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CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARBULLETIN.COM Mililani's Kelsey Nakata shut out Waianae on five hits yesterday in both teams' OIA opener.

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Nakata and his ‘D’
lead Mililani

Proving the importance of hitting with runners in scoring position, the Mililani baseball team opened its OIA West Division schedule with a 2-0 win over visiting Waianae in a pitcher's duel between all-league performers Kelsey Nakata and Clayton Uyechi.

Senior right-hander Nakata spotted his fastball and mixed in an effective split-fingered pitch and a deceptive slider to post the shutout, spacing five hits.

Nakata established himself in the strike zone early and benefited from outstanding defensive play from shortstop Tony Aquino and third baseman Ryan Tsutsui, who combined to handle 10 defensive opportunities without an error.

"I was just trying to throw strikes and stay within myself," said Nakata. "I was getting a little tight at the end of the game, so I just kept focused on throwing strikes, and Tony and 'Smiley' (Tsutsui) had a great game at short (and third)."

Searider ace Uyechi was up to the challenge, keeping Mililani off-balance for much of the game with a fastball in the low- to mid-80s and a biting 12-6 curveball, surrendering one earned run in absorbing the loss.

The 5-foot-9 senior struck out three and did not issue a base on balls, despite making the start on a moment's notice.

"Clayton was a little sore during the week, so it was really a game-time decision to have him pitch," said Waianae coach Kekoa Kaluhiokalani. "We knew he wasn't going to be 100 percent, but he will always compete and he did a pretty good job."

Mililani did not bunch a lot of hits in any one inning, but came through when it mattered most, as both of its scores came on two-out hits.

The Trojans drew first blood in the bottom of the third when Chaz Miyashiro's bloop single down the left-field line scored a runner from third base. Nakata singled to left to lead off the inning, and was replaced with the runner at first. After a stolen base, Tsutsui and Aquino were retired by Uyechi on a strikeout and a flyout to right field. Aquino's fly ball did allow the Mililani runner to advance to third, setting Miyashiro up for the RBI.

Aquino plated Mililani's other run in the bottom of the fifth with a two-out double to right that sailed over the head of Waianae's Kekipi Rosa. Brandon Oshiro opened the frame with a single to right, and advanced when the throw from the outfield sailed to the backstop, allowing the Trojan first baseman to move up to second. Again, Uyechi responded with two quick outs, but Aquino was ready with the big hit.

"Timely hitting with runners in scoring position is a big key," Mililani coach Dean Sato said. "Hitting in this wind is tough. We got the hits to fall and they hit a couple of shots that might have gotten into the gap on a normal day."

Waianae rallied with two outs in the third and fourth innings, but was unable to come up with one more hit in each attempt.

The Seariders fell just short again in the next inning, when Sonny Dudoit was unable to find a hole with the bases loaded and two out, as his hard-hit grounder to short was fielded cleanly by Aquino, who threw across the diamond to retire the side.

"It was a tough one," said Kaluhiokalani. "We had our opportunities with two outs, but we just couldn't punch it in. We definitely had our chances."

Fittingly, the final out of the win was recorded when Tsutsui dove to his left to snag a hard grounder, hopped to his feet and fired over to first to edge a sliding Ransen Silva.

"I'm very pleased," Sato said. "Waianae always comes out and swings the bats well, and with Uyechi on the mound, they're always tough. That first one always feels great because it sets the tempo for the rest of the season."

At Mililani H.S.

Waianae (0-1)	000	000	0	--	0	5	1
Mililani (1-0)	001	010	X	--	2	7	1

Clayton Uyechi, Ande Kuakini (6) and Peter Carba. Kelsey Nakata and Kamaka Crabbe.
W--Nakata. L--Uyechi.
Leading hitters--Wain: Darvis Fuller, 2-4. Mil: Chaz Miyashiro, 2-3, RBI; Tony Aquino, RBI, 2b.

MORE OIA WEST
No. 8 Leilehua 6, Nanakuli 0

Joshua Pastor pitched five innings, striking out six and walking one to lead the Mules over the Golden Hawks.

Andrew Ontai struck out four batters in two innings of relief for the Mules, who improved to 2-0 in the OIA. Sevy Tolentino went 3-for-3 and drove in three runs. Bryant Moniz went 2-for-4 with an RBI.

At Fred Wright

Nanakuli (1-1)	000	000	0	--	0	2	3
Leilehua (2-0)	020	013	X	--	6	11	1

Bryson Felisi and Nathan Naehu. Joshua Pastor, Andrew Ontai (6) and Gavin Uyeda.
W--Pastor. L--Felisi.
Leading hitters--Lei: Pastor, 1-2, RBI; Bryant Moniz, 2-4, RBI; Kelsey Yoshikami 1-2, 3b, RBI; Sevy Tolentino 3-3, 3 RBIs.

No. 10 Aiea 3, Radford 1

Lance Powell struck out 12 and allowed three walks and three hits as Na Alii defeated the visiting Rams.

Derek Grace was the only batter to have multiple hits in the game, going 2-for-3 with an RBI triple in the third inning.

At Aiea Recreational Field

Radford (0-2)	000	001	0	--	1	3	4
Aiea (2-0)	002	010	X	--	3	4	1

Chad Afi, Sean Irish (4) and Kyle Howell. Lance Powell and Brian Morihara.
W--Powell. L--Afi.
Leading hitters--Aiea: Derek Grace, 2-3, 3b, RBI.

Campbell 3, Kapolei 2

The Sabers used aggressive baserunning to edge the Hurricanes.

Campbell scored three runs, but had just one hit in its OIA West opener. Pitcher Tristan Bailey threw a four-hitter while striking out 10 batters in the win.

Cameron San Gregory led Kapolei with two hits.

At Campbell H.S.

Kapolei (0-2)	000	200	0	--	2	4	2
Campbell (1-0)	100	110	X	--	3	1	3

Jon Santiago and Michael Kahalehoe. Tristan Bailey and Ian Pantorilla.
W--Bailey. L--Santiago.
Leading hitters--Kapo: Cameron San Gregory, 2-3.

OIA EAST
Moanalua 18, Kalaheo 5

Adam Arakawa batted 3-for-3 with three RBIs to lead the Menehunes to a five-inning victory over the Mustangs in their OIA East opener.

Moanalua scored 13 runs in the bottom of the third inning and pitcher Andrew Blomberg struck out six batters.

At Moanalua H.S.

Kalaheo (0-2)	100	31	--		5	5	4
Moanalua (1-0)	23(13)	0X	--		18	14	0

Doug Cox, Larry Provost (3), Paul Schemding (4) and David Pershin. Andrew Blomberg, Trevor Bell (5) and Donovan Souza.
W--Blomberg. L--Cox.
Leading hitters--Kalh: Sean Tamba, 2-2, 2b; Austin Khrer, 2 RBIs; Brandon Uehara, 2b. Moan: Adam Arakawa, 3-3, 2 2bs, 3 RBIs; Dayne Dela Cruz, solo home run; Bell, 2 2bs; Blomberg, 2b; Michael Amarozo, 2b, 2 RBIs.
Junior varsity
Moanalua 4, Kalaheo 3

Roosevelt 3, Farrington 1

Keoni Manago pitched a four-hitter against the Governors to give the Rough Riders their second win of the season.

Manago struck out six and walked one, giving up four hits.

At Stevenson Intermediate

Farrington (0-2)	001	000	0	--	1	4	3
Roosevelt (2-0)	000	021	0	--	3	3	1

Alison Tolentino and Anthony Gabrillo. Keoni Manago and Kevin Fujii.
W--Manago. L--Tolentino.
Leading hitters--Farr: Serdemia 2b, Jay-Ar Mariano 2b.

Kalani 6, Kaimuki 4

The Falcons rallied for three runs in the second inning to defeat the Bulldogs.

Preston Pires and Marcus Fujita drove in two runs each in the win. Kaeo Neal batted 3-for-4 with a double and RBI in the loss.

At Kahala

Kaimuki (0-2)	030	000	1	--	4	9	0
Kalani (2-0)	230	100	X	--	6	8	1

Swaine Seto-Mook and Danny Berger. Reid Matsumura and Joshua Markwith.
W--Matsumura. L--Seto-Mook.
Leading hitters--Kaim: Kaeo Neal, 3-4, RBI, 2b; Tyler Tausaga, 2b. Kaln: Preston Pires, 2-2, 2 RBIs; Marcus Fujita, 1-3, 2 RBIs, 2 runs.
Also
New Hope (Mississippi) 8, Kalani 5

McKinley at No. 6 Kaiser, ppd.: The game was postponed due to rain.

Pearl City pitcher throws no-hitter

Craig Calantoc had a perfect game going into the seventh inning before hitting a Waipahu batter. But the senior kept the no-hitter intact, leading the Chargers to their second win of the season, 7-0.

Calantoc struck out 11 Marauders and allowed no walks. He also faced the minimum number of batters, as the Chargers turned a double play following the hit batter. On offense, the Chargers were led by Tom Yamasaki and Kelsey Poentis, who each went 2-for-3. Yamasaki recorded two doubles and three RBIs, while Poentis hit a triple.

At Pearl City H.S.

Waipahu (0-2)	000	000	0	--	0	0	2
Pearl City (2-0)	002	050	X	--	7	8	0

Alfred Maglangit and Ridge Kaleikini. Craig Calantoc and Paul Domingo.
W--Calantoc. L--Maglangit.
Leading hitters--PC: Tom Yamasaki 2-3, 2 2b, 3 RBIs; Kelsey Poentis 2-3, 3b; Domingo 2b.