Kamoku pitches, homers to lift Moanalua in OIA playoff opener
By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer
Kamalu Kamoku pitched a four-hitter and went 2 for 3 with a home run and three RBIs yesterday to help Moanalua defeat visiting Kapolei, 6-2, in the first round of the O'ahu Interscholastic Association baseball playoffs.
Moanalua, the No. 4 seed in the OIA Red Conference Eastern Division, improved to 8-5 in league play and will travel to West champion Pearl City (12-0) for a 3:30 p.m. quarterfinal today.
Kapolei's season ends at 5-8.
Nā Menehune return several starters from a team that reached last year's state semifinals, but struggled through a 7-5 regular season.
"The playoffs is like another season," said Kamoku, a 6-foot-1, 225-pound right-handed junior. "It's a new slate. We just gotta win now and forget about the regular season."
Yesterday didn't start out so promising, either, as Kapolei took a 2-0 lead in the first inning after run-scoring singles by Christian Estabillo and Trey Kamachi. But Moanalua quickly cut the lead in half when Tim Arakawa led off the bottom of the inning with a solo home run over the right-field fence.
Nā Menehune then took a 3-2 lead in the third on Kamoku's two-run homer to the opposite field, over the same fence. Miles Higa added another solo blast to the same place in the fourth, and Moanalua made it 6-2 in the fifth on Kamoku's RBI single and a two-base error.
"I was optimistic after getting two runs in the first, but no lead is ever safe against Moanalua, especially here," Hurricanes coach Tom Ebanez said. "They know how to use this field."
Meanwhile, Kamoku settled down after the rocky start and did not allow any baserunners in the second, third and fourth innings. Kapolei managed only one hit and one runner reaching scoring position over the final six innings.
"(Kamoku) battled back," Nā Menehune coach Scott Yamada said. "He's a tough kid, he's a gamer."
KAPOLEI (5-8) 200 000 0 — 2 4 4
MOANALUA (8-5) 102 120 X — 6 9 0
Cody Kamei, Trey Kamachi (5) and Brandon Damas; Kamalu Kamoku and Brandon Kong. W — Kamalu. L — Kamei.
Leading hitters — Kapolei: Kamachi 1-2, RBI; Christian Estabillo 1-2, RBI. Moanalua: Kamoku 2-3, home run, 3 RBIs; Tim Arakawa home run; Miles Higa home run.
MILILANI 8, KALANI 7
Andrew Benitez tripled home the tying run and later scored on a grounder to the second baseman — beating the throw home — with one out in the bottom of the eighth inning to lift the Trojans over the Falcons at Hans L'Orange Park.
Benitez and Chad Bolibol each went 3 for 4 with three RBIs, and Troy Yoshizawa went 2 for 4 and drove in two runs for Mililani.
KALANI (3-10) 130 011 1—7 6 2
MILILANI (8-5) 330 000 2—8 11 4
Devin Lee and Kiel Odo. Micah Kitaoka, Chad Hiyakumoto (5), Wade Taoka (5) and Jacob Matsukawa. W — Taoka. L — Lee.
Leading hitters — Kalani: Odo double, 2 RBIs; Joey Asuncion 2-2, double, triple, 2 RBIs; Ryan Ige 2 runs. Mililani: Troy Yoshizawa 2-4, double, 2 runs; Chad Bolibol 3-4, double, two triples, 3 RBIs, 3 runs; Andrew Benitez 3-4, double, triple, 3 RBIs, 2 runs; Kacey Miyasato double.
Reported by Mark Hirayama
KAISER 8, LEILEHUA 2
Shane Tsutahara and Makana Lyman each had two hits and drove in two runs, and Kekoa Torres scattered seven hits as the Cougars beat the Mules at Central O'ahu Regional Park.
Kaiser scored six runs in the second and made it 8-0 with two runs in the fourth.
KAISER (6-7) 060 200 0—8 7 0
LEILEHUA (5-8) 000 002 0—2 7 4
Kekoa Torres and Makana Lyman. Larry Paas, Kenan Sadanaga (5) and Aaron Higa. W — Torres. L — Paas.
Leading hitters — Kaiser: Shane Tsutahara 2-4, triple, 2 RBIs, 2 runs; Austin Ortega double, run; Lyman 2-3, 2 RBIs; Royce Kuromoto 2 runs. Leilehua: Bronson Smithe 2-3, double.
Reported by Lane Watanuki
CASTLE 1, 'AIEA 0
Seamus Yoneshige pitched a one-hitter and struck out eight, and Tyler Kon singled home Roy Smith from third base with no outs in the bottom of the seventh inning to lift the Knights over Nā Ali'i.
'Aiea's Travis Uyeda allowed six hits in pitching the distance.
'AIEA (3-10) 000 000 0—0 1 0
CASTLE (9-4) 000 000 1—1 6 0
Travis Uyeda and Chase Iwata. Seamus Yoneshige and Brede Kochi. W — Yoneshige. L — Uyeda.
Leading hitters — Castle: Kochi 3-4, double, triple; Tyler Kon single, RBI.
Reported by Brent Taniguchi
ILH BASEBALL
SAINT LOUIS 4, KAMEHAMEHA 3
Kaeo Aliviado singled home Derek Nakasato from second base with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning to lift the Crusaders over the Warriors in an Interscholastic League of Honolulu game at Ala Wai Field.
Saint Louis, the first-round champion, improved to 6-0 in the second round. Kamehameha fell to 4-3.
KAMEHAMEHA (4-3) 000 200 10—3 5 2
SAINT LOUIS (6-0) 100 002 01—4 8 2
Chris Chung and Moses Samia. Jordyn Ah Chong and Moku Kukonu. W — Chung. L — Ah Chong.
Leading hitters — Kamehameha: Kewby Meyer double, RBI, Bryson Kenolio triple, RBI, 2 runs Saint Louis: Jordan Fukumoto 2-4, 2 runs, Derek Nakasato 2-4, 2 runs, Kalei Contrades double, RBI.
'IOLANI 10, MARYKNOLL 0
Carlos Rodriguez, Tyson Tsutsumi and Curtis Martin combined on a one-hitter, Jensen Park homered and drove in four runs, and Sean Nada homered and had two RBIs as the visiting Raiders routed the Spartans.
'IOLANI (4-2-1) 211 312—10 10 0
MARYKNOLL (0-5) 000 000— 0 1 2
Carlos Rodriguez, Tyson Tsutsumi (5), Curtis Martin (6) and Tiras Koon. Aaron Tom, Craig Shoji (5) and Spencer Young. W — Rodriguez. L — Tom.
Leading hitters — 'Iolani: Kila Zuttermeister 3 runs; Jarrett Arakawa 2-3, double, 3 runs; Jensen Park homer, 4 RBIs; Brett Watanabe 2-3, double; Tanner Nishioka double; Sean Nada homer, 2 RBIs.
MID-PACIFIC VS. PAC-FIVE
The game between the Owls and Wolfpack was suspended in the bottom of the second inning because of rain. Mid-Pacific led 8-2 at the time.
The game will be made up next Tuesday starting at 3:45 p.m. at Mid-Pac field.
ILH SOFTBALL
MID-PACIFIC 8, MARYKNOLL 2
Tasi Docktor homered and drove in two runs, and three pitchers combined on a two-hitter, leading the visiting Owls over the Spartans in an Interscholastic League of Honolulu game at Mō'ili'ili Field.
MID-PACIFIC (10-1) 110 312 0—8 10 0
MARYKNOLL (3-8) 000 002 0—2 2 1
Keiki Carlos, Tori Hamura (6), Leslie Sugiyama (7) and Kaydi Kochi. Kristin Yamasaki and Carolann Toyama. W — Carlos. L — Yamasaki.
Leading hitters — Mid-Pacific: Tasi Docktor homer, 2 RBIs; Kristin Yama double, RBI; Courtney Niino double, RBI, 2 runs.
Reported by Asia Botelho
PUNAHOU 2, 'IOLANI 0
Jasmine Ioane tossed a three-hitter with six strikeouts and drove in a run, Kayla Shimoda went 3 for 3 and Hilary Nakaya also drove in a run to lead the visiting Buffanblu over the Raiders at Ala Wai.
PUNAHOU (9-4) 011 000 0—2 6 0
'IOLANI (8-4) 000 000 0—0 3 2
Jasmine Ioane and Kayla Shimoda. Nani Taniguchi and Kryn Masutani. W — Ioane. L — Taniguchi.
Leading hitters — Punahou: Shimoda 3-3, double, run; Ioane double, RBI; Hilary Nakaya double, RBI.
Reported by Paul Smith
KAMEHAMEHA 7, PAC-FIVE 4
Poi Ho went 3 for 4 with two doubles and Jamie Millwood pitched a complete game as the visiting Warriors (8-4) defeated the Wolfpack (2-8) at Ala Wai Park. A complete linescore was not available.
Read his blog on high school sports at http://preptalk.honadvblogs.com