Mid-Pac rallies
to top rival
The Mid-Pacific baseball team left no stone unturned yesterday, using the big and small and long and tall to post an 8-3 comeback win over league rival Iolani as the Interscholastic League of Honolulu opened its second round of play.
The Owls rode the big bats of 3-4-5 hitters Kip Masuda, Jayson Kramer and Nathan Rice, who combined to bat 7-for-10 with four doubles and five RBIs to spark MPI's attack.
Masuda's big blow came at a very opportune time for Mid-Pacific, who watched Iolani starter Wally Marciel deposit a shot over the right-field fence for a two-run homer in the top of the first to give the Red Raiders the early advantage.
After MPI leadoff batter Chad Takabuki led off the bottom of the first by lining out to center field, Adam Tamashiro reached base on an infield error.
Masuda stepped up and quickly doubled off the left-field fence to drive in Tamashiro, giving the Owls another runner in scoring position.
Kramer followed Masuda's hit with a double of his own to even the game at 2-2.
"The kids played well," Mid-Pacific coach Dunn Muramaru said. "They hit the ball and battled everywhere -- at the plate and on the field. Any time the middle of the order goes 7-for-10, you have a pretty good chance."
The Owls made good on some small ball to add a run in the bottom of the fourth, when Takabuki chopped a ground ball toward the middle of the infield to score Nick Furumoto. Furumoto drew a walk from Marciel with one out and advanced to third on an errant pickoff throw to first base. With the infield back during Takabuki's at-bat, Furumoto was instructed by Muramaru to run home on contact, and he did, giving MPI the 3-2 edge.
MPI went back to the long ball in the fifth, when Rice followed Kramer's leadoff homer to right-center field with a ringing double down the left-field line. After Chris Johnson replaced Marciel on the mound, the Owls again benefited from small ball to plate another run.
Aaron Fujiki advanced Rice to third with a drag bunt single to the left side of the infield to set up Reece Uyeno's RBI sacrifice fly to right, making it 5-2 Owls.
Mid-Pacific returned to score three more times in the bottom of the sixth to put the game out of reach, with Kramer's second double of the day doing most of the damage.
"I think we have to know as a team by now that even when we get down, we have the ability to come back every time," said Rice, who went 3-for-4. "We just need to keep the pressure on and keep fighting in games like today and we'll have a chance to win."
Muramaru gave the starting assignment to 5-foot-4 finesse pitcher Jared Hara. The lean right-hander used an effective changeup, and spotted a fastball and slider to keep Iolani off balance for most of the day.
When the Red Raiders did make solid contact, the Owl defense was often there to make the play.
"I was just trying to mix it up and get them off balance," Hara said. "My change was working pretty well and our defense was playing well. Even when we got down early, I knew we were gonna come back and score some runs."
Hara worked 5 2/3 innings, allowing three runs on homers by Marciel and Marc Factora to earn the win.
"He's not as good as his uncle," joked Muramaru in reference to former Mid-Pacific All-State player of the year Kyle Hara. "But really, he's a tough kid. He battled and when they did hit the ball it was usually right at our guys. This is a good win."
Muramaru went to 6-foot-2 power-pitching ace Kramer in the top of the sixth to seal the deal. Kramer entered with two outs and struck out Riley Yamamoto to end the inning. Kramer marched back out for the seventh, retiring three of the four batters he faced to earn the save.
At Mid-Pacific field
| Iolani (4-5-1) | 200 | 001 | 0 | -- | 3 | 6 | 3 |
| Mid-Pacific (6-4) | 200 | 123 | x | -- | 8 | 12 | 0 |
Leading Hitters-- Iol: Marc Factora 2-2, HR; Greg Hackler 2-3; Marciel 1-3, HR, 2 RBIs. MPI: Nathan Rice 3-4, 2b, RBI; Kramer 3-4, 2 2bs, HR, 3 RBIs; Adam Tamashiro 2-3, 2b; Masuda 2b, 2 runs, RBI.
No. 5 Saint Louis 15, Maryknoll 1
Nainoa Campbell gave up just one run in five innings and Chester Wilson hit two doubles and drove in three runs as the Crusaders defeated the Spartans in just six innings due to the 10-run mercy rule.
Kelii Zablan and Jordan Duropan each drove in two runs for the Crusaders.
At Ala Wai Field
| Saint Louis (6-4) | 900 | 105 | -- | 15 | 13 | 4 |
| Maryknoll (1-9) | 100 | 000 | -- | 1 | 2 | 4 |
Leading hitters--StL: Chester Wilson 2-3, 2 2bs, 3 RBIs; Ryan Sasaki 2-3, 2b; Rick Miyamoto 2b; Jordan Duropan 2 RBIs; Kelii Zablan 2 RBIs.
No. 1 Kamehameha 12, Pac-Five 2
The top-ranked Warriors needed five innings to defeat the Wolf Pack as Erick Price gave up just five hits in earning the complete-game victory.
Aaron Nichols and Nick Freitas each doubled and tripled for the Warriors , who finished with eight extra-base hits. Nichols and Jamie Smeigh each drove in two runs.
Brett Honda had the Wolf Pack's only extra base hit with a double.
At Ala Wai Field
| Pac-Five (2-8) | 200 | 00 | -- | 2 | 5 | 2 |
| Kamehameha (9-1) | 320 | 34 | -- | 12 | 9 | 1 |
Leading hitters--Pac: Brett Honda 2b. Kam: Aaron Nichols 2-2, 2b, 3b, 2 RBIs; Nick Freitas 2-3, 2b, 3b; Jason Rego 2-3, 2b; Kamu Freitas 3b; Makena Kitamura 2b; Jamie Smeigh 2b, 2 RBIs.
No. 2 Punahou 9, Damien 4
Kasey Ko homered and drove in two runs and Bucky Aona and Kyle Fujimoto each drove in three runs as the Buffanblu defeated the Monarchs.
Scott Hiramoto picked up the win in relief of starter Paul Snieder, allowing just one run in three innings. Kai Higa had two hits to lead the Monarchs.
At Central Oahu Regional Park
| Damien (3-7) | 200 | 001 | 1 | -- | 4 | 8 | 2 |
| Punahou (8-1-1) | 000 | 153 | x | -- | 9 | 11 | 0 |
Leading hitters--Dam: Higa 2-4. Pun: Kyle Fujimoto 3b, 3 RBIs; Nakata 2b; Bucky Aona 2-3, 2b, 3 RBIs; Kasey Ko 3-4, HR, 2 RBIs; Steven Dannaway 2-4; Chock 2-3.
[News] [Business] [Features] [Sports] [Editorial] [Do It Electric!]
[Classified Ads] [Search] [Subscribe] [Info] [Letter to Editor]
[Feedback]
