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POSTED: Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Mililani starting pitcher Joseph Aquino was two outs away from securing a no-hitter until Aiea's Brennan Alejo lined a single to left field in the home half of the seventh inning, erasing the goose egg in the hit column.

But Aquino retired the next two batters to complete the one-hit shutout and gave the Trojans their first win of the season, 6-0 over previously undefeated Na Alii yesterday in an Oahu Interscholastic Association Red Conference West Division game at Aiea. The contest was a make-up of Saturday's rainout, and served as a rematch of last Wednesday's game in which Aiea emerged victorious, 12-2.

“;I was probably better off not knowing because most guys don't want to hear about that stuff,”; said Mililani coach Mark Hirayama, when asked if he was aware of the no-hitter. “;Our pitcher did a great job of keeping us in the ballgame, getting ahead, and keeping them off balance until we were able to put something together.”;

Aquino, a senior, was a bit erratic in the game's middle innings and had stretches where he missed high in the strike zone. But despite walking three and hitting a batter, the right-handed hurler proved economical on the mound, notching 52 of his 87 pitches for strikes.

“;I knew (I had a no-hitter going), but I didn't want to get big-headed, so I just tried to put them away,”; Aquino said. “;They were late (on the fastball), so I tried to use that against them. It was an important game because we fell to 0-3 after three games, so this was a boost for us.”;

The Trojans (1-3) nursed a 1-0 lead until giving Aquino some breathing room in the top of the seventh inning with a five-run outburst highlighted by pinch hitter Chase Yamada's two-run double to deep center field. Mililani shortstop Jordan Queja singled home two more runs on his game-high second hit of the afternoon, and Aquino helped his cause with a sacrifice fly to cap the scoring spree.

“;We put the ball in play, so I tip my cap to their defense as they made all the plays,”; said Aiea coach Ryan Kato. His squad managed only six base runners and failed to advance any past second. “;I like the way our guys pitched. They battled, and (Mililani) broke through in the end, but it didn't matter. We didn't put a run up on the board anyway.”;

Despite turning in a dominant 11-strikeout performance, Aiea starter Kamalu Kamoku took the loss after surrendering four earned runs. The sophomore threw 108 pitches in 6 1/3 innings, and appeared to suffer from severe cramping in both legs after the game.

“;That's the performance I expect him to give every time he goes out on the mound,”; said Kato of Kamoku. “;I'm very confident in his abilities and today he did his job, but their pitcher did it better. We just lick our wounds, and we're still right in the thick of it.”;

Mililani will take the next step toward the .500 mark when the Trojans host Leilehua tomorrow at 3:30 p.m.

“;We had some good plays, and made the routine plays — something we hadn't been doing,”; said Hirayama. “;It was a big turnaround for us and the pitching set the tone to give us a good start and just snowballed.

“;Every day is a steppingstone for us; we're trying to build on what we did the day before. Every day is a new adventure, and we're trying to build the house one brick at a time.”;

Na Alii (3-1) do not play again until a March 28 doubleheader against Campbell.

                                                                                                                                                           

Mililani (1-3)	100	000	5	—	6	5	0
Aiea (3-1)	000	000	0	—	0	1	1

Joseph Aquino and Jacob Matsukawa. Kamalu Kamoku, Shane Okubo (7), and Jay Nakamura. W—Aquino. L—Kamoku.

Leading hitters—Mil: Jordan Queja 2-3, 2 RBIs; Chase Yamada 2B, 2 RBIs; Aquino RBI. Aiea: Brennan Alejo 1-3.

Kapolei 3, Leilehua 2

Pitcher Carlos Rodriquez picked up the win for the Hurricanes and Brandon Damas went 2-for-4 with a triple and three RBIs.

Leilehua's Kenan Sadanaga suffered the loss.

At Fred Wright Park

                                                                                                                                                           

Kapolei (2-2)	010	020	0	—	3	7	2
Leilehua (0-2)	000	011	0	—	2	2	2

Carlos Rodriguez, Michael Filio (7) and Brandon Damas. Kenan Sadanaga, Desmond Ontai (5) and Jeremy Fuguitan. W—Rodriguez. L—Sadanaga. S—Filio.

Leading hitters—Kapo: Damas 2-4, 3b, 2 RBIs; Filio 2b; Rodriguez 3b; Lyle Santiago 1-3, RBI. Lei: Jake Baptista RBI.

Pearl City 2, Campbell 0

The Chargers scored two runs in the top of the seventh inning and pitcher Kawika Pruett shut out the Sabers in the victory.

Campbell pitcher Charles Kaalekahi struck out seven batters before Allyn Oliva-Respicio replaced him in the seventh.

Chace Numata went 2-for-3 with a double to lead No. 1 Pearl City.

                                                                                                                                                           

Pearl City (4-0)	000	000	2	—	2	7	0
Campbell (2-2)	000	000	0	—	0	5	3

Kawika Pruett and Carlton Tanabe. Charles Kaalekahi, Allyn Oliva-Respicio (7) and Keanu Kapana. W—Pruett. L—Oliva-Respicio.

Leading hitters—PC: Chace Numata 2-3, 2b. Cam: Nicholas Tiglao 2-3, 2b.

 

OIA Red East

Moanalua 7, Kaiser 6

With the score knotted at six with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, Michael Igami hit a line drive to right field to bring in Todd Takabuki from third to push Na Menehune past the Cougars.

Takabuki picked up the win on the mound.

Kaiser and Moanalua combined for three home runs.

                                                                                                                                                           

Kaiser (1-1)	310	110	0	—	6	8	2
Moanalua (1-1)	022	001	2	—	7	9	1

Zachary Wong, Cal Tashiro (6) and Bryce Marcouiller. Dae Yang Kim, Jacob Fukuyama (2), Todd Takabuki (5) and Chris Liusaguid. W—Takabuki. L—Tashiro.

Leading hitters—Kais: Tashiro 2-4, HR; Jaymes Kawashima 3-3, 2 2b; Marcouiller 1-3, HR, 2 RBIs; Landon Nakai 1-2, 2b; Brandon Toriki 1-2, 2b. Moan: Jesse Nakasone 2-4; Regan Lum HR, 2 RBIs; Liusaguid 2-3, 2 2b.

 

Kalani 13, Kalaheo 0

Wataru Noguchi hit a triple and two doubles, for the Falcons.

Richard Preza Haynes struck out eight batters for Kalaheo.

At Kailua District Park

                                                                                                                                                           

Kalani (4-0)	001	111	9	—	13	10	0
Kalaheo (0-4)	000	000	0	—	0	3	4

Dylan Von Wiegandt, Dillon Matsuda (3), Sean Nagaoka (7) and Kiel Odo. Richard Preza Haynes, Micah Livingston (6), Colby Lee (7), Patrick Cruz (7) and Lawika Bator. W—Matsuda. L—Preza Haynes.

Leading hitters—Kaln: Wataru Noguchi 3-3, 2 3bs 2b, 3 RBIs, 4 runs; Jordan Wong 2-4, 3b, 2 RBIs; Odo 2-4, 2b, 3 RBIs. Kalh: Lee 2b; Eli Davidann 2-3, 2b.

 

Kailua 8, Roosevelt 1

Jared Iha went 3-for-4 with a double as the Surfriders defeated the Rough Riders.

                                                                                                                                                           

Roosevelt (0-4)	000	010	0	—	1	8	0
Kailua (4-0)	311	003	0	—	8	9	0

Ryan Ikehara, Peter Rockholme (3), Zach Hamasaki (6) and Cameran Paranada. Bryson Gauthe and Kale Sumner. W—Gauthe. L—Ikehara.

Leading hitters—Roos: Lawen Lee 4-4; Drayson Ito 2-2. Kail: Jared Iha 3-4, 2b; Sumner 3b, 2 RBIs; Alika Ramseyer-Ho 2 RBs; Reyn Matsuki HR; Keoki Reyes-Moniz 2b.

 

OIA White

Waipahu 7, McKinley 0

The Marauders scored all seven runs in the bottom of the second inning.

Drake Yoshioka went 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs.

                                                                                                                                                           

McKinley (1-1)	000	000	0	—	0	4	0
Waipahu (2-0)	070	000	X	—	7	9	1

Kelsen Ganeku and Cody Reyes. Triton Gante, Drake Yoshioka (7) and Ignatius McKenzie.

W—Gante. L—Ganeku.

Leading hitters—McK: Reyes 2-3; Ganeku 2b. Waip: Gante 2-4, 2b, 2 RBIs; Yoshioka 3-4, 2b, 2 RBIs; Sam Chee 2-3, 2b, RBI.

 

Radford 10, Kaimuki 2

Brad Osbourne pitched a complete-game four-hitter to lead the Rams past the Bulldogs.

Osbourne also went 2-for-3 with a two-run homer.

Kaimuki pitcher Eddie Char took the loss despite a three-hitter.

                                                                                                                                                           

Radford (1-1)	400	020	2	—	7	4	2
Kaimuki (1-1)	020	000	0	—	2	3	5

Brad Osbourne and Troy Evans. Eddie Char and Maanoa Tau. W—Osbourne. L—Char.

Leading hitters— Rad: Osbourne 2-3, 2 run HR.

 

SOftball

Radford 9, McKinley 4

                                                                                                                                                           

Radford (1-2)	002	030	4	—	9	11	2
McKinley (0-2)	000	400	0	—	4	6	3

Erin Laurent and Leiandra Esdito. Rachel Ragus and Amanda Sakagawa.

W—Laurent. L—Sakagawa.

Leading hitters— Rad: Raia Salanoa 2-4; Esdito 2-4; Samantha Sevao 4-4, 2 3bs; Akalaina Baraviala HR, 2 runs.

 

Castle 16, Kahuku 0

                                                                                                                                                           

Kahuku (0-2)		000	00	—	0	0	2
Castle (2-0)		515	5x	—	16	12	1

Kylee Leong and Qiana Heffernan. Maycee Moe and Kaisha Dacosin. W—Moe. L—Leong.

Leading hitters—Cas: Brittany Hawn 2-4, HR; Chandelle Dacosin 2b; Moe 2-4; Leisha Liilii 2-4, 3b.

 

Kapolei 4, Leilehua 1

                                                                                                                                                           

Leilehua (1-1)	001	000	0	—	1	7	1
Kapolei (1-1)	000	400	x	—	4	8	0

Alex Smith and Ciara Paracuelles. Kahana Higa and Cherece Beyer. W—Higa. L—Smith.

Leading hitters—Lei: Kaylen Ynigues 3-4; Paracuelles 2-4, 2b; Kristyn Kubo 2-3, 2b. Kapo: Beyer 3b.