002 000 00 — 2 6 2

KAILUA (5-0) 000 002 02 — 4 2 2

One out when winning run scored.

Kekoa Lee and Chris Liu-Saguid; Preston Nakata and Rayner Yokoi. W — Nakata. L — Lee.

Leading hitters — Moanalua: Jordan Monico 2-5, double; Liu-Saguid double. Kailua: Kili Vierra home run, 2 RBIs; Jared Iha double; Zach Akamine 2 runs.

CASTLE 11, KAHUKU 1

Pulama Silva pitched a one-hitter with six strikeouts and hit a three-run triple as the Knights beat the Red Raiders in a game shortened to six innings.

KAHUKU (1-4) 100 000 — 1 1 3

CASTLE (3-0-1) 304 211 —11 8 2

Traviz Eugenio, Kevin Van Ness (3), Ikaika Sasaoka (5) and Sasaoka, Van Ness (5). Pulama Silva and Lyle Kitagawa. W — Silva. L — Eugenio

Leading hitters — Castle: Kainoa Tom 2-4, double; Coby Agres 2-3, 2 RBIs; Kitagawa 2-2; Silva triple, 3 RBIs.

Reported by Joe Tom

ROOSEVELT 11, KALAHEO 4

Nick Wong hit a solo homer and a grand slam during the 10-run third inning as the Rough Riders rallied past the Mustangs, who got a grand slam from Alika Kaanapu in the top of the first inning at Stevenson Intermediate field.

KALAHEO (0-5) 400 000 0 — 4 5 2

ROOSEVELT (3-0-1) 00(10)100 X — 11 12 2

Talon Wemple, Donovan Correa (3), Kyle Okamura (3) and Cody vonAppen. Kelson Okimoto, Keoni Manago (6) and Tyler Nitahara. W — Okimoto. L — Wemple.

Leading hitters — Kalaheo: Richard Preza-Haynes 2-4; Alika Kaanapu 2-3, grand slam. Roosevelt: Nick Wong 2-3, solo homer, grand slam; Justin Otaguro 2-4, double, 2 runs; Nitahara 2-3; Casey Tanabe 2-4, double, 2 runs; Christian Awaya triple, 2 runs.

Reported by Craig Arakawa

KALANI 10, FARRINGTON 0

Five Falcon pitchers teamed on a no-hitter with nine strikeouts, and Andrew Jones belted a solo homer to help beat the Governors at Kahala field.

FARRINGTON (0-4) 000 00— 0 0 1

KALANI (3-1) 114 22—10 13 0

Diamond Pedro and Bryson Sagundo. Tyler Matsuda, Kenn Kamoto (2), Troy Kashiwabara (3), Wataru Noguchi (5), Micah Takahashi (5) and Jason Lee, Bryce Tomatani. W — Kamoto. L — Pedro. S — Noguchi.

Leading hitters — Kalani: Jake Massey 2-4, 2 RBIs; Ridge Carpenter 2 runs; Keola Wakazuru triple, RBI; Andrew Jones homer; Chris Pieper 2-2, 2 RBIs; Dillion Matsuda 2-3, triple, RBI, 2 runs; Jordan Wong 2-3.

Reported by Shannon Hirai

MCKINLEY 13, KAIMUKI 3

Tilton Kaluna drove in three runs, and Roger Kraemer and Kelsen Ganeku each drove in a pair as the host Tigers beat the Bulldogs.

KAIMUKI (0-5) 010 02— 3 3 3

MCKINLEY (1-3) 531 13—13 11 0

Masashi Kimura, Ian Delizo (2), Daren Muramoto (5) and Muramoto, Delizo (5). Roger Kraemer, Chaz Leong (4) and Kelsen Ganeku. W — Kraemer. L — Kimura.

Leading hitters — Kaimuki: Delizo 2-3, double. McKinley: Kraemer 3-3, 2 RBIs; Tilton Kaluna 2-2, 3 RBIs; Ganeku 2-2, 2 doubles, 2 RBIs; Jonathan Ho double.

Reported by Jillian Tamaru

OIA WEST

'AIEA 5, LEILEHUA 0

Cody Aquino pitched a three-hitter with three walks and eight strikeouts as unbeaten Na Ali'i blanked the Mules at Fred Wright Field.

'AIEA (4-0) 310 000 1—5 7 0

LEILEHUA (3-2) 000 000 0—0 3 6

Cody Aquino and Anthony Tsui. Darren Baccay, Desmond Ontai (6) and Ehukai Woolley. W — Aquino. L — Baccay.

Leading hitters — 'Aiea: Aquino 2-4, double. Leilehua: Woolley double.

Reported by Lauren Maeda

MILILANI 12, WAIALUA 0

Dustin Antolin struck out seven, teaming with two others on a one-hitter, and had two hits and two RBIs for the Trojans.

WAIALUA (1-3) 010 00— 1 1 4

MILILANI (5-0) 062 4X—12 18 0

Bryce Whittaker, Arthur Hernandez (4) and Kekoa Ford-Parrish. Dustin Antolin, Ian Lee (5), Richie Mariano (5) and Kellen Miyasato. W — Antolin. L — Whittaker.

Leading hitters — Waialua: Reggie Carillo triple. Mililani: Adam Schroeder 2-3; Jay Yoshizawa 2 RBIs; Travis Jones 2-3, two doubles; Jose Cruz 2-3; Chad Aoki triple; Joey Aquino 3-3, double, triple; Antolin 2-3, double, 2 RBIs.

Reported by Dean Sato

WAI'ANAE 24, NANAKULI 0

Ben McQuown, Randon Keomalu and Matt Bossen combined on a no-hitter with 10 strikeouts in a game shortened to 4 1/2 innings due to the 10-run rule.

NANAKULI (0-5) 000 0 0— 0 0 3

WAI'ANAE (3-1) 550 (14)X—24 15 1

Lalo Respicio and Isaiah Tanaka. Ben McQuown, Randon Keomalu (4), Matt Bossen (5) and Nalu Haohio, R.J. Tazgere-Bailey. W — McQuown. L — Respicio.

Leading hitters — Wai'anae: Aina Kalaola-Myer 3-4, 2 RBIs; Dean Tabangcura 2-2, triple, 2 RBIs.

Reported by Kekoa Kaluhiokalani

KAPOLEI 11, WAIPAHU 2

Kalani Omoto scattered eight hits and struck out 10, and Michael Kahalehoe went 4 for 5 with three RBIs to power the visiting Hurricanes.

KAPOLEI (3-2) 100 125 2—11 13 2

WAIPAHU (0-5) 000 010 1— 2 8 3

Kalani Omoto and Oliver Taoy; Eric Hudson, Jason Rios (4), Kaimi Haina (6) and Haina, Samuel Chee (6). W — Omoto. L — Hudson.

Leading hitters — Kapolei: Aaron Santiago 2-5, triple, RBI; Michael Kahalehoe 4-5, 2 doubles, 3 RBIs. Waipahu: Davon Sakamoto 2-3, double; Jaris Komuro-Rosete 2-4, triple, RBI; Haina RBI triple.

Reported by Mel Takenaka

CAMPBELL 17, RADFORD 0

Cameron Howser had three hits, including two doubles, and four RBIs to lead the Sabers over the Rams.

RADFORD (0-5) 0 00 00— 0 2 2

CAMPBELL (2-2) (11)51 0X—17 16 1

Justin Lord, Nick Navarro (2) and Zach Seitz. Bryan Walsh, Kevin Newcomb (4) and Cameron Howser, Christian Marquez (3). W — Walsh. L — Lord.

Leading hitters — Campbell: Kia Kapana 3-3, 3 RBIs, 3 runs; Sebastian Locquiao 3-3, two doubles, 3 runs, 2 RBIs; Howser 3-3, two doubles, 4 RBIs, 2 runs; Bronson Ellis-Rivera triple, 2 RBIs; Mike Miller-Raymond 2-2, double, 2 runs; Everett Pico 2-2, 3 runs.

Reported by Rory Pico

ILH

PUNAHOU 10, PAC-FIVE 1

Five Buffanblu pitchers combined on a two-hitter, Reece Kiriu hit a two-run triple in a six-run first and Zach Kometani hit a two-run double in a four-run second in an Interscholastic League of Honolulu game at Ala Wai Field.

PAC-FIVE (0-8) 000 100 0— 1 2 1

PUNAHOU (7-0) 640 000 X—10 6 0

Ross Yamato, Ryan DeMello (1), Tyler Simao (4), Joey Maekawa (6) and Reid Morihara. Reece Kiriu, Reid Okita (4), Evan Yamamoto (5), Jeremy Fujimoto (6), Bryson Nakamura (7) and Zach Kometani, Travis Tanaka (7). W — Kiriu. L — Yamato.

Leading hitters — Punahou: Kometani double, 2 RBIs; Jeeter Ishida 2-2; Kiriu 2-2, double, triple, 4 RBIs.

Reported by Pua Hayashi

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com.