DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARBULLETIN.COM
Pearl City's Scott Yasumoto eluded Leilehua's Daylen Hale (9) and Kelsey Yoshikami in a second-inning rundown between first and second. Yasumoto later scored on a single by Blaine Hironaga.
A senior reserve made the most of his chance to start Pearl City's season-opening baseball game yesterday. Super sub lifts Pearl City
By Nick Abramo
nabramo@starbulletin.comChargers left fielder Blaine Hironaga ripped a second-inning single to left, driving in Scott Yasumoto for what proved to be the winning run in a 2-1 Oahu Interscholastic Association victory over Leilehua at Pearl City High School.
"We wanted more runs than that," Hironaga said. "I was just happy I got a chance to play, because I didn't expect it, and what happened was nice. I'll do my job whatever it is."
Yasumoto made Hironaga's hit possible, turning a baserunning blunder into a pivotal recovery. With two outs, Yasumoto singled, but he was caught in a rundown trying to steal second. He was able to avoid a tag and make it safely into second.
It appeared Yasumoto may have gone out of the baseline, and Mules coach Garrett Yukumoto argued the call, but the ruling stood.
Hironaga, playing in place of an ill Reece Hirano, followed with his winning hit for a 2-0 lead.
"Both of our runs came with two outs," Pearl City coach Melvin Seki said. "That was really special what Blaine did. He did something he can be proud of."
The Mules struggled against Chargers left-handed starter Tony Ganigan, but finally scored on Daylen Hale's RBI single in the sixth off reliever Rex Yamaguchi.
Trailing 2-1, Leilehua put a scare into Pearl City in the bottom of the seventh. With two outs and pinch runner Kelsey Yoshikami on second, Ricky Paderes belted a single to left, but Yoshikami held at third.
Ryan Basco, hitting in the third spot, flied out to right to end the game.
"We came out with a lot of intensity," Basco said. "But we couldn't get our bats going. We were too anxious. I tried to put it on the ground (in the last at-bat), but I lifted it."
Basco, a transfer from Mid-Pacific, is expected to give Leilehua's pitching a lift. He's recovering from a pulled shoulder muscle.
"It took us five innings to figure out their pitching," Yukumoto said. "We didn't get timely hitting. It was one of those days where the kids worked hard but didn't get what they were working for.
"Every game is going to be a battle, and timely hitting is what we need, because our pitching should be able to keep us in ballgames."
Leilehua starter Spencer Omalza finished with a complete-game five-hitter in the loss. He didn't put any runners on in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings.
Ganigan gave up two hits -- doubles by Basco and Paderes -- in his five innings for the victory. Yamaguchi allowed five hits in two frames, but earned the save.
"It was a well-played game," Seki said. "We had some young kids (both juniors) pitching and they hung in there. They aged well today."
Jayson Kira's run-scoring single in the first inning gave the Chargers a 1-0 lead.
The Mules also had a chance to tie the game with two outs in the sixth, but Joshua Fetters left runners on first and third when he went fishing for a low Yamaguchi curve ball.
Paderes went 3-for-4 with a double for Leilehua. He also pegged out Hironaga trying to steal and made a smooth catch of Tanabe's high pop near the backstop.
At Pearl City H.S.
Spencer Omalza and Ricky Paderes; Tony Ganigan, Rex Yamaguchi (6) and Jayson Kira. W--Ganigan. L--Omalza. S--Yamaguchi.
Leilehua 000 001 0 -- 1 7 1 Pearl City 110 000 x -- 2 5 0 Leading hitters--Leil: Paderes 3-4, 2b; Daylen Hale 1-2, RBI; Ryan Basco 2-4, 2b. PC: Kira 2-3, Blaine Hironaga 1-2, RBI; Nolan Kugiya 1-2, RBI.
Waianae 4, Nanakuli 2
The Seariders scored the winning run on a bases-loaded walk in the fifth.
"It was a really good game. Both teams played really well," Nanakuli coach Houston Anderson said. "When Nanakuli and Waianae play, it's to see who's the king of the valley, and the two teams matched up well for the first game of the season."
Mario Bartholomew, Jeral Alapai (5), Ikaika Asinsin (6), Jaycee Alapai (6) and Nathan Naehu; C. Uyechi, A. Holt (7) and D. Ohelo. W--Uyechi. L--Je. Alapai.
Nanakuli 100 001 0 -- 2 8 3 Waianae 000 022 x -- 4 6 3 Leading hitters--Nan: Asinsin 3-4, 3b, RBI; Je. Alapai 2-4, Moses Hert 2b. Waian: Ohelo 2-3; C. Teves 2-2.
Mililani 21, Waialua 1
The Trojans got off to a smashing start by routing the Bulldogs.
Troy Flores' two-run double keyed a nine-run second inning for Mililani.
Winning pitcher Chaz Miyashiro went four innings for the victory. He struck out five and gave up an unearned run.
At Mililani H.S.
Gavin Nakamura, John Keao (3), John Carrano (4) and Joshua Acosta, Grant Yamanouchi (4); Chaz Miyashiro, Anson Oda (5) and Kamaka Crabbe, Ian Koki (5). W--Miyashiro. L--Nakamura.
Waialua 001 00 -- 1 2 3 Mililani 294 6x -- 21 15 2 Leading hitters--Mil: Erick Soeth 2-2, 2b, 2 RBIs; Crabbe 2-2, 2b; Kelsey Nakata 2-3, 2 RBIs; Miyashiro 2-3; Troy Flores 2b, 2 RBIs; Christopher Balatico 3b; Dustin Nuibe 3b.
Aiea 18, Radford 3
Na Alii erupted for nine first-inning runs on the way to a romp over the Rams.
At Aiea High School
Andrew Atmospera, Sonny Belcher (1) and Ryan Matt; Blake Lamug, Shawn Hao (3) and Aaron Asher, Herbert Chung (3). W--Lamug. L--Atmospera.
Radford 010 11 -- 3 4 4 Aiea 934 2x -- 18 17 0 Leading hitters--Rad: Gregg Suwa 2b, Rollie Suniatan 2b. Aiea: Taylor Watanabe 2-2, HR, 2b, 3RBIs; Kepa Wong 4-4, HR, 2b, 4RBIs; Bryson Tajiri 2-4, HR, 2b, 3RBIs; Asher 3b; Lance Powell 2b; Dylan Libadisos 2-2, 2b, RBI; James Miyashiro 2b; Blaze Moleta 2b, RBI.
Moanalua 5, Castle 4, 8 inn. OIA EAST
Donovan Souza drove in Andrew Kaneko with the winning run for the Menehunes in the top of the eighth.
At Castle H.S.
Chance Daskauskas, Andrew Blomberg (8) and Brett Tanigawa; Jeff Syrop and David Mohika. W--Daskauskas. L--Syrop.
Moanalua 301 000 01 -- 5 4 3 Castle 100 200 10 -- 4 8 6 Leading hitters--Moan: Tanigawa 3-run HR; Cas: Ikaika Reppuhn 3-4; Daniel Chinen 2-3; Darin Hamada 2b; Stephen Koki 3b.
Roosevelt 7, McKinley 6
Saint Louis transfer Kaimi Mead played through fielding errors to gain a win for the Rough Riders against the visiting Tigers yesterday.
Mead stepped to the mound as a reliever in the sixth with a two-run lead. He struck out two batters, but back-to-back fielding errors and Reed Tamashiro's two-run single tied it at 6.
Cameron Kimura drove home Ransen Tamai with the winning run in the bottom of the seventh.
Kai Kaino and Jarren Hirasaki; Ricky Eusebio, Kaimi Mead (6) and Joshua Danz. W--Mead. L--Kaino.
McKinley 101 022 0 -- 6 6 5 Roosevelt 032 010 1 -- 7 11 6 Leading hitters--McK: Devin Hokinaga 2-3; Reed Tomashiro 2-4, 2 RBIs; Kyle Nagatori 2-4. Roos: Jared Furtado 2-4; Danz 3-3; Cameron Kimura 3-4, 2b, 4 RBIs.
Kalaheo 14, Kaimuki 4
T.J. Meyer's 3-run homer and Sean Fernandez's RBI triple highlighted the Mustangs' six-run first inning.
At Kailua District Park
E. Leong, B. Kaluna (1), Shiprit (4) and F. Aso'au; Kurt Okumura and Jake Myking. W--Okumura. L--Leong.
Kaimuki 004 00 -- 4 6 2 Kalaheo 615 2x -- 14 15 4 Leading hitters--Kaim: T. Mitani 3-run HR; D. Johnston, 3b. Kalh: K. Okumura 2-4, 2b; Ransen Kaanoi 2-3, 3b, 2 RBIs; Sean Fernandez 3-4, 2b, 3b, 3 RBIs; J. Myking 2-3; T.J. Meyer 3-run HR; Aren Viveiros 2-2.
Kailua 11, Kaiser 7
Koo Kamalamalama drove in four runs to lead the Surfriders' 10-hit attack.
At Kailua H.S.
Sean Samson, Michael Heu (5) and Jarryd Maeda; Bronson Kamaka, Chris Mahelona (3) and Ho Obed. W--Mahelona. L--Samson.
Kaiser 007 000 0 -- 7 9 5 Kailua 015 203 x -- 11 10 2 Leading hitters--Kais: Neale Asato 2b; Colby Ho 2-4; Nao Fukuzawa 2b. Kail: Sean Sasaki 2b, 3 RBIs; Koo Kamalamalama 3-4, 4 RBIs, 2 2bs.
Kalani 7, Kahuku 3
The Falcons scored three runs in the top of the sixth to break open a close game. Len Shimabuku cracked an RBI double and Davin Muramoto added a run-scoring single in the crucial inning.
At Kahuku
Randy Kitagawa, Asher Tamanaha (5) and Reid Pamatigan, Allen Komori (4); Mel Silva and Alex Ponciano. W--Tamanaha. L--Silva.
Kalani 201 003 1 -- 7 10 2 Kahuku 201 000 0 -- 3 4 3 Leading hitters--Kaln: Davin Muramoto 3-4, 3 RBIs; Chassis Moody 3-4; Len Shimabuku 2-4, 2b, 2 RBIs. Kah: Josh Bohnet 2-4.
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