GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM
Kaiser's Nyles Nakama scored ahead of the throw to Moanalua catcher Donovan Souza in yesterday's game.
Cougars stay undefeated
For the Kaiser baseball program, the evidence of a great season to date was overwhelming yesterday afternoon.
The Cougars turned a pair of double plays, watched Landon Kaaua make a diving catch in center field, saw No. 9 hitter Andy Uehara belt a two-run homer, and benefited from yet another stellar outing from pitching ace Michael Heu, who remained unbeaten, earning his fourth victory in as many starts.
Above all, the Cougars (8-0) remained atop the Oahu Interscholastic Association's Eastern Division with their 6-0 shutout of Moanalua.
Kaiser closes its regular season with a game at Kalaheo on Saturday and a game with four-time defending OIA champion Kailua at home Wednesday.
Yesterday's game was one to savor, however. Playing without starting catcher Jarryd Maeda, who traveled to the mainland to be with his brother, Kelly, who underwent surgery this week, the Cougars played their best game of the season.
"The kids are praying for him," Kaiser pitching coach Paul Ah Yat said. "We're a close team, and the kids picked it up for him."
"Everyone contributes in every game on this team -- it's why we're having the season we're having," Ah Yat continued. "Today was a prime example of a team effort."
About all that was missing for Kaiser on this day was college scouts, who would have been pleased with what they saw of Heu, according to Ah Yat.
"Hopefully, someone will take a look at him," Ah Yat said of Heu, who has yet to give up a run in 2004. "He's proven himself so far. His leadership has been a key for us, and his control was outstanding today."
Said Heu, who struck out one and walked two, while yielding only three hits: "I came in pumped up. I knew I had to pitch my game, and I have a lot of confidence in our defense."
Heu found plenty of offensive support in Kaiser's half of the second inning, when the hosts scored five runs on five hits. RBI singles by Jeffrey Peters (to score Nyles Nakama) and Mitchell Shimabukuro (to score Peters) gave the Cougars a 2-0 lead before Uehara sent Moanalua pitcher Chance Daskauskas' offering over the right-field fence for a two-run homer that made it 4-0. Moments later, Scott Uehara lined a run-scoring double to center for a 5-0 Cougar lead.
Kaiser added a run in the eighth when Andy Uehara doubled, went to third on a groundout and scored on a wild pitch.
At Kaiser H.S.
Moanalua (4-3-1) 000 000 0 -- 0 3 0 Kaiser (8-0) 050 100 x -- 6 7 2
Chance Daskauskas and Donovan Souza. Michael Heu and Andy Uehara. W--Heu. L--Daskauskas.
Leading hitters--Kais: A. Uehara 2-3, 2b, HR, 2 RBIs; Scott Uehara 1-3, RBI; Nyles Nakama 1-3, 2b; Jeffrey Peters 1-3, RBI; Mitchell Shimabukuro 1-2, RBI; Ryan Ishima 1-3.
Farrington 10, Kahuku 9
The Governors rallied to score two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to beat the Red Raiders.
Farrington pitcher Brian Cabral led off the sixth with a single and later scored on Melvin Silva's wild pitch. Alex Mendoza's single then drove in Chester Sebastian for the winning run.
Kimball Niumatalolo led Kahuku with a two-run homer in the top of the third to erase a two-run deficit.
At Joey DeSa Field
Kurtney Silva, Melvin Silva (3) and M. Silva, Bronson Ponciano-Ahue (3). Brian Cabral, Chandler Mitchell (6), Alison Tolentino (6) and Matt Bell. W--Tolentino. L--M. Silva.
Kahuku (1-7) 022 005 0 -- 9 12 0 Farrington (4-4-1) 043 012 x -- 10 9 3
Leading hitters--Kah: Ponciano-Ahue 2-4, 3b; Kimball Niumatalolo 2-4, 2-run HR, 3-runs; M. Silva 2-4, 2 2bs, 2 RBIs; Makamae Desoto 3-4. Far: Bell 2-3, HR, 3 RBIs; Davin Alexander 3b; Cabral 2-3, 2b, 2-runs; Anthony Gabrillo 2-3, 2-runs.
Castle 13, Kaimuki 2
David Mohika went 4-for-4 with four RBIs as five Knights players scored two runs apiece in defeating the Bulldogs.
Danny Berger's single in the top of the fifth broke up Travis Paaga's no-hit bid. Paaga finished with four strikeouts in going the distance.
At Kaimuki H.S.
Castle (3-6) 412 301 2 -- 13 15 1 Kaimuki (1-7) 000 020 0 -- 2 3 3
Travis Paaga and David Mohika. Desmond Johnston and Janson Hew. W--Paaga. L--Johnston.
Leading hitters--Cas: Mike Hayasaka 2-3, 3b, 2-runs; Ikaika Reppuhn 2-3; Kaimi Ah New 2-runs; Duke Kitagawa 2-runs; Paaga 2-4, 2-runs; Mohika 4-4, 2b, 3b, 2-runs, 4 RBIs; Naeole McFadden 3b; Baron Hashimoto 3b.
Kalaheo 7, McKinley 2
Kalani Lingo's RBI triple in the top of the second sparked the Mustangs to seven unanswered runs as they defeated the Tigers.
Scott Galusha added two runs for the Mustangs, who halted a two-game losing streak with the victory.
At McKinley H.S.
Kalaheo (4-4) 022 000 3 -- 7 8 2 McKinley (1-7) 200 000 0 -- 2 6 3
Cody Racoma, Chris Gonzales (5) and Jacob Myking. Jarren Hirasaki and Andrew Mitani. W--Racoma. L--Hirasaki.
Leading hitters--Kalh: Scott Galusha 2-3, 2b, 2-runs; Myking 2-4; Kalani Lingo 3b, run, RBI. McK: Devin Okinaga 2-4; Hirasaki 3b.
oia west
Aiea 11, Kapolei 7
Kepa Wong's two-run double ignited a five-run sixth inning to help Na Alii put the game away.
Na Alii raced out to a quick 5-0 lead, but the Hurricanes battled back to cut the lead to one before Wong's hit.
At Kapolei H.S. field
Aiea (7-1) 050 105 0 -- 11 11 5 Kapolei (3-6) 022 010 2 -- 7 10 4
Blake Lamug and C.J. Tausaga. Jon Santiago, Colin Dumlao (6) and Drake Kula. W--Lamug. L--Santiago.
Leading hitters--Aiea: Jordan Shibata 1-1, 2b, 2 runs, RBI; Blaze Moleta 2-5; Kepa Wong 2-4, 2b, 2 RBIs; Dylan Libadisos 2-4, RBI; Tausaga 2b; Aaron Sato 2b. Kap: Howard Vinhasa 2-4, 2b; Aaron Santiago 2-3, 2 2b's; Jason Vierra 2b; Bryan Padayao 2b.
Campbell 25, Waialua 4
Pake Koloma struck out four, gave up three hits, including a double, and only three runs as the Sabers kept the Bulldogs winless.
At Waialua H.S.
Campbell (6-3) 540 5(11) -- 25 20 1 Waialua (0-8) 003 01 -- 4 4 6
Pake Koloma, Ian Pantorilla (4) and Pantorilla, Kendall Hodgon (4). Michael Kuraoka, Kelson Silva (4), Shawyn Peiler (5) and Justin Manglallan, Kuraoka (4). W--Koloma. L--Kuraoka.
Leading hitters--Cam: Pantorilla 2-3, 2 RBIs; Jacob Kaku 3b; James Bannister 2-2, RBI; Ransen Sakamoto 3b, 3 RBIs; Tristan Bailey 3-5, 4 RBIs. Wail: Justin Barit 2b, 3 RBIs.
Leilehua 12, Waipahu 2
Spencer Omalza hit a two-run double to open the game and Andrew Ontai had a pair of doubles and scored three runs to lead the Mules.
John Olley pitched a complete game for the win, giving up just five hits while striking out six.
At Fred Wright Park
Waipahu (3-5) 000 110 -- 2 5 3 Leilehua (7-1) 310 701 -- 12 13 3
Derek Kiyabu, Jaren Rios (4) and Jake Tabieros. John Olley and Jesse Matsuura. W--Olley. L--Kiyabu.
Leading hitters--Waip: Glen Santa Maria 2-2. Lei: Andrew Ontai 4-4, 2 2bs, 3-runs, 2 RBIs; Spencer Omalza 2-3, 2b, 2-runs, 3 RBIs; Matsuura 2-4; Josh Fetters 2-3, 2b, 2-runs; Ross Masuhara 2b, 3 RBIs.
Mililani 21, Nanakuli 3
Tony Flores and Tony Aquino combined to go 8-for-8 as the Trojans scored at least two runs in every inning in routing the Golden Hawks.
Ryan Tsubui pitched four innings to pick up the win. Ian Koki pitched a perfect fifth to end the game and also hit two doubles.
At Nanakuli H.S.
Mililani (5-3) 236 37 -- 21 18 0 Nanakuli (2-6) 120 00 -- 3 3 4
Ryan Tsubui, Ian Koki (5) and Kamaka Crabbe. Albert Distajo, Devan Harris (3), Bryson Felisi (5) and Curtis Wright. W--Tsubui. L--Distajo.
Leading hitters--Mil: Troy Flores 4-4, 2b; Tony Aquino 4-4, 2 3bs, 5 RBIs; Brandon Oshiro 2b; Koki 2-2, 2 2bs.
Pearl City 9, Radford 1
Anthony Ganigan struck out 10, walked two and gave up only three hits, as the Chargers rolled over the Rams.
Rex Yamaguchi led the Chargers' offensive attack going 4-for-5 with a double.
At Radford H.S.
Pearl City (6-2) 230 301 0 -- 9 12 1 Radford (2-6) 000 100 0 -- 1 3 3
Anthony Ganigan and Corey Giammalvo. Andrew Atmospera, Kahoku Tampos (6) and Kyle Howell.
Leading hitters--PC: Blake Kaneshiro 3-5, 2b; Rex Yamaguchi 4-5, 2b; Kyle Fukuda 2b; Casey Fujishige 3-4; Giammalvo 2b, RBI. Rad: Atmospera RBI.
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Kitagawa silences
Surfriders’ bats
Randy Kitagawa had the answer for Kailua's potent bats yesterday and pitched Kalani to a 4-1 victory over the Surfriders at Kahala Field.
"I'm sort of surprised," the Falcons southpaw said after striking out 12 and walking just one. "I've been reading in the paper that they've been hitting home runs all over the place."
The 12 punchouts represented a season high for Kitagawa, who fanned nine last week against Moanalua and 10 against league-leading Kaiser in Kalani's only loss of the season.
With two Oahu Interscholastic Association regular-season games left, the Falcons (7-1) remained a game behind the Cougars (8-0), while four-time defending league champion Kailua (6-2) fell two games out.
"Our kids played like they've never been coached before," Surfriders coach Corey Ishigo said. "I was embarrassed. Anyone can strike out 12 guys when they're swinging at curveballs that are bouncing in the dirt. On top of that, he's a good pitcher and they couldn't hit his strikes, either."
Kailua pitcher Chris Mahelona allowed an unearned run in the second, but Kalani erupted for three runs off him in the fifth.
With two outs in the second, the Falcons' Dustan Goya walked, took second on the Surfriders' only error of the game and scored on Chassis Moody's base hit to left for a 1-0 lead.
Kitagawa's RBI triple keyed Kalani's big fifth. Marcus Fujita chipped in with an RBI double, while Preston Pires drove in a run with a single.
After allowing just two hits through six innings, Kitagawa pitched out of deep trouble while giving up two more hits and a run in the seventh.
The inning started with a controversial call. After swinging at strike three, Kailua's Kekoa Su'a sprinted toward first when Pires, the catcher, failed to make a putout. Su'a appeared to be safe on a wide throw by Pires, but the umpire called him out for running on the grass to the left of the baseline.
The Surfriders rallied despite the first out and loaded the bases on singles by Ryan Rodrigues and Sean Medeiros and a walk to Derek Mailau. Rodrigues scored his team's only run on Keahi Goo's fielder's choice.
"My teammates kept telling me, 'Get the next guy, shake it off,' " said Kitagawa, who got Ko'o Obed looking with runners on first and third to seal it.
Su'a summed up the Surfriders' mood.
"We're a lot better hitters than we showed today," he said. "None of us like losing, so we'll come back."
Kalani coach Shannon Hirai never got too nervous, despite the final-inning tension.
"The way Randy was pitching, I wasn't too worried," he said. "Anytime you beat a four-time champion, it's a plus. We came close the last couple of years. Last year, we were ahead and they came back on us."
At Kahala Field
Kailua (6-2) 000 000 1 -- 1 4 1 Kalani (7-1) 010 030 x -- 4 6 1
Chris Mahelona, Bronson Kamaka (5) and Sean Medeiros; Randy Kitagawa and Preston Pires. W--Kitagawa. L--Mahelona.
Leading hitters-Kail: Ryan Rodrigues 2-3, 2b; Keahi Goo RBI. Kaln: Chassis Moody 2-3, RBI; Kitagawa 1-2, 3b, RBI; Marcus Fujita 2b, RBI; Pires 1-3, RBI.
