DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARBULLETIN.COM
Aiea's Dustin Grace slid home ahead of the tag from Pearl City's Corey Giammalvo yesterday in Pearl City.
Boo spooked Pearl City yesterday. Aiea wins battle of unbeatens
By Nick Abramo
nabramo@starbulletin.comAiea right-handed pitcher Nelson Hao, nicknamed "Boo Boo" by his grandfather at a young age, gave up an early home run, but calmed down to stop host Pearl City in a 9-3 Oahu Interscholastic Association West joust of undefeated teams yesterday.
Na Alii (6-0) didn't panic after falling behind 3-1 in the first inning and provided Hao with the support he needed the rest of the way.
"I just had to settle down," Hao said. "I was a bit anxious."
He went 6 1/3 innings and gave up only six hits, but more importantly, he didn't allow another run after Nolan Kugiya's unexpected three-run, first-inning round-tripper.
"I turned on the inside pitch (fastball)," said Kugiya, who stands 5-foot-6 and weighs 120 pounds but still had enough power to drive it over the fence more than 325 feet away. "That was my first one (home run) right there. I hoped we could hold the lead and keep playing hard. Aiea is one of the stronger teams we've played and we gave them a run for the money."
Taylor Watanabe keyed Na Alii's second inning, three-run comeback. He drilled an RBI single and eventually stole home as Aiea went ahead for good 4-3.
"It's all about execution," Aiea coach Ryan Kato said. "We weren't worried (down 3-1). As soon as the players got off the field, I told them that's why Pearl City went up there to bat -- to try and score runs. I said, 'Tip your hat to them, but now it's our turn.' "
Aiea padded its lead with three runs in the fifth on Aaron Asher's run-scoring double and Bryson Tajiri's two-run single. Dylan Libadisos drove in the game's final run in the seventh with an infield hit.
"We had our chances," said Chargers coach Melvin Seki, whose team dropped to 5-1-1. "They beat our best and they hit at the right time. They were a better team today. We had our chances, but made too many mistakes."
Still, Seki expects the West race to be tight until the end.
"The top four or five teams can win on any given day," he said.
Pearl City left the bases loaded in the third and put two runners on base in the fifth and seventh.
But Hao didn't disappoint the many Aiea fans who were shouting "Go Boo!" as they watched through intermittent rain. He said his fastball and curve were working and he threw in a couple of change-ups.
"Hao had an outstanding performance," Kato said. "He learned a lot today about being a big-game pitcher. He came through with flying colors after being rattled by that home run."
Na Alii reliever Lance Powell got out of the seventh-inning jam.
"I really wanted to finish," Hao said with a wide smile. "Only two more outs, but I knew it was important to let someone else finish."
At Pearl City
Nelson Hao, Lance Powell (7) and Aaron Asher; Shawn Benson, Rex Yamaguchi (6) and Corey Giammalvo. W -- Hao. L -- Benson.
Aiea (6-0) 130 040 1 -- 9 10 1 Pearl City (5-1-1) 300 000 0 -- 3 6 4 Leading hitters -- Aiea: Taylor Watanabe 2-4; Jordan Shibata 2-3; Kepa Wong 2-4; Bryson Tajiri 2-2, 2 RBIs; Asher 2b. PC: Scott Yasumoto 2-3, 2b; Nolan Kugiya 3-run HR.
Campbell 3, Waianae 2
At Campbell
One out when winning run scored
Calvin Uyechi and Darryl Ohelo; Tristan Bailey and Ian Pantorilla. W -- Bailey. L --Uyechi.
Waianae (4-2) 100 000 1 -- 2 4 1 Campbell (5-1) 000 100 2 -- 3 8 1 Leading hitters--Waian: Darryl Ohelo 2-3. Camp: Jason Scholl, 3-3; Ian Pantorilla, 3-3, 2b.
Leilehua 10, Nanakuli 0
At Fred Wright Park
Mario Bartholomew, Mike Nakagawa (5) and Kale Naehu; Patrick San Nicolas and Ricky Paderes. W--San Nicolas. L--Bartholomew.
Nanakuli (0-7) 000 00 -- 0 3 3 Leilehua (4-2) 500 14 -- 10 8 2 Leading hitters -- Nan: M. Bartholomew, 2-3. Lei: Ross Masuhara, 2-2, 2 RBIs.
Waipahu 4, Kapolei 3
At Waipahu
Howard Vinhasa and Colin Dumlao; Jared Kiyabu and John Fauatea. W -- Kiyabu. L -- Vinhasa.
Kapolei (1-5) 020 100 0 -- 3 4 1 Waipahu (3-2-1) 012 010 x -- 4 5 2 Leading hitters -- Kap: Vinhasa 2-run HR, sacrifice fly. Waip: Jerome Kon 2-3, 3b, 2b, RBI; Shane Jelf 2 RBIs.
Waialua 6, Radford 2
At Waialua
Andrew Atmospera and Matt Ryan; Gavin Nakamura and Grant Yamanouchi. W -- Nakamura. L -- Atomspera.
Radford (0-7) 010 000 1 -- 2 5 4 Waialua (1-6) 300 021 x -- 6 11 3 Leading hitters: Rad: Chris Walden 2B, RBI; Hoku Tampos RBI. Wail: Casey Onizuka 2-4, 2 RBIs; Justin Barit 2-3, 4 RBIs; Grant Yamanouchi 2-3; Brett Guerin 2-2.
Kaiser 5, McKinley 4
At Kaiser H.S. Field
Devin Okinaka and Andy Mitani; Michael Heu, Sean Samson (4) and Jarryd Maeda. W--Heu. L--Okinaka. S--Samson.
McKinley (0-7) 010 000 3 -- 4 9 2 Kaiser (3-3) 022 100 x -- 5 10 1 Leading hitters--McK: R. Tamashiro, 3-3; Jarin Hirasaki, 2-4, 2 RBIs; K. Nagatori, 2-3; Kais: J. Maeda, 3-4, 2 3bs; Andy Hirahara, 2-2, 2b, 2 RBIs.
OIA East
Moanalua 8, Farrington 6At Moanalua
Royce Machado and Joseph Gabrillo; Andrew Blomberg and Brett Tanigawa. W -- Machado. L -- Blomberg.
Farrington (1-5) 002 130 0 -- 6 5 3 Moanalua (4-2) 101 411 x -- 8 8 5 Leading hitters -- Moan: Tanigawa 2B; Peter Arakawa 2-2; Kawika Kaulukukui 2-3, 2B, 2 RBIs. Farr: Davin Alexander 2-3, 3B, RBI; Nixon Gattu 2-3.
Castle 5, Roosevelt 3
At Castle
Cameron Kimura, Kaimi Mead (6) and Kevin Fujii; Jeff Syrop and David Mohika. W -- Syrop. L -- Kimura (10 Ks).
Roosevelt (4-2) 100 002 0 -- 3 7 2 Castle (2-4) 012 020 X -- 5 6 1 Leading hitters -- Roos: Kimura 2-4, 2b, RBI; Brandon Morimoto 2b; Derek Shigano 2-2. Cast: Scott Shinsato 2b; Syrop 2-3, HR, 2 RBIs; Noah Kon 2-3, 2b, RBI.
Kalani 6, Kaimuki 4
At Kaimuki
Davin Muramoto, Shannon Chung (5) and Preston Pires; Baba Kaluna, Reid Yamane (5), Wilford Shiprit (7) and Janson Hew. W -- Chung. L -- Yamane.
Kalani (4-3) 101 003 1 -- 6 9 5 Kaimuki (1-6) 200 100 1 -- 4 8 2 Leading hitters -- Kala: Muramoto 3-4; Ryan Murakawa 2b; Ty Sarchet 2b. Kaim: Kaeo Neal 2-4; Tyson Seto-Mook 2-4, 2 RBIs.
Kailua 10, Kahuku 2
At Kailua
Corey Supranovich, Mel Silva (5) and Alex Ponciano; Ryan Rodrigues, Chris Mahelona (4) and Sean Mederos. W -- Mahelona. L -- Supranovich.
Kahuku (4-2) 002 000 0 -- 2 4 6 Kailua (7-0) 030 043 x -- 10 14 1 Leading hitters -- Kah: Silva 2b; Au 2b. Kail: Mike Kealoha 3-5, 2 RBIs; Kekoa Sua 2-4, 2 RBIs; Bronson Ho 2b; Mederos 2-4; Bronson Kamaka 2-3.
Kaiser 5, McKinley 4
No other details were available.
BIIF
Waiakea 17, Ka'u 0
At Kau
Kulea Bondallion and Averry Kagawa, Justin Kekaualua and Darrick Iida. Ka'u: William Kekoa and Kenneth Gustasson.
Waiakea 0(16)0 10 -- 17 17 0 Ka'u 000 00 -- 0 3 4 Leading hitters--Waiak: Shannon Camaro 2-2, 2B, RBIs; Kagawa 2-3, 2 HR, 6 RBIs; Myles Ioane 2-2; Mason Suga 2-3, HR, 3RBIs; Cheynne Hirota 2-2, 2 2B; David Rodrigues 2B; Matthew Patterson 2B.
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