Kalani’s triple play helps
send Roosevelt to first
OIA loss

The Kalani baseball team proved that sometimes the best offense is truly a good defense.

The Falcons beat OIA Eastern Division front-runner Roosevelt 3-0, handing the Rough Riders their first loss of the season.

Using stellar fielding and a gutsy performance by sophomore pitcher Micah Takahashi, who was making his second extended appearance in five days, the Kalani defense made one big play after another to keep the host Roosevelt off the scoreboard.

The Rough Riders seemed poised to rally in the bottom of the first after leadoff batter Keenan Loo singled to left off of Takahashi. Kalani catcher Joshua Markwith made the first key defensive play of the game, gunning down Takahashi as he attempted to steal second base.

The out was significant, as Keoni Manago, Kevin Fujii and Nicolas Wong followed and reached on a single and two walks to load the bases with just one out. Falcon Reid Matsumura flagged down a soft liner off the bat of Rick Yoshikane for the second out, and Takahashi retired the next batter on an infield grounder to close the threat.

Takahashi operated through the next three frames without any drama, but benefited from an outstanding defensive play in the bottom of the fifth. Manago sparked the Roosevelt rally by doubling to right to open the inning. Takahashi then hit Fujii with a pitch, giving the Rough Riders two runners on with no outs. Roosevelt third baseman Wong followed by drilling a hard line drive toward Kalani shortstop Marcus Fujita, who gloved it, and quickly flipped to second baseman Jordan Sumida, who relayed to first to record the triple play.

"Our defense is finally making some plays," Kalani head coach Shannon Hirai said. "The kids played good against Kaiser and we asked them to bring that same type of intensity out again today, and they did."

Takahashi worked five shutout innings, allowing four hits while striking out three to earn the victory.

The Falcon defense came up with one more stop in the sixth, turning a 6-4-3 double play to help reliever Fujita escape the sixth.

"This was a big game for us," Hirai said. "With Roosevelt coming in undefeated and Kailua undefeated and our loss to Kaiser, this was a do-or-die game for us to keep up. Micah did a good job. He threw five innings against Kaiser on Saturday and then threw five more today."

Kalani benefited from Roosevelt lapses to score each of their runs. Rough Rider Kalani Yoshimura held the Falcons scoreless until the fourth, when Fujita walked to lead off. After advancing to second on Reid Matsumura's bunt single, Fujita scored on a throwing error by the Roosevelt infield on Darren Takemoto's infield single.

The Falcons' second run also reached base via a walk, and scored on Preston Pires' opposite-field single off the right-field fence. Kalani scored an insurance run in the sixth on another error.

At Stevenson Middle School field

Kalani (5-1)	000	111	0	--	3	5	1
Roosevelt (6-1)	000	000	0	--	0	4	2

Micah Takahashi, Marcus Fujita (6) and Joshua Markwith, Preston Pires (4). Kalani Yoshimura, David Chow (6) and Kevin Fujii. W--Takahashi. L--Yoshimura.
Leading Hitters--Kaln: Pires, 1-2, RBI. Roos: Keoni Manago, 2-4, 2b.

McKinley 11, Farrington 5

Jarren Hirasaki hit a two-run homer in the top of the sixth to widen the gap between the Governors and Tigers, who got their second win of the season.

At Joey DeSa Field

McKinley (2-5)	030	125	0	--	11	12	2
Farrington (1-5)	010	040	0	--	5	9	7

Kalen Kuniyuki, Ryan Goto (5) and Andrew Mitani. Andrew Ganaban, Alison Tolentino (6) and Anthony Gabrillo. W--Kuniyuki. L--Ganaban.
Leading hitters-- McK: Goto, 2-5, 2 runs; Jarren Hirasaki, 3-5, 3b, HR, 2 RBIs; Cheyenne Aiko, 2-4; Mitani, 2b; Jefferson Okada, 3-3, 2 2bs, 3 runs, 3 RBIs; Jake Maemori, 2 sac flys, 2 RBIs. Farr: Alex Mendoza, 2-4, 3b; Gabrillo, 2 RBIs; Tolentino, 2-4, 2b; Nathan Serdenia, 2-3, RBI.

Moanalua 5, No. 10 Kaiser 3

Andrew Blomberg ripped a double and a home run to lead the Menehunes past the Cougars. Adam Arakawa added two hits, including one double for the Menehunes.

At Moanalua H.S. field

Kaiser (4-2)	100	101	0	--	3	6	1
Moanalua (5-1)	301	010	x	--	5	7	1

Russell Sasaki, Evan Garcia (4) and Hoo Obed. Kekoa Lee, Andrew Blomberg(4) and Donovan Souza. W--Blomberg. L--Sasaki.
Leading hitters--Kais: Jeff Peters 2-3; Landon Kaaua 2b. Moan: Markus Miyashiro 2b; Adam Arakawa 2-3, 2b, RBI; Blomberg 2-2, 2b, HR, 4 RBIs.

Kahuku 16, Kalaheo 3

Keola Kahele gave up just three hits in seven innings and Kimball Niumatalolo hit a grand slam to help the Red Raiders earn their first victory.

At Kailua Recreation Center field

Kahuku (1-5)	012	134	5	--	16	13	0
Kalaheo (1-5)	100	002	0	--	3	4	2

Keola Kahele and M.J. Sabido. Paul Schending, Larry Provost (5), Austin Kehrer (6), Doug Cox (7) and Cox. W--Kahele. L--Schending.
Leading hitters--Kah: Chico Ramirez 2-5, 2 runs; Kimball Niumatalolo 3-5, HR, 3 runs, 5 RBIs; Bronson Ponciano 3-4, 2b, HR, 2 runs, 2 RBIs; Ethan Haiole 3-4, 2b, 2 runs, 2 RBIs.

Castle 15, Kaimuki 1

Shane Dydasco and Jordan Nakayama each scored three runs and Brandon Kon had two RBIs as the Knights dominated the Bulldogs.

At Castle H.S. field

Kaimuki (0-7)	000	10	--	1	6	9
Castle (4-3)	904	2x	--	15	15	1

Swaine Seto-Mook, Akoni Sexton (2) and Kaeo Neal, Danny Berger (2). Jeff Akamine, Kazu Meyer (3), Ikaika Reppuhn (4), Jared Haitsuka (5) and David Mohika, Dallas Olsen (5). W--Akamine. L--Seto-Mook.
Leading hitters--Cas: I'i Kanaeholo 2-2, 2b, RBI; Brandon Kon 2-3, 2 RBIs; Shane Dydasco 2b, 3 runs; Mohika 2-4, RBI; Jordan Nakayama 2b, 3 runs; Olsen 2b, RBI; Reppuhn 2-2, RBI.

OIA WestCampbell 4, No. 8 Aiea 2

Tristan Bailey and Ian Pantorilla both had two hits as the Sabers defeated Na Alii.

At Campbell H.S. field

Aiea (5-1)	000	000	2	--	2	2	1
Campbell (6-1)	310	000	0	--	4	9	1

Kahoku Piho, Cody Aquino (6) and Brian Morihara. Tristan Bailey and Ian Pantorilla. W--Bailey. L--Piho.
Leading hitters--Aiea: Shane Koga 2b, 2 RBIs. Cam: Bailey 2-3 RBI; Panterilla 2-3, 2 RBIs; Kendall Hodson 2b.

No. 3 Mililani 5, Leilehua 4

Tony Aquino struck out nine in five innings as the Trojans scored five runs in the first two innings before holding on to defeat the Mules and remain undefeated.

At Mililani H.S. field

Leilehua (4-2)	101	020	0	--	4	5	4
Mililani (6-0)	410	000	x	--	5	7	1

John Olley and Gavin Uyeda. Tony Aquino, Kelsey Nakata (6) and Kamaka Crabbe. W--Aquino. L--Olley. S--Nakata.
Leading hitters--Lei: Andrew Ontai HR; Joshua Pastor 2-4. Mil: Aquino 2b; Nakata 3b; Brandon Oshiro 2b; Dustin Antolin 2b; Justin Sagami 2b.

Radford 4, Waipahu 17

Greg Suwa and Kizuku Scott both had two hits as the Rams defeated the Marauders to pick up their first win.

At Waipahu H.S. field

Radford (1-6)	120	010	0	--	4	10	3
Waipahu (0-7)	000	001	0	--	1	7	2

Justin Lord and Kyle Howell. Mark Peralta and Ridge Kaleikini. W--Lord. L--Peralta.
Leading hitters--Rad: Greg Suwa 2-4, 2b; Kizuku Scott 2-4; Kyle Blair 3b. Waip: Efren Marcos 2-3.

Waianae 10, Waialua 0

Clayton Uyechi tossed a perfect game, striking out 11 of the 15 batters he faced, and added a home run, three RBIs and two runs scored as the Seariders rolled over the Bulldogs.

At Waianae H.S. field

Waialua (0-6)	000	00	--	0	0	2
Waianae (5-1)	023	32	--	10	10	0

Shayne Peiler and Justin Mangallan. Clayton Uyechi and Peter Carba. W--Uyechi. L--Peiler.
Leading hitters--Wain: Uyechi 2-3, HR, 2 runs, 3 RBIs; Joshua Telles 2-2, 2 runs, RBI; Carba 2-2, run; Darius Fuller 2-2, 2 runs.

Kapolei 9, Nanakuli 3

Aaron Santiago had three hits to lead the Hurricanes past the Golden Hawks.

At Kapolei H.S. field

Nanakuli (1-6)	100	101	0	--	3	1	5
Kapolei (2-4)	020	060	x	--	9	11	2

Ainoa Olivera, Bryson Felisi (2), Nathan Naehu (5) and Curtis Wright. Jordan Canionero, Howard Vinhasa (6) and Mike Kahalehoe, Justin Purvey(7). W--Canionero. L--Felisi.
Leading hitters--Kap: Jon Santiago 1-2, run, 2b; Aaron Santiago 3-4, run, RBI; Jason Veirra 2-2, 2b, RBI.