HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL
JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARBULLETIN.COM
Kelly Berinobis of Castle narrowly avoided the tag at second from Joseph Honma of Kaiser yesterday.
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Inouye, Kaiser dominate Castle
For the second time in eight days, Toby Inouye turned in a good performance on the mound to help the Kaiser baseball team remain in contention in the increasingly tough Oahu Interscholastic Association East.
After dealing Kailua its first conference loss on April 13, the senior hurler turned in another complete-game effort and allowed one run on three hits as the Cougars bombarded No. 8 Castle 10-1 yesterday afternoon at Kaiser High School. After allowing Knights leadoff man Kainoa Tom to score on Coby Agres' RBI single in the first inning, Inouye settled down and did not allow a runner past second base for the remainder of the game.
"When Toby goes on the mound we know we have a chance to win because he (pitches) around the plate," said Cougars coach Peter Ho. "Toby had an outstanding game, and as long as we play defense like we did today, we'll be in the game. The kids just really focused on what they needed to do."
"I was throwing strikes, and the defense just made plays," said Inouye. "I got a lot of first-pitch strikes, and I could work (in) off-speed pitches after that."
After the Kailua game, Inouye regretted leaving the ball up in the strike zone and was relieved that the Surfriders did not take full advantage of his mistakes. Yesterday, the hurler was on point, peppering the strike zone with fastballs and keeping the opposing hitters off balance with an array of breaking balls, which Inouye released from multiple arm angles.
"I just try to throw strikes and get ahead (of hitters), and when we get a lead, it feels much better," Inouye said. "(Once you establish a lead), you can trade runs for outs, so it was easier to pitch and throw fastballs for strikes."
The Cougars (6-3) put on a show at the plate, churning out 12 hits. Kaiser scored runs in all of its turns at bat except for the opening inning, and did so in bunches with three runs in both the second and fifth frames.
Right fielder Michael Kawashima drove in a game-high four runs out of the ninth spot in the Kaiser batting order, including a two-run double in the second inning that put his squad up 3-1. Teammate Dustin Dela Pena just missed hitting for the cycle, as the center fielder notched a single and a double and launched a two-run homer over the right-field fence in the fifth inning that pushed the lead to 9-1 and all but squashed any hope for a Castle comeback.
"We've just got to keep playing good ball and have it carry over," Ho said in anticipation of his squad's final regular-season game Wednesday against McKinley, and the upcoming OIA postseason tournament.
At Kaiser H.S. field
Castle (6-2-1) |
100 |
000 |
0 |
-- |
1 |
3 |
7
|
Kaiser (6-3) |
031 |
231 |
x |
-- |
10 |
12 |
1 |
Codey Cabael, Pulama Silva (4), Kris Kahanu (6) and Cobey Agres, Lyle Kitagawa (2). Toby Inouye and Bryce Marcouiller. W--Inouye. L--Cabael.
Leading hitters--Kais: Dustin Dela Pena 3-3, 2b, 2-run HR; Michael Ramia 2 RBIs; Michael Kawashima 2-3, 2b, 4 RBIs.
No. 7 Kailua 3, No. 9 Kalani 0
In a battle of ranked division foes, Zach Akamine went 2-for-2 at the plate and Kili Vierra threw a complete-game shutout as the Surfriders handled the Falcons.
Coupled with Roosevelt's loss, Kailua overtook the Rough Riders for first place in the OIA East.
At Kailua H.S. field
Kalani (6-2) |
000 |
000 |
0 |
-- |
0 |
4 |
1
|
Kailua (8-1) |
102 |
000 |
x |
-- |
3 |
3 |
2 |
Dillon Matsuda, Micah Tagahashi (3) and Jason Lee. Kili Vierra and Rayner Yokoi. W--Vierra. L--Matsuda.
Leading hitters--Kail: Zach Akamine 2-2.
Junior varsity--Kailua 8, Kalani 3
Kahuku 8, Kaimuki 1
The Red Raiders' pitchers combined for 10 strikeouts in the win, and catcher Kaika Sasaoka hit a monster two-run shot over the center-field fence to boost Kahuku over the Bulldogs.
At Hauula Playground
Kaimuki (1-8) |
000 |
001 |
0 |
-- |
1 |
3 |
2
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Kahuku (3-6-1) |
114 |
002 |
x |
-- |
8 |
12 |
2 |
Kaika Ayers and Daren Muramoto. Steven Van Ness, Kevin Van Ness (4), Jimmy Channels (6) and Kaika Sasaoka, Jordon Kapu (4). W--Steven Van Ness. L--Ayers.
Leading hitters--Kaim: Ian Velizo 3b. Kahu: RJ Van Ness 2-2, 2b; Steven Van Ness 2b; William Lurbe 2-3, 2b; Sasaoka 2-run HR.
Moanalua 6, Roosevelt 1
Kekoa Lee smacked a leadoff home run in the sixth to help Na Menehune deal the Rough Riders their first division loss of the season.
At Moanalua H.S. field
Roosevelt (7-1-1) |
000 |
100 |
0 |
-- |
1 |
2 |
2
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Moanalua (5-4) |
000 |
114 |
x |
-- |
6 |
5 |
4 |
Nick Wong, Kelson Okimoto (6) and Tyler Nitahara; Kekoa Lee, Jordan Hirata (7) and Chris Liu-Saguid. W--Lee. L--Wong.
Leading hitters--Roos: Nick Dang 2-3, 2b. Moan: Kekoa Lee 2b, HR; Jordan Monico 2b.
Junior varsity--Moanalua 7, Roosevelt 3
McKinley 21, Farrington 0
Roger Kraemer and Raymond Carey issued four walks in their combined no-hitter of the Governors.
At Joey DeSa Field
McKinley (3-5) |
|
11(15) |
04 |
-- |
21 |
15 |
0
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Farrington (0-9) |
|
000 |
00 |
-- |
0 |
0 |
6 |
Roger Kraemer, Raymond Carey (3) and Kelsen Ganeku. Brysn Segundo, Josh Wallace (3) and Diamond Pedro, Segundo (3). W--Kraemer. L--Segundo.
Leading hitters--McK: Jonathan Ho 3-4; Michael Estes 3-4; Carey 3-4, 3-run HR, 3 RBIs.