Aquino and Aiea beat Moanalua for OIA title

Na Alii are the only West team among the five OIA squads going to the states

The last West baseball team standing turned out to be the best of the lot.

Aiea, the only West squad among the five state-tourney qualifiers in the Oahu Interscholastic Association, relied on the pitching of Cody Aquino and timely hitting in the first two innings for a 7-4 championship victory last night over Moanalua.

"Coach (Ryan Kato) said before the game that in 4 hours, this game is gonna change your life in a good way or bad way," Aquino said.

Aiea (12-1) won its second OIA title in six seasons under Kato. Aiea secured the OIA's top seed at the state tournament.

"We played hard and never gave up," Moanalua coach Scott Yamada said. "We fought to the end. We'll get a second chance in the (state) tourney."

Aquino, a left-hander, allowed two runs on one hit over five innings, and sophomore Randy Castillo withstood a comeback attempt by the Menehunes (11-2).

"They worked hard and earned it," Kato said, referring to his team's trials and tribulations with its home field. Na Alii played all of their games on the road because of construction at the Aiea Recreation Center facility.

"For these guys to accomplish what they did, with rain making it hard to practice on our field a lot of times. All the obstacles they had to face, nothing fazed them," Kato said.

Aiea jumped on Moanalua starter Michael Amorozo for six runs in the first two innings. After two infield errors by the Menehunes, Shane Koga's double down the left-field line brought in courtesy runner Casey Yara and Derek Grace.

Brian Morihara followed with another double down the left-field line, scoring Koga and Reid Nakamura, who had doubled. Before the first inning was through, Keenan Naeole sent a deep fly ball to center, scoring Morihara from third for a 5-0 Aiea lead.

Aiea added two more runs in the bottom of the second. Catcher Tripper Chung, who threw out two Moanalua baserunners in the first frame, led off with a triple to deep center and came home on Aquino's squeeze bunt. That gave Na Alii a six-run lead.

Reid Nakamura later singled to left, bringing home Koga, who had walked and stolen second. The seven-run cushion was enough, but Moanalua made a game of it in the sixth.

Aquino, who fanned four, walked four and hit three batters, wasn't able to spot his fastball. Kato sent Castillo to the mound.

"I was a little nervous," the 6-foot-1 right-hander admitted. A throwing error on a double-play try allowed Jared Coloma and Kekoa Lee to score, pulling Moanalua within 7-2.

Another error by Anthony Tsui at second allowed Jordan Monico to score, chipping the margin down to four runs. After a wild pitch allowed Peter Arakawa to score from third, Moanalua was within 7-4.

However, Castillo settled down and got out of the inning thanks to Chung, who picked off courtesy runner Jason Hironaka at third base as Arakawa attempted to steal second. His perfect throw ended the inning.

"I just have faith in my arm," said Chung, who has picked off five runners at third in similar situations.

Moanalua got two runners on base in the seventh, but Castillo got Marcus Miyashiro to hit into a fielder's choice, and Monico flew out to end the game.

At Central Oahu Regional Park

Moanalua	000	004	0	--	4	2	3
Aiea	520	000	X	--	7	9	2

Michael Amorozo, Jared Coloma (2), Markus Miyashiro (3) and Wayde Iwanaga, Bryce Onaga (6). Cody Aquino, Randy Castillo (6) and Tripper Chung.W--Aquino.L--Amorozo.

Leading hitters--Moa: Trenan Kawaoka 2b.Aiea: Reid Nakamura 2-2; Brian Morihara 2-3, 2b, 2 RBIs; Anthony Tsui 2-3; Shane Koga 2b, 2 RBIs.