CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARBULLETIN.COM Leilehua's John Olley improved to 2-1 with a complete-game victory over Aiea yesterday

Leilehua hands road-stuck Aiea a 6-2 loss

The Leilehua Mules had no time to pity the Aiea Na Alii.

Never mind that Aiea is stuck with road games for the rest of the season. Leilehua parlayed a big first inning and another strong effort by hurler John Olley for a key 6-2 win yesterday at Central Oahu Regional Park.

Leilehua (11-4 overall) bumped Aiea from its perch atop the Oahu Interscholastic Association West. Both teams are now 4-1 in league play, and the win was even sweeter for Mules coach Mike Kim.

"I can't explain it," Kim said. "That's my alma mater. All those guys were my coaches."

Kim didn't quite have peace of mind coming into the game.

"Yesterday was a horrible practice. They slacked off. Oh yeah, we got on 'em," Kim said.

Aiea coach Ryan Kato remained optimistic.

"We fought. These kids have the uncanny sense of resilience. They always come back late in games," he said, referring to wins over Mililani, Waianae and Campbell. "The most important thing right now is that we don't hang our heads. We've got to get ready for Pearl City on Monday."

His team's home field, a City and County facility, is off limits due to a construction project that has been prolonged by the recent spell of bad weather.

Olley (2-1) scattered seven hits and did not walk a batter to secure his second win in five days.

"This game has been weighing on us all week," the senior right-hander said. "We're both good teams. It's all where the ball bounces."

Olley mixed and placed his fastball and slider consistently. Kim was more than happy with his ace pitcher.

"John really came through. And our coaches called all the right pitches. Plus (pitching coach) Brendan (Sagara) does a great job with all the pitchers," he said.

Misfortune for the eighth-ranked Na Alii (7-8 overall) came in other forms besides the loss of its home field. Ace Cody Aquino was scratched when his illness developed into a case of strep throat.

Shane Koga got the start instead, and he was roughed up in the top of the first inning for all six Mule runs.

"Koga got the ball over the plate," Kato said. "Leilehua just hit the ball. They earned it."

Three of Leilehua's first four batters were hit by pitches or walked. That set up an RBI bloop single by Sevy Tolentino.

A tough grounder by Mel Ferreira got past first base to bring in two more Mule runs for a 3-0 lead. Koga, who had been warned earlier about not setting during his delivery from the stretch, balked in the next run.

Casey Yamaguchi followed with a 390-foot double to dead center, bringing home Ferreira for a 5-0 Leilehua lead.

Yamaguchi came in to score on a ground single to right by Delbert Macanas to give Olley a comfortable cushion to start with.

Aiea's leadoff hitter, Tripper Chung, blasted a towering home run well over the 330-foot sign in left on the first pitch from Olley.

"I knew it was a mistake pitch. I left it up," said Olley, who struck out two. "I see everything as a challenge. That mistake made me focus on what I had to do more."

Aiea added another run in the third on doubles by Chung and Derek Grace, but didn't threaten again until the seventh. That's when Na Alii put runners in scoring position, but Chung popped out behind the plate, and Grace grounded into a fielder's choice to end the contest.