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POSTED: Thursday, March 25, 2010

Pearl City found itself chasing Aiea early on. But the top-ranked Chargers didn't wait all that long to catch and pass Na Alii.

After giving up a run in the top of the first, Pearl City answered with eight in the bottom of the frame on its way to a 12-2 OIA Red West baseball win yesterday at the Chargers' field.

“;Sometimes they start early, sometimes they start late, but when we score, we score in bunches,”; Pearl City coach Gary Nakamoto said. “;So the first inning set the tempo for us.”;

Pearl City (5-0), which scored 11 runs in an inning against Leilehua earlier this season, sent 12 batters to the plate in the first. The game ended in the sixth due to the 10-run rule.

Jordan Oshiro sparked the Chargers at the top of the lineup by going 3-for-4 and driving in two runs with a single in the sixth to end the game.

The bottom third of the batting order delivered the big hits in the first-inning explosion. No. 7 hitter Reid Ramos contributed a two-run single and Royce Murai, hitting in the ninth spot, capped the outburst with his first home run of the season, a three-run shot to left field.

“;I just got a little lucky, I was just trying to drive in the run,”; Murai said. “;It's good to get the first one. I'm not much of a power hitter, so it's something new.”;

Even with Murai's shot yesterday — or perhaps because of it — Nakamoto doesn't plan on altering his spot in the order just yet.

“;He's doing all right,”; Nakamoto said. “;I don't want to move them once they're doing good.”;

Murai also was on the receiving end of pitcher Edwin Izumigawa's complete-game effort. After giving up single runs in the first two innings, the right-hander settled down to limit Na Alii to three singles over the final four innings.

“;He got his feet wet in the first inning and stayed tough the rest of the game,”; Murai said. “;He was throwing all of his pitches pretty good.

“;He's usually like that, consistent with all of his pitches, so it makes my job easier, just throwing it to where I am.”;

A young Na Alii team started three sophomores yesterday — with a sophomore, a freshman and a junior seeing time on the mound. They stayed with the Chargers after struggling to get out of a first inning that included four walks and two errors.

“;For our guys, it's more a matter of confidence and knowing they can play,”; Aiea coach Ryan Kato said. “;Pearl City is a great ballclub. They can hit.

“;For us, if we can cut out some of the walks, cut out some of the errors, just give up three outs an inning, that's the best chance we've got of staying in the game.”;

Aiea (2-3) will get a gauge on its progress on Saturday in a televised rematch with the Chargers at Hans L'Orange Park.

“;We're going to try to make our adjustments the next two days and get back on the field and see what happens,”; Kato said.

 

Kaulana Wong, Trevor Ling (1), Remi Davenport (3) and Brett Tanonaka, John Woodin (2); Edwin Izumigawa and Royce Murai. W—Izumigawa. L—Wong.
Leading hitters—Aiea: Brock Asher, 2B, RBI; Chase Aquino, 2-3, RBI; Kevin Shibata, 2B. Pearl City: Jordan Oshiro, 3-4, 2 RBIs; Kahana Neal, 2-4, 2B; Reid Ramos, 2 RBIs; Murai, 2-3, HR, 3 RBIs.

 

Campbell 7, Kapolei 6

Brandan Damas, Michael Filio (7) and William Leskovec. Charles Kaalekahi and Chadwick Kaalekahi. W—Kaalekahi. L—Filio.
Leading hitters—Kapo: Matt Moses 2-5; Damas 2-5, 2b, 2 runs; Trey Kamachi 2 RBIs; Cody Kamai 2-4, 3b, 2 RBIs. Camp: Robert Kahana 3-5, 2b, 3b, 2 runs; Charles Kaalekahi, 2 RBIs; Chadwick Kaalekahi 2-5, RBI.

OIA RED EAST
Moanalua 3, Roosevelt 4

Billy Kamau and Cameron Fuchigami. Dae Yang Kim, Zachary Manago (6) and Brandon Kong. W—Kamau. L—Kim.
Leading hitters—Roos: Kamau 3b, 3 RBIs. Moan: Timothy Arakawa 2b; Jordan DePonte 3b.

OIA WHITE
Nanakuli 12, McKinley 7

                                                                                                                                                           

MCKINLEY	131	101	0	—	7	5	1
NANAKULI	433	020	X	—	12	11	3

Kurtis Kometani, Andrew Kwon (4) and Rendell Cardano. Ryan Talo and Clayton Heualevau. W—Talo. L—Kometani.

Leading hitters—McK: Cardano 2-4, 3b. Nan: Talo 4-4, 3 runs; Isaiah Pavo 3-3, 2b, 2 runs, Eric Scott 2-4, 2 runs.

Waipahu 13, Farrington 0

                                                                                                                                           

WAIPAHU	043	60	—	13	12	1
FARRINGTON	000	00	—	0	1	3

Jonathan Igarta and Edward Agag. Bradley Parras, Shane Machado (4) and Bryston Doctolero. W—Igarta. L—Parras.

Leading hitters—Waip: Jarrin Abreu 3-3, HR, 2 RBIs; Sam Chee 2-3, 2b, HR, 2 RBIs; Jonathan Tasamina 2-2, 2b, 3 RBIs; Igarta 2-3, 2 RBIs.

Also
Radford 8, Kahuku 1
Kaimuki 11, Waialua 6 (9 innings)