PEARL CITY — Cory Yuh pitched a four-hitter and the Pearl City offense had 15 hits as the host Chargers beat Kapolei, 15-1, in the O'ahu Interscholastic Association Red West opener for both teams yesterday afternoon.

Pearl City, the defending OIA champion and runner-up at last year's state tournament, broke open the game with 10 runs in the second inning. The game was called after the top of the fifth due to the 10-run rule.

"I always think we have a good hitting team," Pearl City coach Gary Nakamoto said. "It's the pitching that has to come through for us. Hopefully, we can score some runs and keep the runs down.

"I'm very happy with what they did today, but it's not going to be easy anymore. Everything will be hard."

All nine Chargers in the starting batting order had at least one hit. Jared Nagai and Kurt Poentis each went 3 for 3, with Poentis driving in three runs and Nagai driving in one. Both also had a double.

Ryson Namba hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the first inning to give Pearl City an early lead.

In the bottom of the second, Poentis hit a bases-loaded, two-run single that started the 10-run inning in which 14 batters came to the plate.

Kapolei changed pitchers after Bryson Nakamura's two-run single made it 7-0 as Kalani Omoto came into the game for starter Oliver Taoy. The score was 11-0 before the Chargers picked up their first out of the inning.

Kapolei coach Tom Ebanez gave his team an in-depth talk after the second inning.

"I just told them that you have to overcome adversity and we've been through that this year," said Ebanez, who added his team hasn't face a team like Pearl City in its 16 preseason games. "I told them we're playing for the name on our chest and to keep fighting on."

Kapolei's Lyle Santiago singled in the top of the third and reached second base on an error. After Curtis Donald's single, Santiago scored on Kyle Dela Cruz's sacrifice fly that made it 12-1.

Yuh got a groundout to end the inning and allowed just one more hit the rest of the game. He finished with seven strikeouts.

"We've been working hard and it's been paying off," said Yuh, who credited catcher Carlton Tanabe.

Ryno Acosta almost had the Chargers' second homer of the afternoon in the bottom of the third, but settled with a two-run triple. His shot deep into center field bounced off the backstop fence of the softball field. The baseball outfield crosses into the softball field.

"If he didn't hit that, it would've been gone," Nakamoto said.

Omoto struck out five batters, including three straight in the bottom of the fourth — all of them Pearl City pinch hitters.

KAPOLEI (0-1) 001 00 — 1 4 2

PEARL CITY (1-0) 2(10)2 1X —15 15 1

Oliver Taoy, Kalani Omoto (2) and Brandon Damas. Cory Yuh and Carlton Tanabe. W — Yuh. L — Taoy.

Leading hitters — Kapolei: Kyle Dela Cruz RBI, Christian Estabillo double. Pearl City: Kurt Poentis 3-3, 3 RBIs, double; Jared Nagai 3-3, RBI, double; Bryson Nakamura 2-3, 2 RBIs; Ryson Namba 2-3, home run, 3 RBIs; Carlton Tanabe 2 RBIs, triple; Ryno Acosta 3 RBIs, triple.

Reach Stanley Lee at sktlee@honoluluadvertiser.com.