Wednesday, May 9, 2001
Mistakes are usually the difference between winning and losing. Chargers survive
By Jason Genegabus
with smart play
Star-BulletinIt was no different yesterday, when Pearl City hosted Mililani in an Oahu Interscholastic Association West Division baseball game.
Chargers sophomore Shawn Benson didn't make a lot of mistakes during his complete-game, eight-strikeout performance against the Trojans. His performance and Pearl City's ability to capitalize on the Trojans' errors gave the Chargers a 5-2 win and kept alive their chances of going to the OIA playoffs.
Wins by Pearl City, Aiea and Waianae yesterday put all three teams at 6-3 and created a five-team logjam for second place. The five are all fighting for the remaining three West spots in the OIA Tournament.
Campbell has already secured a berth.
"It's always a challenge to play Mililani," said Pearl City head coach Mel Seki. "Today it was Benson's turn, and he wanted it, and he pitched a hell of a game for us."
Mililani drew first blood, scoring a run in the top of the first inning. Trojans shortstop Cy Donald stroked a 3-1 pitch into the left-field gap, beating Chargers center fielder Darrick Tanigawa's throw to third base. The triple turned into a run when the ball got past Mililani's third baseman and pitcher, allowing Donald to score.
Pearl City answered by scoring two in the bottom of the first. With one out and the bases loaded, Chargers left fielder Erik Mizoshiri hit what should have started an inning-ending double play to Mililani second baseman Drew Kadokawa. But Kadokawa's throw sailed over Donald's head and into the outfield.
By the time the Trojans ran it down, two runs had scored. Pearl City added runs in the third and fifth innings, giving the Chargers a 4-1 lead. Benson would falter only once, in the top of the sixth.
Mililani's comeback began with Donald collecting his second hit of the game. His RBI single brought the Trojans to 4-2.
After a mound visit, Benson settled down.
"I was just focusing," said Benson. "The coach told me to just do my job. He was going to stick with me."
That decision paid off for the Chargers. Although Benson gave up a single to the next batter he faced to put two runners on, he got out of the jam with a strikeout to end the inning.
"I know that he's been their No. 1 starter this year, so he did a good job," said Mililani coach Glenn Nitta. "If you can't hit, you can't do anything."
Benson went into the seventh with the game firmly in control. A one-out infield single and a walk provided a flicker of hope for the Trojans, but Benson picked up his seventh and eighth strikeouts to seal the Pearl City win.
"I told the kids that the ball should be bouncing our way for a change, and it did," Seki said.
At Pearl City H.S. Field
Mililani (6-3) 100 001 0 -- 2 4 1 Pearl City (6-3) 201 011 x -- 5 7 2 Gainer Nitta, Weston Kurisu (4) and Kurt Miyahira; Shawn Benson and Gavin Concepcion. W--Benson. L--Nitta.
Leading hitters--Mili: Cy Donald, 2-2, 3b. PC: Chad Itokazu, 3-4, 2b; Blane Kagamida, 2-3; Brandon Yamamoto, 2-4.
Waianae 12, Waipahu 6: The Seariders built a 10-0 lead after four innings and cruised to a win over the Marauders. Chad Fuller and Peter Sarono drove in two runs each for Waianae.
At Waianae H.S. Field
Waipahu (2-7) 000 060 0 -- 6 8 4 Waianae (6-3) 431 220 x -- 12 14 7 Jaryd Kiyabu, Darren Cablay (3) and Jannsen Rivera; Chad Fuller, Chad Rodrigues (6) and Peter Sarono. W--Fuller. L--Kiyabu.
Leading hitters--Waip: J. Rivera, 2-3, 2b; Ross Garabilies, 2b. Waian: C. Fuller, 2-4, 3b, 2 RBIs; Keoni Alensonorin, 2-4, 2b; P. Sarono, 2-4, 2 RBIs; Brian Gaspar, 2-4; Jonah Nunuha, 2-4; Dwight Viernes, 2-4.
Campbell 4, Radford 1: At Campbell, Jensen Mata scattered two hits and struck out three in stopping the Rams.
At Campbell H.S. Field
Radford (3-6) 000 001 0 -- 1 2 1 Campbell (8-1) 202 000 x -- 4 9 1 David Street and Richard Killen; Jensen Mata and Ikaika Trinidad. W--Mata. L--Street.
Leading hitters--Rad: Jared Holmes 2b. Camp: Abraham Lobetios 2-3, 2b; Bill Tennent 2-3; Keahi Kapana 2-3.
Leilehua 2, Aiea 1: Mules pitchers Matt Omalza and B.J. Clifton combined to stymie Na Alii and keep Leilehua's playoff hopes alive.
At Aiea Recreation Field
Leilehua (6-3) 002 000 0 -- 2 8 1 Aiea (6-3) 000 000 1 -- 1 6 2 Matt Omalza, BJ Clifton (7) and Jay Baptista; Casey Onaga, Ranon Aquino (4) and Aaron Powell, Justin Nii (5). W--Omalza. L--Onaga.
Leading hitters--Lei: Clifton 2-3, 2b; Mehio, 3-4, 2b. Aiea: Chase Nakamura, 2-2; Brian Tucker, 2b.
Waialua 8, Nanakuli 1: Details not available at press time.
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