Kailua locks up OIA East

The term "Kailua baseball" is becoming synonymous with late-inning comebacks and game-winning hits.

Most importantly for the Surfriders, it also generally means championships.

Winners of five of the past seven Oahu Interscholastic Association titles, No. 5 Kailua took the first step toward another league crown by scoring three runs in the final two innings to hold off a stubborn Roosevelt team 5-4 yesterday. The win clinched the OIA East regular-season title and a first-round bye in next week's playoffs.

After Roosevelt (7-2-1) scored two runs in the top of the seventh to tie the game at 4, Kailua (9-1) loaded the bases in the bottom of the inning before Preston Nakata's slow roller to first base was bobbled by Kelson Okimoto, allowing Kale Sumner to cross the plate with the winning run.

"I was already past the first baseman, so I didn't see what happened," Nakata said. "When I hit it, I figured even if he caught it cleanly he'd have a hard time throwing out our guy at the plate."

Nakata also picked up the win in relief of starting pitcher Zach Akamine, but gave up the tying runs in the top of the seventh inning.

Akamine's two-run double with two outs in the bottom of the sixth gave Kailua a 4-2 lead and Nakata looked to have things in control by retiring the first two batters in the top of the seventh. Justin Otaguro, who finished with three hits, kept the inning alive with a double and moved to third on an error on a pickoff attempt. Nick Wong walked and Christian Awaya singled home Otaguro to make the score 4-3.

Okimoto then hit a ground ball to second for what should have been the final out, but freshman Jared Iha bobbled the ball to load the bases. Tyler Nitahara then smacked a 1-2 pitch to left field to drive in Wong, but Awaya was thrown out at the plate to keep the game tied at 4.

At Kailua H.S. field

Roosevelt (7-2-1)	100	100	2	--	4	8	3
Kailua (9-1)	020	002	1	--	5	9	3

Zach Akamine, Marcus Mathews (2), Preston Nakata (3) and Rayner Yokoi. Keoni Manago, Nick Wong (7) and Tyler Nitahara. W--Nakata. L--Manago.

Leading hitters--Roos: Manago solo HR; Justin Otaguro 3-3, 2b, run. Kail: Zach Akamine 1-4, 2b, 2 RBIs; Kainoa Uemoto 2-4, 2b; Nakata 2-4, 2b, 2 sb's, 2 runs; Rob DeMarsh 2-2, run, RBI.

Kaiser 8, McKinley 5

Toby Inouye and Matt Morinaka collected two RBIs apiece as the Cougars downed the Tigers.

At Kaiser H.S. field

McKinley (3-6)	410	000	0	--	5	5	1
Kaiser (7-3)	420	000	2	--	8	7	2

Michael Estes and Kelsen Ganelen. Brent Takaki, Zach Wong (1), Toby Inouye (4) and Bryce Marcouiller. W--Inouye. L--Estes.

Leading hitters--McK: Jonathan Ho 2-4, 2 RBIs; Roger Kraemer 2b, 2 RBIs. Kais: Dustin Dela Pena 3 runs; Inouye 2 RBIs; Matt Morinaka 2 RBIs.

Kalaheo 13, Farrington 9, 5 inn. (darkness)

Alika Kaanapu collected three hits and drove in three runs to lead the Mustangs.

At Lanakila Field

Kalaheo (3-6-1)	306	40	--	13	10	2
Farrington (0-10)	410	04	--	9	8	4

Talon Wemple, Richard Preza (1), Donovan Correa (4), Kyle Okumura (5) and Steven Vega. Daimond Pedro, Allan Lumansoc (4) and Brysn Sagundo. W--Preza. L--Pedro.

Leading hitters--Kalh: Correa 3-5, 3b, RBI, 3 runs; Alika Kaanapu 3-5, 2b, 3 RBIs; Sheldon Kalai 2b, RBI; Kord Walls 2 RBIs, 2 runs; Preza 2 RBIs, 2 runs. Farr: Lumansoc 2-3, 2 runs; Pedro 2-4, 2 runs; Sagundo 2-4, 2b, 3 RBIs.

Moanalua 11, Kaimuki 0, 5 inn.

Three Na Menehune pitchers allowed one hit en route to the rout over the visiting Bulldogs.

At Moanalua H.S. field

Kaimuki (1-9)		000	00	--	0	1	2
Moanalua (6-4)		702	2x	--	11	11	1

Masashi Kimura, Ian Delizo (2), Darren Muramoto (4) and Muramoto, Delizo (4). Keith Kunitake, Jared Kaloma (3), Kainoa Kaulukukui (5) and Chris Liu-Saguid, Sheldon Mow (2). W--Kaloma. L--Kimura.

Leading hitters--Moan: Jay Yoshizawa 2-2, RBI, 2b; Josh Horikawa 2b, 2 RBIs; Travis Harada 2b; Kekoa Lee 2-3, 3b, 3 RBIs; Sean Amorozo 3b.

Kalani 3, Castle 1

Micah Takahashi fanned seven batters as the Falcons defeated the Knights and claimed second place in the OIA East.

At Kahala Community Park

Castle (6-3-1)	000	100	0	--	1	5	0
Kalani (7-2)	210	000	x	--	3	4	1

Pulama Silva and Lyle Kitagawa. Micah Takahashi, Shamus Kumashiro (7) and Jason Lee. W--Takahashi. L--Silva. S--Kumashiro.

Leading hitters--Cas: Coby Agres 2-3; Trevor Okumura 2b. Kaln: Ridge Carpenter 2-3, 2b.