HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL
Ishida gives Punahou the relief it needs
Just call him "Jeeter the Reliever."
That's exactly what Punahou pitcher Jeeter Ishida became yesterday in a 9-5 win over Saint Louis, an unusual role for the Star-Bulletin's 2006 pitcher of the year.
But that's exactly what the back-and-forth game demanded at Ala Wai Field. The three-time defending state champion Buffanblu (2-0 Interscholastic League of Honolulu) jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the top of the third inning, but quickly saw that evaporate as the Crusaders knotted things up in the bottom of the same frame.
When the Crusaders' Joshua DeMello ripped a one-out single to right field to put runners on first and third in the sixth inning, Punahou coach Eric Kadooka decided it was time to get Ishida in the game.
It was the ace's first action since he subluxed his left shoulder diving for a ball in the preseason three weeks ago, and entering the game as a reliever was definitely not a role he was used to. But he performed admirably, giving up no earned runs over the final 1 2/3 innings to pick up the win.
"It's huge (to bring Jeeter in)," Kadooka said. "It wasn't the plan. When the game just called for it, he's that kind of kid. I know he's ready. I would never put somebody out there not healthy. We gotta give the ball to the guy on the mound who's our best guy."
Zach Markwith hit a fielder's choice RBI off Ishida (charged to Jeremy Fujimoto) to bring home Danny Higa on the ensuing at-bat for a tenuous 5-4 lead. That was the last time Ishida was touched.
In the top of the seventh, the defending champs responded with a two-RBI single up the middle from catcher Zach Kometani to score Josh Bninski and Tyler Young for the go-ahead play.
"We never give up, this team, and we had a lot of clutch hits," Ishida said. "Zach Kometani had a huge (hit) to pull ahead there."
At that point, the Buffanblu smelled blood.
Starting pitcher Reece Kiriu followed with a double past third base to bring in pinch runner Shane Yoshiyama. Evan Bisho -- hitting at the bottom of the order -- smacked an insurance two-run single to left that scored Travis Tanaka and Kiriu.
"For a while we haven't been in that situation (being down), so we came together as a team and we definitely got it done," added Kometani, who finished 3-for-4.
Ishida struck out a batter and forced two groundouts in the seventh to earn the win. Grant Costa took the loss for Saint Louis (10-4, 0-2 ILH).
Crusaders coach Duane Fraticelli said he expected Ishida to make an appearance, and chalked up his team's winless ILH start to mental mistakes.
"Just trying to get these guys over that hump," he said. "(If we did), we'd be a different team. It's the mental side on defense, knowing the game. Baseball is 90 percent mental, 10 percent athletics."
It showed. Punahou turned two double plays to Saint Louis' zero, while the Crusaders had two errors to none for the Buffanblu.
Bninski scored leadoff hitter Matt Suiter on a single in the bottom of the third to get things started. Young, the DH, smashed a two-run shot over the left-field fence for a 3-0 lead, and Yoshiyama dove home on a wild pitch for what appeared to be a comfortable margin.
But Saint Louis had other ideas. Aided by the heavy rain that fell in the third inning, two Crusaders scored on wild pitches between an RBI single from DeMello and RBI triple from Kyle Gonzaga.
Crusader players yelled "zero-zero game right here boys!" as they took the field in the fourth.
It wasn't destined to last. Saint Louis' reliever corps didn't have the luxury of an ace waiting in the wings, and gave up five earned runs in the seventh inning.
At Ala Wai field
Punahou (2-0) |
004 |
000 |
5 |
-- |
9 |
8 |
0
|
Saint Louis (0-2) |
004 |
001 |
0 |
-- |
5 |
8 |
2
|
Reece Kiriu, Jeremy Fujimoto (5), Jeeter Ishida (6) and Zach Kometani. Josh Saio, Jordan Akau (3), Grant Costa (7) and Moses Samia. W-Ishida. L-Costa.
Leading hitters--Pun: Matt Suiter 3b, 2 runs; Josh Bninski 2-4, 2 runs; Tyler Young HR, 2 RBIs; Kometani 3-4, 2b, 2 RBIs; Shane Yoshiyama 2 runs; Kiriu 2b; Evan Bisho 2 RBIs. StL: Cole Shidaki 2-3; Kyle Gonzaga 3b; Joshua DeMello 2b; Marcus Kimura 2b.
Mid-Pacific 15, Damien 7
Easton Torigoe went 2-for-5 and hit a home run driving in three runs to lead the Owls past the Monarchs.
Bryson Namba had two hits inlcuding a home run for Damien in a losing effort.
At Iolani H.S. field
Mid-Pacific (2-0) |
019 |
121 |
0 |
-- |
15 |
17 |
0
|
Damien (0-1) |
300 |
300 |
1 |
-- |
7 |
10 |
4
|
Dane Kinoshita, Austin Sloan (4) and Aaron Fujiki. Robert Cuizon, Brennan Alejo (3), Johnathan Awa (5) and Darby Ventura. W--Kinoshita.
Leading hitters--MPI: Rusell Doi 2b, 2 RBIs; Wade Tomaru 3-4, 2b, 2 RBIs; Fujiki 3-4, 2b, RBI; Michael Nagamine 2 RBIs; Easton Torigoe 2-5, HR, 3 RBIs, 3 runs; Derek Tan 3-4, 2b; Robert Dittrick 2-5, RBI. Dam: Dylan Mopas RBI; Travis Derby HR, RBI; Scotty Talaesea 2-4; Ventura 2-4, RBI; Bryson Namba 2-3, HR, 2 RBIs; Alejo 2b; RBI.
Waianae Preseason
Kailua 6, Kahuku 2
BIIF
Kea'au 6, Kohala 4
Blaine Pilayo rapped out three hits and Rodney Pilayo added three more as the Cougars defeated the Cowboys.
Kendrick Gouveia doubled to left-center in the first inning driving in three runs for Kea'au.
At Kamehameha Park
Kea'au |
411 |
000 |
0 |
-- |
6 |
9 |
2
|
Kohala |
000 |
400 |
0 |
-- |
4 |
2 |
1
|
Daimen Bentosino and Kaeo Schweitzer. Landon Matsu, Toby Kailimai (3) and Byron Tagalicod. W--Bentosino. L--Matsu.
Leading hitters--Kea: Blaine Pilayo 3-4, RBI; Rodney Pilayo 3-4, 2b; Kendrick Gouveia 2b, 3 RBIs.