Tanaka goes boom off the wall to lift Surfriders
Seranaded by chants of "riiip 'em, riiip 'em," from the Kailua dugout, pinch hitter Keenan Tanaka stepped up to the plate with the bases loaded and two outs in the fourth.
The first pitch he saw, Tanaka obliged his teammates.
He unloaded Kainoa Tom's fastball against the centerfield wall for a three-run double that accounted for half of No. 7 Kailua's offense in yesterday's 6-1 victory at No. 8 Castle.
The Surfriders (7-1) pulled into second place in the Oahu Interscholastic Association East Division with the crucial win, while the Knights (6-1-1) dropped to third.
What had transpired just moments before Tanaka came to bat might have been just as important as his clutch hit. Kailua's Rob DeMarsh hit into a fielder's choice out at home, and Castle catcher Lyle Kitagawa threw the ball to first to attempt the inning-ending double play. DeMarsh was narrowly called safe, setting the stage for Tanaka.
Castle coach Joe Tom Jr. argued that DeMarsh had tried to zag into the path of the ball at the last moment to disrupt the play, and asked for an interpretation of the rules. DeMarsh was affirmed safe, and play continued a few moments later.
"You gotta make your breaks," Tom Jr. said. "Hard luck, we started out good, and a couple things happened here or there. I was concerned about (the call), but (Kailua) took the lead before then. Seven inning game, one bad inning can cost you, and that's what happened to us."
Kailua had already capitalized on Marcus Mathews' RBI single and Zach Akamine's score on an error to take a 2-1 lead, which expanded to 5-1 a moment later.
Tanaka wasted no time in making the close decision at first base loom large. The junior leftfielder later explained he made a conscious decision to swing away on his first.
"It was low inside, just ripped it," said Tanaka. "Most of the game (Tom) was throwing the first pitches for strikes, (and) I'm not too good on hitting like getting in the count."
Kailua coach Corey Ishigo wanted to go with his best defensive lineup to start the game, and bring in Tanaka's offense as soon as a prime opportunity presented itself.
"(Tanaka) usually starts for us, and has been driving in some key runs for us throughout the year. We thought it was a good time to use him in that situation," Ishigo said. "It wasn't that we were punishing him for anything (being a reserve)."
Castle honored Patrick Kapahu, a member of the team who died in the fall of 2006. The four seniors ran around the bases after the game, carrying a framed picture of Kapahu, who would have graduated with them this year.
At Castle H.S. field
Kailua (7-1) |
000 |
501 |
0 |
-- |
6 |
7 |
2
|
Castle (6-1-1) |
100 |
000 |
0 |
-- |
1 |
4 |
1 |
Preston Nakata, Marcus Mathews (5) and Rayner Yokoi. Kainoa Tom, Pulama Silva (5) and Lyle Kitagawa.
W--Nakata.
L--Tom.
Leading hitters--Kail: Kili Vierra 3-4; Keenan Tanaka 2b, 3 RBIs. Cast: Silva 2b.
OIA East
McKinley 3, Moanalua 2
The Tigers brought a run home in the bottom of the seventh inning to upset Na Menehune. Randy Tuley went 2-for-4 with an RBI at the plate for McKinley.
At McKinley H.S. field
Moanalua (4-4) |
101 |
000 |
0 |
-- |
2 |
8 |
1
|
McKinley (2-5) |
000 |
201 |
X |
-- |
3 |
7 |
0 |
Keith Kunitake, Jordan Hirata (5), Ethan Isobe (6) and Chris Liu-Saguid. Michael Estes and Kelsen Ganeku.
W--Estes.
L--Isobe.
Leading hitters--Moan: Jay Yoshizawa 2-3; Jared Kaloma 2-3. McK: Randy Tuley 2-4, RBI; Tilton Kaluna 2-3.
Roosevelt 8, Kaiser 5
Keoni Manago struck out eight to earn the victory after allowing one run in relief.
At Central Oahu Regional Park
Kaiser (5-3) |
220 |
000 |
1 |
-- |
5 |
4 |
3
|
Roosevelt (7-0-1) |
312 |
101 |
x |
-- |
8 |
11 |
4 |
Zachary Wong, Pono Meyer (3) and Bryce Marcouiller. Kelson Okimoto, Keoni Manago (3) and Tyler Nitahara.
W--Manago.
L--Wong.
Leading hitters--Kais: Cal Tashio 2-3, 2 runs, RBI; Dustin Dela Pena 2-4, 2 RBIs. Roos: Manago 2-2, 2b, 3b; Nick Wong 3-4, 2 2bs, RBI; Christian Awaya 3-3, 2 RBIs.
Kalaheo 4, Kahuku 4
Mustang Richard Preza Haynes drove in Kyle Okumura to tie the game in the bottom of the seventh, but Kahuku escaped the inning on a RJ Van Ness strikeout.
The contest ended in a tie when the umpire called the game due to darkness.
At Kailua District Park
Kahuku (2-6-1) |
100 |
210 |
0 |
-- |
4 |
5 |
2
|
Kalaheo (2-6-1) |
010 |
001 |
2 |
-- |
4 |
7 |
1 |
RJ Van Ness and Kaika Sasaoka. Talon Wemple, Richard Preza Haynes (5) and Steven Vega.
Leading hitters--Kah: Kevin Van Ness 3-3, 2b. Kalh: Kyle Okumura 2-3; Preza Haynes 2-2; Wemple 3b.
Kaimuki 15, Farrington 11
Ian Delizo hit a two-run homer over the left field wall in the fourth and the Bulldogs poured it on with nine runs in the fifth to outslug the Governors.
At Kaimuki H.S. field
Farrington (0-8) |
100 |
241 |
3 |
-- |
11 |
12 |
5
|
Kaimuki (1-7) |
031 |
290 |
x |
-- |
15 |
13 |
10 |
Diamond Pedro and Brysn Segundo. Masashi Kimura, Daren Muramoto (6) and Muramoto, Ian Delizo (6).
W--Kimura.
L--Pedro.
Leading hitters--Far: Paul Manligot 2 runs; Pedro 3-4, 2b, 2 runs; Brandon Tuzon 2-5; Segundo 2-5; Dio Labayog 2 runs. Kaim: Ian Delizo HR, 2 runs, 2 RBIs; Daren Muramoto 3-4, 3 runs, 2 RBIs; Chauncey Nicola 2 runs; Jason Hopper 3-4, 2 runs, 3 RBIs; John Miyasato 2 runs, 2 RBIs; Jeff Vilayvong 2-4; Deon Togami 2-4, 2 runs, 2 RBIs.
OIA West
Pearl City 6, Campbell 4
Rorry Nakayama scored two runs and stole two bases as the Chargers held on to defeat the Sabers.
At Campbell H.S. field
Pearl City (5-3) |
330 |
000 |
0 |
-- |
6 |
8 |
2
|
Campbell (4-4) |
003 |
010 |
0 |
-- |
4 |
8 |
2 |
Jason Rasa, Kurt Poentis (5), Bryson Nakamura (6) and Jeff Domingo, Carlton Tanabe (6). Allyn Oliva-Respicio, Blayne Dikito (3) and Cameron Howser.
W--Rasa.
L--Oliva-Respicio.
Leading hitters--PC: Rorry Nakayama 1-3, 2 SBs, 2 runs; Ryno Acosta 3b, 2 runs; Kellen Ushijima 2 RBIs; Domingo 2b. Camp: Oliva-Respicio 2b, 2 runs; Sebastian Locquiao 2-4, 2b, 2 RBIs; Bronson Ellis-Rivera 2-3, RBI.
No. 9 Waianae 9, Leilehua 4
Will Duseigneur and Ronald Pickering III each homered as the Seariders to got by the Mules.
At Waianae H.S. field
Leilehua (5-3) |
011 |
020 |
0 |
-- |
4 |
5 |
1
|
Waianae (7-1) |
240 |
030 |
x |
-- |
9 |
10 |
2 |
Desmond Ontai, Jayson Cabalce (4) and Ehukai Woolley. Kaaina Kalaola-Meyer and RJ Tacgere-Bailey.
W--Kalaola-Meyer.
L--Ontai.
Leading hitters--Lei: Darren Baccay 1-2, 2b, RBI. Wain: Barak Holt 2-4, 2b, 2 RBIs; Ben McQuown 2-4, 2 2bs, RBI; Will Duseigneur 2-3, 2-run HR; Ronald Pickering III 1-4, 3-run HR.
Aiea 11, Waipahu 1, 5 inn.
Randy Castillo drove in three runs to lead Na Alii over the Maurauders.
At Waipahu H.S. field
Aiea (7-1) |
|
181 |
10 |
-- |
11 |
10 |
2
|
Waipahu (1-7) |
|
100 |
00 |
-- |
1 |
5 |
8 |
Blaine Higa, Travis Nishida (3), Anthony Tsui (5) and Carlson Tsuruda. Tryton Gante, Jaris Komuro-Rosette (5) and Kaimi Haina.
W--Higa.
L--Gante.
Leading hitters--Aiea: Bryson Ho 2-4; Randy Castillo 2-3, 2B, 3 RBIs; Ryan Murakami 3-3, 3B, 2RBIs. Waip: Gante 2-3.
Kapolei 13, Waialua 1, 5 inn.
Michael Sanchez racked up six strikeouts and scattered three hits to lead the Hurricanes over the Bulldogs in five innings.
At Kapolei H.S. field
Waialua ((1-7) |
|
000 |
10 |
-- |
1 |
3 |
5
|
Kapolei (6-2) |
|
420 |
7X |
-- |
13 |
12 |
1 |
Arthur Hernandez and Lokahi Herrod. Michael Sanchez and Michael Kahalehoe.
W--Sanchez.
L--Hernandez.
Leading hitters--Wail: Shayne Peiler HR, RBI; Reggie Carillo 2-2, 2b. Kapo: Kalani Brackenridge 2-3, HR, 2 RBIs; Aaron Santiago 2-2, HR, RBI; Kahalehoe 2-2, 2 RBIs; Sanchez 3-3, 2b.
Also, Radford def. Nanakuli (forfeit)