Kailua took one on the chin 7-4 in the opening game of a doubleheader with Oahu Interscholastic Association Red Conference East Division rival Castle yesterday afternoon at Kailua's home field.

However, after letting the loss fester during a half-hour break, the Surfriders, ranked No. 4 in the Star-Bulletin Baseball Top 10, responded by spanking the Knights 17-2 in the second game of the double dip. The split pushed Kailua's OIA Red East-leading record to 8-2, while Castle moved to 4-6 and kept its postseason hopes alive.

After starting the season 3-1, the Knights dropped four straight contests before finally breaking through yesterday against a sloppy Surfriders squad that committed two throwing errors in the first inning that led to three unearned runs. Castle also took advantage of four Kailua walks and two hit batsmen and scored runs on a wild pitch in the third inning and a passed ball in the fourth en route to taking a 7-1 advantage through four frames.

“;The first game, we weren't mentally ready from the beginning, and it showed,”; said Kailua coach Corey Ishigo. “;A lot of mental errors and mistakes were made out on the field, but I think our guys are resilient enough to forget about things. I know how we're capable of playing, and we've got to play like that all the time, not just when we feel like it.”;

While Branden Higa and Justin Ka'awa provided the majority of the Knights' offense with an RBI single each in the third inning, Castle starting pitcher Seamus Yoneshige anchored his squad with a solid complete-game effort. The southpaw threw 68 of 111 pitches for strikes and limited the usually potent Kailua offense to three earned runs on seven hits while striking out two.

“;Seamus needed to come out with his A game today, and he did,”; said Jason Berinobis, Castle's first-year head coach. “;Our game plan was to keep the momentum on our side, and just coming out believing that we could beat Kailua. The first game was a big win for us.”;

Kailua attempted to chip away at the deficit in the seventh frame as Kale Sumner led off the inning with his second double of the game, moved to third on Reyn Matsuki's single up the middle, and came plateward on Ryan McMonigle's sacrifice fly.

The run brought Kailua to within three runs of the lead. But with the potential tying runner in the on-deck circle, Yoneshige got Tyson Lono and Alan Baldwin to fly out, and ended the threat.

“;He was mixing up his pitches well, and kept us off balance,”; Ishigo said of Yoneshige.

Kailua starter Jared Matsumoto struggled with his control and took the loss. The left hander exited after surrendering six runs—three earned—on five hits through 2 2/3 innings.

Game 2 was never in doubt for the Surfriders, and the Kailua offense woke its sleeping bats to the tune of 17 runs on 16 hits in the first four innings. Ten players scored runs for Kailua, including Jared Iha and Baldwin, who scored three runs apiece.

Sumner highlighted the Surfriders' hitting clinic, notching three doubles—one to each field—and driving in three runs. Kory Sasoka, Keoki Reis-Moniz and Bobby Lastimosa also notched three RBIs apiece in support of Kailua.

Bryson Gauthe cruised to the victory, as the Surfriders starter surrendered two runs on two hits through four innings. Castle hurler Keola Jarrett was peppered for 10 runs on as many hits, and left after 2 1/3 innings.

“;We're starting to fill in the missing pieces now, but there's still a lot more we need to get down before the postseason,”; Ishigo said prior to his team's Senior Day festivities following the game. “;Hopefully, this was a step in the right direction.”;

Both squads conclude their regular seasons with doubleheaders on Saturday. Kailua travels to Moanalua for a pair, while Castle will host a twin bill with Roosevelt. Both opening games are slated for 11 a.m.

OIA RED EAST BASEBALL

No. 10 Moanalua sweeps Kalaheo

Ryan Cortez belted a grand slam to lead Na Menehune to a 17-1 victory over the Mustangs in Game 1, then added two more RBIs in a 10-3 victory in Game 2.

Three Moanalua pitchers held Kalaheo to one run on six hits in the first game. Tim Arakawa led Na Menehune in the second, hitting two triples and driving in two.

No. 10 Moanalua 17, Kalaheo 1, 6 innings

No. 10 Moanalua 10, Kalaheo 3

Kaiser sweeps Roosevelt

The Cougars pulled out a 7-5 victory in game one before pummeling the Rough Riders 10-0 in the second match-up.

In the first game, Kaiser's Joel Honma hit a sacrifice fly in the seventh inning to bring in the go-ahead run. Kekoa Torres pitched a two-hitter in Game 2, assisted by twelve hits from the Cougars.

Kaiser 7, Roosevelt 5

Kaiser 10, Roosevelt 0, 5 innings

OIA RED WEST BASEBALL

Campbell sweeps Leilehua

The Sabers outlasted the Mules 8-7 in the first game before posting a 3-0 shutout in the second.

Keanu Kapana went 2-for-3 with a grand slam and five RBIs to lead Campbell in the first contest.

Campbell 8, Leilehua 7

Campbell 3, Leilehua 0

OIA WHITE BASEBALL

Waipahu, Radford split

Ed Agag singled in the top of the sixth inning to give the Marauders a four-run lead and Waipahu held off the Rams 5-3 in the first game of their doubleheader.

Brad Osborne singled in the top of the ninth inning of the second game, driving in two runners for Radford in the 8-7 win and handing Waipahu its first loss in the OIA White Conference.

Waipahu 5, Radford 3

Radford 8, Waipahu 7, 9 inn.

McKinley, Kahuku split

Kurtis Kometani doubled in the top of the seventh inning to drive in two runs and lift the Tigers past the Red Raiders 13-11 in the first game.

Cody Reyes struck out seven batters as Kahuku won the second game 8-5.

McKinley 13, Kahuku 11

Kahuku 8, McKinley 5

Kaimuki sweeps Farrington

Ma'anoa Tau hit a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the seventh inning to lead the Bulldogs over the Governors 10-9 in the first game.

In the second game, Eddie Char drove in three runs and scored four in an 18-5 rout shortened by the 10-run rule.

Kaimuki 10, Farrington 9

Kaimuki 18, Farrington 5, 5 inn.

BIIF BASEBALL

Konawaena 13, Keaau 3

OIA RED EAST SOFTBALL

Moanalua 8, Kaimuki 4

Moanalua 13, Kaimuki 2, 6 inn.

OIA RED WEST SOFTBALL

No. 7 Kapolei 3, No. 1 Mililani 2, 8 innings

No. 1 Mililani 12, No. 7 Kapolei 2, 5 innings

Campbell 6, Leilehua 3

Campbell 5, Leilehua 1

OIA WHITE SOFTBALL

Kaiser 9, McKinley 4

Kaiser 7, McKinley 4

ILH SOFTBALL

Mid-Pacific 1, St. Francis 0