[ HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETICS ]

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Tom provides punch as
Knights tie Rough Riders
for third place

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By Jason Kaneshiro
jkaneshiro@starbulletin.com

A normally docile baseball rivalry grew fangs yesterday as Castle outlasted Roosevelt 9-7 at the Stevenson Intermediate School field.

After the teams traded barbs, stares and three-run rallies, Castle moved into a tie with Roosevelt and Moanalua for third place in the Oahu Interscholastic Association Eastern Division.

Castle's win coupled with Kalaheo's victory over Kailua created a six-team log jam atop the division. Kalaheo and Kailua are tied for first at 6-2 with Castle, Roosevelt and Moanalua a half-game back. Kahuku is also in the mix at 4-2.

Jordan Tom provided the offensive fireworks for Castle yesterday by hitting two-run homers in both the third and fourth innings. The shortstop launched both shots to center field after Roosevelt ace Chris Mols had hung two strikes on him in both at-bats.

"I wasn't afraid to take pitches and wait for him to give me a pitch to hit," Tom said.

"This is a pretty good rivalry so when I hit it it kind of lifted us and quieted them down a little bit."

Castle coach Joe Tom Jr. said the homers gave the team the quick start it wanted and he praised Jordan Ceria, the ninth batter in the Castle order, for working Mols for walks to set the table for his son.

"One thing I told the kids we wanted to do was strike first," he said. "Roosevelt is explosive, but sometimes when you strike first it builds enthusiasm and momentum."

"Two in a row with two strikes," he added, his fatherly pride peeking through, "that was something."

While the homers got the Knights rolling, the game's turning point came in the bottom of the second.

With no score and Roosevelt's Brandon Loo on second with two out, Castle pitcher Noah Kon and Blake Isobe engaged in a 15-pitch duel. After Kon got two quick strikes on the Rough Rider first baseman, Isobe fouled off nine pitches and eventually worked the count full.

Kon won the battle by freezing Isobe with a fastball inside and the Knights went on to take a 6-1 lead over the next two innings.

"That was big time. Noah is emotional and competitive and that really fired him up," Joe Tom said.

Mols pulled Roosevelt back into the game at the plate with a three-run double in the fifth to make the score 6-4. But Castle took command again in the seventh by scoring three runs, all coming with two out.

Roosevelt mounted a final comeback in the bottom of the inning. After a triple by Matthew Terukina and Daniel Siracusa's pinch-hit RBI single, Mols lined a home run over the right field fence to bring the Rough Riders back to within two runs at 9-7.

Jordan Tom relieved Kon on the mound and promptly hit Cameron Kimura to bring the tying run to the plate. Brandon Morimoto worked a full count before lining a shot straight into the glove of Castle first-baseman Jeff Syrop, who then tagged the base for a game-ending double play.

"In the beginning of the season we just didn't have the bats," Jordan Tom said. "But now the bats are coming alive. Our pitching's been doing well the whole year so the runs will do us good."

The win was Castle's fourth in a row after a 1-2 start. Roosevelt dropped its second straight after starting 5-0.

"We just have to regroup," Roosevelt coach Kerry Higa said. "We have to do some stuff mentally to make sure we get back on track. With all the expectations I think we were pressing a little too much and not letting things flow. We're hitting the ball so we just have to settle down with our pitching and our defense.

"These guys are fighters, we just have to find ways to win again."

At Stevenson Intermediate field

Castle (5-2)	003	300	3	--	9	10	3
Roosevelt (5-2)	001	030	3	--	7	10	3

Noah Kon, Jordan Tom (7) and Jason Taniguchi. Chris Mols and Kevin Fujii. W--Kon. L -- Mols. S -- Tom.

Leading hitters -- Castle: Tom, 2-4, 2 HRs, 4 RBIs; Scott Shinsato, 2-5, HR; Taniguchi, 2-5, 2b; Jeff Syrop, 2b; Jordan Ceria, 2b, RBI, 3 runs. Roosevelt: Corey Higa, HR; Matthew Terukina; 3-4, 3b; Mols, 2-4, 2b, HR, 5 RBIs; Brandon Loo, 2b.

Kalaheo 9, Kailua 8

The Mustangs peppered Surfrider pitching for 15 hits and took advantage of two Kailua errors to move into a tie for first place in the division.

Kalaheo starting pitcher Michael Garcia weathered a 13-hit Surfrider attack to earn the victory over the Mustangs' Windward Oahu rival.

At Kailua H.S. field

Kalaheo (6-2)	104	112	0	--	9	15	2
Kailua (6-2)	022	201	1	--	8	13	2

Michael Garcia, Scott Galusha (6) and Jacob Myking. Chad Kajiyama, Garrett Yamamoto (6) and Chad Nishizuka. W -- Garcia. L -- Kajiyama.

Leading hitters -- Kalaheo: Chris Kojima, 2-3; Shaine Harada 2-4, 2b; Garcia 2-4, 2b; Nick Sargent, 2-3, Cody Racoma, 2-4; Aren Vivieros, 2-4, Myking, 2-3. Kailua: Jarid Kawamoto, 2-4, 2b; Cody Texeira-Vickery, 2-3, 2b, 2 RBIs; Bronson Ho, 3-4, 2b; Shaun Sasaki 2-3; Nishizuka 2-4.

Moanalua 8, Kaiser 3

The Menehunes broke the game open with a four-run fourth inning capped by Devin Kitashiro's two-run homer.

Kaiser posted 14 hits, but also stranded 14 runners on base.

At Kaiser H.S. field

Moanalua (5-2)	010	41	02	--	8	9	2
Kaiser (3-5)	010	020	0	--	3	14	2

Kyle Nakamichi, Lorin Nakagawa (7), Neal Manutai (7) and Brett Tanigawa. John Uehara, Sean Samson (4), Jason Peters (6) and David Chu, Kyle Nerona (7). W -- Nakamichi. L -- Uehara.

Leading hitters -- Moanalua: Geoffery Say 2-4, 2b, 2 runs; Nakagawa 2-3, 3b, 2 RBI; Manutai 2-3, 2 RBI, Devin Kitashiro, HR, 2 RBI. Kaiser: Uehara 2-5; Casey Fukuda 2-4; Landon Kaaua 3-4, 2 2b, 2 runs; Chris Sakuda 2-3; Cory Makino 3-4, 2 RBI.

Kalani 12, Farrington 1

The Falcons broke the game open with seven runs in the second inning and cruised past the Governors.

Asher Tamanaha picked up the complete-game win for Kalani.

At Joey DeSa Field

Kalani (2-5)	070	100	4	--	12	7	1
Farrington (0-7)	000	000	1	--	1	4	12

Asher Tamanaha and Reid Pamatigan. Chris Faavesi, Paul-Alan Dela Cruz (2) and Criston Barba. W -- Tamanaha. L -- Faavesi.

Leading hitters -- Kalani: Randy Kitagawa 2-5; Travis Canonizado 2b, RBI; Len Shimabuku 2-4, 2b. Farrington: Josh Badua 2b.

Kahuku, Kaimuki rained out

The game was rescheduled for 4 p.m. tomorrow at Kahuku's field.

OIA West

Pearl City 2, Waipahu 0

Chad Itokazu struck out seven batters in a complete-game two-hitter for the Chargers.

Kellen Concepcion and Jonathan Serapion provided all the runs Itokazu needed with RBIs in the second and third innings.

At Waipahu H.S.field

Pearl City (4-3)	011	000	0	--	2	5	0
Waipahu (1-5)	000	000	0	--	0	2	5

Chad Itokazu and Kellen Concepcion. Jaryd Kiyabu and John Fauatea. W -- Itokazu. L--Kiyabu.

Leading hitters -- PC: Rex Yamaguchi 2-4; Itokazu 2b; Concepcion RBI.

Waianae 5, Nanakuli 0

Three Searider pitchers combined on a one-hitter against the Golden Hawks.

Calvin Uyechi, who threw the final three innings, contributed at the plate by driving in two runs.

At Waianae H.S. field

Nanakuli (0-6)	000	000	0	--	0	1	1
Waianae (6-1)	021	020	x	--	5	8	0

Michael Nakagawa, Mario Bartholomew (5) and Edward Pontes. Dane Awana, Chad Rodrigues (3), Calvin Uyechi (5) and Chevy Teves, Michael Ferreira (5). W -- Rodrigues. L -- Nakagawa.

Leading hitters -- Waianae: Cid Moses 2-2, 2 runs; Uyechi 2-3, 2b, 3b, 2 RBIs; Keoni Taaca 2-3.

Waialua 1, Radford 0

The Bulldogs entered the OIA playoff picture thanks to Jonathan Keao's three-hit shutout.

Waialua's Jonathan Carano led off the bottom of the seventh with a walk, stole second and moved to third on Gavin Nakamura's single. When Nakamura attempted to steal second the Rams threw the ball away, allowing Carano to score the winning run.

At Waialua H.S. field

Radford (1-5)	000	000	0	--	0	3	1
Waialua (3-4)	000	000	1	--	1	5	0

Kory Wade and Matt Ryan. Jonathan Keao and Charles Tantog. W -- Tantog. L -- Wade.

Leading hitters -- Waialua: Gavin Nakamura 2-3.

Mililani 4, Leilehua 0

Adam Inaba limited the Mules to five hits in a complete-game performance.

Gainor Nitta led the Trojans at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a double and triple.

At Fred Wright Field

Mililani (4-2)	001	200	1	--	4	12	1
Leilehua (2-4)	000	000	0	--	0	5	1

Adam Inaba and Shawn Saito. Spencer Omalza, Daylen Hale (5) and Daylen Hale, Ricky Paderes (5). W -- Inaba. L -- Omalza.

Leading hitters -- Mililani: Gainor Nitta, 3-4, 2b, 3b; Trey Borwn, 2-4; Saito, 2-4, 2b; Dustin Nuibe, 2-3, 2 RBIs. Leilehua: Hale, 2-4; Kory Yamamoto 2-3.

Junior varsity
Kapolei 6, Campbell 5, 12 inn.

BASKETBALLOIA West

Pearl City 42, Nanakuli 23

Marci Lobendahn scored 12 points to help the Chargers maintain a share of first-place in the OIA West.

Pearl City is tied with Campbell and Leilehua atop the division at 7-1.

Lehua Yap led Nanakuli with 13 points.

At Nanakuli H.S. gym

Pearl City (7-1)	16	9	7	10	--	42
Nanakuli (3-6)	4	6	4	9	--	23

PEARL CITY -- Darcie Hamamoto 0, Jillan Soria 5, Amy Fujihara 2, Joni Yoon 0, Christie Ayers 5, Chalice Kaapuni 7, Kellie Yuen 7, Jamie Iwata 2, Kristin Lai 0, Frances Mabalay 0, Tina Questel 2, Marci Lobendahn 12, Lusia Kleinschmidt 0.

NANAKULI -- Chalceydony Silva 2, Chelcey Kaimi 2, Lindsey Ako 0, Cheryl Willing 0, Jasmine Carvalho 0, KC Hoohuli 0, Lehua Yap 13, Ashley Gasper 6, Stacelyn Eli 0, Malia Hirahara 0, Teila Watson 0, Marsy Holi-Arrington, Chanel Ching 0 .

3-point goals -- Pearl City 1 (Soria). Nanakuli (none).

Junior varsity -- Nanakuli 42, Pearl City 20

Leilehua 42, Kapolei 22

The Mules jumped out to a 17-0 lead in the first quarter on their way to a home win over the Hurricanes.

Pikake Nutter-Gaudet led a balanced Leilehua attack with nine points.

At Leilehua H.S. gym

Kapolei (0-9)	0	5	7	10	--	22
Leilehua (7-1)	17	11	4	10	--	42

KAPOLEI--Tasha Faumuina 0, Kayla Kam 6, Charlyn Kauachi 6, Danielle Hughes 0, Shauntay Leutu 2, Tanya Menino 4, Ama Haupu-Silva 0, Pam Mellinger 0, Edna Talo 4, Gabriel Tabios 0.

LEILEHUA--Priscilla West 2, Jacqueline Kelly 0, Heidi Garcia 8, Naschelle Scott 0, Maria Quidez 5, Jesseca Battease 2, Pikake Nutter-Gaudet 9, Liz Neishell 2, Sara Smith 3, Inez Tauvela 8, Alexis San-Nicholas 3.

3-point goals -- Kapolei 1 (Kam). Leilehua 1 (Nutter-Gaudet).

Junior varsity -- Leilehua 28, Kapolei 25

ILH

Punahou 49, St. Francis 31

Becky Hogue scored 12 points and Megan Abott added 10 points as the Buffanblu remained undefeated in the ILH.

St. Francis' Jasmine Dulan led all scorers with 15 points.

At McCabe Gym

Punahou (11-0)	12	11	15	11	--	49
St. Francis (1-10)	9	5	11	6	--	31

PUNAHOU--Rachel Kane 8, Elizabeth Lee 0, Shanna-Lei Dacanay 2, Megan Abbott 10, Seisha Sukekane 0, Kristen LaVine 1, Anuhea MacFarlane 6, Janelle Shin 2, Sydney Anderson 0, Kelly Kams 4, Christine Takara 4, Becky Hogue 12.

ST. FRANCIS--Mandy Llamedo 3, Latasha Griffin 3, Annie Llamedo 0, Jasmine Dulan 15, Chelsey Powell 5, Lauren Upadhyaya 3, Bennita Robinson 2.

3-point goals--Punahou none, St. Francis 1 (M.Llamedo).

Iolani 55, University 30

Jennifer Nagamine scored 13 points and Ginger Gravelle added 12 points to lead the Raiders over the Junior 'Bows.

Nagamine and Gravelle combined to score 18 of the Raiders 20 first quarter points. Iolani took a 32-9 lead into halftime and was never threatened in the second half.

At McCabe Gym

Iolani (6-5)	20	12	10	13	--	55
University (3-7)	5	4	8	13	--	30

IOLANI -- Jennifer Nagamine 13, Raeceen Woolford 3, Jackie Sasaki 5, Lana Young 6, Ginger Gravelle 12, Fabriann Gin 8, Kiani Wong 2, Keri Oyadomari 2, Patricia Wong 4, Diana McClain 0, Chelsea Wong 0.

UNIVERSITY -- Iwa Yamaguchi 0, Diane Okubo 3, Ashley DeGuzman 0, Brittney Anderson 2, Kamaile Durrett 10, Leahi Frias 4, Kylie Lum 2, Karlee Kailiehu 9, Cara Pang 0.

3-point goals -- Iolani 4 (Nagamine 3, Sasaki 1). University none.

Junior Varsity
Hawaii Baptist 25, Mid-Pacific 21
Punahou Gold 51, Iolani 29

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