HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL
Mililani loss tightens OIA West race
Darren Baccay's ability to escape two late-inning jams has four different teams thinking Western Division title heading into Wednesday's final Oahu Interscholastic Association regular-season games.
No. 4 Mililani let a golden opportunity at another division crown go by the wayside yesterday as the unranked Mules got two clutch hits from Aric Edra and solid pitching from Brett Nakasone and Baccay to defeat the Trojans 4-3 at Fred Wright Park.
The Mules (6-3) clinched a playoff berth with the victory and set up what should be a wild final day of games on Wednesday in the division. Aiea holds a one-game lead over Mililani (7-2), which fell into a three-way tie for second place with Waianae and Kapolei. All four teams end the regular season playing against each other, as the Hurricanes will play at Aiea while the Trojans host Waianae.
"We let one get away today," Mililani coach Dean Sato said. "Mentally, that was the worst game we have ever played in the four years I have been here."
Nakasone picked up the win for the Mules, giving up just four hits and one earned run over five innings. Nakasone struggled early in the game, walking the bases loaded in the opening inning, but got Joey Aquino to ground into a double play that set the tone for the Mules the rest of the game.
"Anytime you give a team like Mililani a chance to score and then hold them is a big momentum boost," Leilehua coach Mike Kim said. "I think that helped us shake off the nerves a little bit and get going."
Edra opened the bottom of the second inning with his first hit of the game, and eventually came around to score on a RBI groundout by Brenden Nagaji. The Mules added a second run as pinch runner Jayson Cabalce scored on a double steal. Mililani answered with a run in the top of the third, but Leilehua got it right back in the bottom of the inning on a clutch two-out single by Edra that scored Baccay.
"I got down in the count but just tried to battle," Edra said. "I was looking for anything I could hit and clutched up and drove (Baccay) in."
At Fred Wright Park
Mililani (7-2) |
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011 |
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8 |
0
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Leilehua (6-3) |
021 |
010 |
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4 |
3 |
1 |
Richie Mariano and Casey Miyasato. Brett Nakasone, Darren Baccay (6) and Ehukai Woolley. W--Nakasone. L--Mariano. S--Baccay.
Leading hitters--Mil: Travis Jones 3-3, 3b, 2 RBIs; Kylen Cadiam 2-4, 2b; John Abreu 1-2, 3b, run. Lei: Aric Edra 2-3, run, RBI.
No. 3 Aiea 6, Campbell 1
Cody Aquino combined with Travis Nishida on a five-hitter to lead Na Alii in a comfortable win over the Sabers.
Aiea claimed sole possession of first place in the division.
At Aiea Recreational Annex
Campbell (4-5) |
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0 |
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1 |
5 |
0
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Aiea (8-1) |
230 |
001 |
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6 |
8 |
1 |
Kevin Newcomb, Kia Kaapana (5) and Cameron Howser. Cody Aquino, Travis Nishida (7) and Anthony Tsui. W--Aquino. L--Newcomb.
Leading hitters--Camp: Kaapana 2b. Aiea: Ricky Itagaki 2b, 2 RBIs; Aquino 2-3, 2b; Tsui 2b; Keenan Naeole 2-4, 2 2b; Ryan Murakami 3b.
Pearl City 6, No. 9 Waianae 0
Bryson Nakamura fanned 10 batters in a three-hitter with two walks as the Chargers dealt the Seariders just their second loss of the season.
At Pearl City H.S. field
Waianae (7-2) |
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000 |
0 |
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0 |
3 |
5
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Pearl City (6-3) |
240 |
000 |
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6 |
4 |
0 |
Ben McQuown, Bud Pickering (2) and R.J. Tacgere-Bailey. Bryson Nakamura and Carlton Tanabe. W--Nakamura. L--McQuown.
Leading hitters--Waian: Aina Kalaola-Meyer 2b. PC: Rorry Nakayama 2-2, 3b; Duane Kiyota 2 runs; Ryne Acosta 2b.
Waipahu 10, Waialua 3
Kaimi Haina struck out 13 batters and walked five in a complete game, and smacked a solo home run in the seventh inning to cap things off.
At Waialua H.S. field
Waipahu (2-7) |
003 |
150 |
1 |
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10 |
11 |
0
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Waialua (1-8) |
012 |
000 |
0 |
-- |
3 |
6 |
1 |
Kaimi Haina and EJ Gasman. Keliikoa Vierra, Shayne Peiler (6) and Lokahi Herrod. W--Haina. L--Vierra.
Leading hitters--Waip: Triton Gante 2-3, 3b; Haina 2-5, solo HR, 3 RBIs; Devin Sakamoto 2-4, 2b. Waial: Bryce Whittaker 3b.