HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL
FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARBULLETIN.COM
Pearl City's Bully Casarez was safe at second when Waialua second baseman Kevin Rombawa mishandled the throw.
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Chargers continue early-season roll
A well-traveled Pearl City team is hoping the experience of the past two summers pays off with a strong high school season this spring.
A dozen members of Pearl City's 19-player roster this season made the trek through state and regional tournaments to reach the final of the Senior League World Series in Bangor, Maine, the last two summers.
Back together for the prep season, the Chargers -- many of whom have played together since T-ball -- are now one of the teams expected to contend in the Oahu Interscholastic Association's West Division.
"When we played our games here to move up slowly to the World Series, we played hard every game," said senior pitcher Jason Rasa. "So we basically put the same mind-set over here.
"(The experience) helps a lot, it gives us a lot more confidence. You have to be a lot tougher and when the time comes, you have to be clutch."
Pearl City's experience and 11-3 preseason mark contributed to a No. 4 ranking in this week's Star-Bulletin Top 10, making the Chargers the highest-rated OIA team.
The Chargers improved to 3-0 in the OIA West with a 24-0 rout of Waialua (1-1) yesterday, with the meat of the schedule still ahead.
Mel Seki doesn't mind the attention that comes with a ranking, nor is the 15th-year Pearl City coach too worried about the players getting caught up in the poll.
"I find it interesting," Seki said. "I wouldn't put too much weight on it, but I'd be lying if I said it doesn't stimulate interest. ... I think it's good for the kids as long as they put it in perspective and have the right mind-set about it."
FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARBULLETIN.COM
Pearl City starting pitcher Scott Muraoka, above, teamed with reliever Kurt Poentis to shut out Waialua for five innings yesterday.
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The Chargers maintained their early-season roll by sending 17 batters to the plate and scoring 13 runs in the first inning yesterday against Waialua and cruising to the five-inning win.
Chad Quillopo had two of Pearl City's three triples in the game and drove in five runs. Seki began substituting early in the game, and the Chargers were conservative on the basepaths as the margin expanded.
The Chargers have won their first three games by an aggregate score of 43-1. They face Nanakuli on Saturday and have a bye next Wednesday before facing defending OIA champion Aiea on April 7, with Mililani to follow on April 11.
While the Chargers aim for a return to the state tournament after missing out last season, Waialua is looking to take some positive steps this season as well despite yesterday's lopsided defeat.
The Bulldogs, who had a strong turnout of 22 players this season, opened the OIA West schedule with a 22-7 victory over Nanakuli last Saturday.
"For the kids it was good," coach Herb Onizuka said. "I think it was the first win in about two years, so it's a big win for them.
"(Pearl City is) real organized and they do the small things, the fielding, the throwing. I just hope we'll catch up one of these days. We have the numbers this year, but we don't have the baseball experience. That's the main thing."
At Pearl City H.S. field
| Waialua (1-1) |
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000 |
00 |
-- |
0 |
4 |
4
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| Pearl City (3-0) |
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(13)92 |
0x |
-- |
24 |
19 |
0 |
Arthur Hernandez, Keliikoa Vierra (3) and Kekoa Ford-Parrish, Sebastian Bajo (3); Scott Muraoka, Kurt Poentis (4) and Carlton Tanabe, Jeffrey Domingo (4). W--Muraoka. L--Hernandez.
Leading hitters--Wail: Hernandez 2b. PC: Ryne Acosta 2 RBIs; Jared Nagai 2-2, RBI; Duane Kiyota 2-3, 3 RBIs; Chad Quillopo 2-5, 2 3b, 5 RBIs; Domingo 2-3, 2b; Tanabe 2-2, 3b, 4 RBIs; Jordan Casarez 3b, RBI.
Leilehua 12, Nanakuli 0, 6 inn.
Brett Nakasone nailed three hits as the Mules shut out the Golden Hawks.
At Leilehua H.S. field
| Nanakuli (0-3) |
000 |
000 |
0 |
-- |
0 |
2 |
4
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| Leilehua (2-1) |
533 |
100 |
x |
-- |
12 |
6 |
1 |
Lalo Respicio and Isaiah Tanaka. Brett Nakasone, Jason Cabalce (5) and Cabalce, Desmond Ontai (5). W--Nakasone. L--Respicio.
Leading hitters--Lei: Nakasone 3-3; Austin Higa 2b.
Kapolei 6, Waianae 3
Kalani Brackenridge and Aaron Santiago went a combined 5-for-8 to lead the Hurricanes over the Seariders.
At Waianae H.S. field
| Kapolei (2-1) |
000 |
042 |
0 |
-- |
6 |
9 |
1
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| Waianae (1-1) |
000 |
102 |
0 |
-- |
3 |
8 |
1 |
Oliver Taoy, Rhennon Tierra (7) and Kalani Omoto. Ronald Pickering, Ben McQuown (6) and RJ Tacgere-Bailey. W--Taoy. L--Pickering.
Leading hitters--Kap: Kalani Brackenridge 3-4; Aaron Santiago 2-4. Wain: McQuown 3-4, 2 2b; Ryan Manuel 2-3.
Campbell 10, Waipahu 0, 6 inn.
Allyn Oliva-Respicio pitched five shutout innings while going 2-for-3 at the plate in the Sabers' win over the Marauders.
At Campbell H.S. field
| Waipahu (0-3) |
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000 |
000 |
-- |
0 |
4 |
4
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| Campell (1-2) |
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110 |
503 |
-- |
10 |
10 |
3 |
Eric Hudson, Jansen Rios (4) and Kaimi Haina. Allyn Oliva-Respicio, Sebastian Locquiao (6) and Christian Marquez, Cameron Howser (4). W--Oliva-Respicio. L--Hudson.
Leading hitters--Camp: Oliva-Respicio 2-3, 2b; Marquez 2 RBI; Bronson Ellis-Rivera 3b, 2 runs; Howser 2b, 2 RBI.
OIA EAST
Kaiser 22, Farrington 1, 5 inn.
Cal Tashio hit a grand slam in the third and Pono Meyer added a home run in the fourth as the Cougars routed the Governors in five innings.
At Kaiser H.S. field
| Farrington (0-2) |
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000 |
01 |
-- |
1 |
6 |
2
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| Kaiser (3-0) |
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3(10)6 |
3x |
-- |
22 |
16 |
0 |
John Kim, Allan Lumensac (2) and Bryson Segundo, Bronson Oili (3). Pono Meyer, Zachary Wong (4) and Bryce Marcouiller, Matt Muranaka (4). W--Meyer. L--Kim.
Leading hitters--Far: Oili 2b; Segundo 2-2; Josh Williams RBI. Kais: Toby Inouye 3-4, 4 RBIs; Muranaka 3-4, 4 runs; Meyer 2-2, HR; Joe Honma 2-2, 3 RBIs; Cal Tashiro 2-4, HR, 5 RBIs; Marcouiller, 3b, 3 RBIs.
Kalani 10, Kahaleo 0, 5 inn.
Ridge Carpenter went 2-for-2 and pitcher Dillion Matsuda came on in relief to get the win in the Falcons' victory over the Mustangs.
At Aina Haina Community Park
| Kalaheo (0-3) |
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000 |
00 |
-- |
0 |
3 |
3
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| Kalani (1-1) |
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003 |
52 |
-- |
10 |
8 |
2 |
Talon Wemple, Donovan Correa (4), Jordan Hugo (5) and Richard Preza Hayne. Kenn Kamoto, Dillion Matsuda (3) and Jason Lee. W--Matsuda. L--Wemple.
Leading hitters--Kaln: Ridge Carpenter 2-2, 2b, 3b, 2 runs, 2 RBI; Wataru Noguchi 1-2, 2b, 2 runs, RBI.
Roosevelt 8, McKinley 2
Nick Wong had eight strikeouts as the Rough Riders defeated the Tigers.
Keoni Manago hit a solo home run in the second for Roosevelt.
At Roosevelt H.S. field
| McKinley (0-2) |
100 |
010 |
0 |
-- |
2 |
7 |
2
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| Roosevelt (2-0) |
311 |
300 |
x |
-- |
8 |
9 |
0 |
Randy Tuley, Raymon Carey (2) Michael Estes (4) and Kelsen Ganeku. Nick Wong, Christian Awaya (6) and Tyler Nitahara. W--Wong. L--Tuley.
Leading hitters--McK: Chaz Leong 3-4, 2b, 2 runs. Roos: Keoni Manago 2-4, HR, 2 runs; Darin Fujii 2-4; Justin Otaguro 3-4, 2b, 3 RBIs; Awaya 3 runs.
Castle 20, Kaimuki 0, 5 inn.
Kainoa Tom blasted a three-run homer in the third and Codey Cabael pitched a complete-game two-hitter as the Knights routed the Bulldogs.
At Castle H.S. field
| Kaimuki (0-3) |
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000 |
00 |
-- |
0 |
2 |
4
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| Castle (1-0-1) |
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(10)37 |
0x |
-- |
20 |
14 |
0 |
Masashi Kimura, Ian Delizo (1), Perry Faleo (3), Delizo (4) and Darren Muramoto. Codey Cabael and Lyle Kitagawa, Devin Tanaka (4). W--Cabael. L--Kimura.
Leading hitters--Cast: Kainoa Tom 2-3, 2b, HR, 3 RBIs; Kitagawa 2b, RBI; Cabael 2-3, 3 RBIs; Trevor Okumura 2b, RBI; Thomas Cayetano-Tamashiro 2-2.
ILH
Punahou 3, Pac-Five 2
Reece Kiriu pitched a complete game as the Buffanblu defeated the Wolfpack and remained undefeated in ILH play.
At Ala Wai Field
| Punahou (6-0) |
011 |
001 |
0 |
-- |
3 |
3 |
3
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| Pac-Five (0-4) |
002 |
000 |
0 |
-- |
2 |
7 |
4 |
Reece Kiriu and Zach Kometani. Samson Aina, Ryan DeMello (7) and Josh Gelson. W--Kiriu. L--Aina.
Leading hitters--Pun: Kometani 1-2, RBI. PAC: Zach Fujimoto 2-4, RBI; Ross Yamato 2-3; Aina 2b.
