Wednesday, May 9, 2001

Roosevelt
atones for loss

By Jason Kaneshiro
Star-Bulletin

Roosevelt backed itself into a corner by losing to Kahuku on Monday.

But the Rough Riders fought their way off the ropes and into the Oahu Interscholastic Association baseball playoffs yesterday with a 7-2 win over Kaiser.

Roosevelt (7-3) needed a win to earn one of the OIA East Division's four berths in the league tournament. If Kaiser had won, Kalaheo would have qualified for the postseason.

"They knew the situation," said Roosevelt coach Kerry Higa. "I didn't have to say much, they were motivated for this game and I'm glad they really came through."

The Rough Riders had been eyeing the division championship until they stumbled to a 4-2 loss at Kahuku on Monday, and suddenly found themselves in a do-or-die scenario against the division leader.

"Everyone was depressed," Roosevelt pitcher Chris Mols said of the team's mood after Monday's loss. "We knew it was going to be hard coming back to play Kaiser. But everybody stuck together and played as a team and we won this game."

Kaiser (7-2-1) had already clinched a playoff berth entering the game, but the loss cost them a shot at the division championship, which Kailua claimed with its win over Castle. The Cougars will be the second seed from the East when the OIA playoffs open Friday. Roosevelt will be third, and Moanalua won the division's final berth.

"We knew we were in, but that didn't change our approach to today's game, we came out here wanting to win," said Kaiser coach Duke Chinen. "Hopefully losing today burns in them so we're ready Friday. No matter what, Friday we have to come out ready to play."

Mols, who earned a save against Kailua last Friday, struck out five Cougars en route to the complete-game victory.

"I think we're a different team with Mols up there," Higa said. "The kids have a lot of confidence in him and Chris has really come through for us this year."

Kaiser catcher Chris Gallego was the only Cougar to figure out Mols' delivery yesterday. Gallego launched a home run over the center field fence in the second inning for Kaiser's first run, and tripled in the fourth. He later scored on Jason Morita's single to give Kaiser a 2-0 lead.

Roosevelt's offense awoke in the bottom of the fourth, scoring six runs on five hits. Bryson Villanueva's single to left scored Booth Kiyota and Matt Terukina to tie the game. A single by Brandon Loo then scored Ivan Fujii to give Roosevelt the lead.

At Stevenson Intermediate

Kaiser (7-2-1)	010	100	0	--	2	4	2
Roosevelt (7-3)	000	610	x	--	7	9	0

Todd Nishihara, Jason Peters (4) and Chris Gallego; Chris Mols and Joey Shimabuku. W--Mols. L--Nishihara.
Leading hitters--Kais: Gallego, 2-3, HR, 3B; Roos: Ryan Kotani, 4-4, RBI; Bryson Villanueva, 2-3, 2 RBIs.

Kailua 8, Castle 4: The Surfriders scored four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to defeat the Knights and clinch the East Division title.

Travis Hayashida and Kawika Kekaula each had RBI-doubles in the fourth to break a 4-4 tie.

At Kailua H.S. Field

Castle (3-6-1)	100	300	0	--	4	4	2
Kailua (8-2)	031	400	x	--	8	8	3

Kurt Okumura, Charles Teixeira (4), Billy Fallau (5) and Jason Taniguchi; Cody Texeira-Vickery, Chad Kajiyama (4), Steve Santos (7) and Chad Nishizuka. W--Kajiyama. L--Okumura.
Leading hitters--Kail: Travis Hayashida 2-4, 2 2b, RBI; Kawika Kekaula 2-3, 2b, RBI; Cody Texeira-Vickery 2b.

Kalaheo 10, Kaimuki 5: The Mustangs broke open a close game with a four-run sixth inning sparked by Mike Garcia's two-run single.

At Kailua Recreation Field

Kaimuki (3-7)	020	102	0	--	5	8	3
Kalaheo (6-4)	100	324	x	--	10	14	2

Shaun Kitamura, Leland Ohelo (7) and L. Ohelo, Brandon Hayashida (7); Chase Woods and Ryan Tucker. W--Woods. L--Kitamura.
Leading hitters--Kaim: Anthony Mitani, 2-3; L. Ohelo, 2-4. Kalah: Mike Garcia, 3-4, 3b, solo HR, 3 RBIs; Chris Rego, 2-3, 2b; Ikaika Hollinger, 2-4, 2 RBIs.

Kahuku 9, McKinley 5: Alex Ponciano's three-run single highlighted an eight-run second inning for the Red Raiders. With the bases loaded and two out, Ponciano's flyball fell untouched allowing all three runners, who were running on the play, to cross the plate.

At Kahuku H.S. Field

McKinley (2-8)	022	010	0	--	5	9	2
Kahuku (5-5)	080	001	x	--	9	9	1

Reid Goto and Justin Book; Brad Yoshizu, Mel Silva (3) and Alex Ponciano. W--Silva. L--Goto.
Leading hitters--McK: R. Goto, 2-3; Cole Sugimoto, 2-3, 2b; Chris Berrios, 2 RBIs. Kah: Spencer Nakamura, 2-4, 2b, 3b; Daniel Kawahakui, 2-4, 2 RBIs; B. Yoshizu, 2 RBIs; A. Ponciano, 3 RBIs.

Moanalua 12, Farrington 2: Details were not available at press time.

---

Hawaii School Web Sites