Pearl City makes Kailua pay
POSTED: Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Kailua pitcher Alika Ramseyer-Ho committed two mental errors, and unfortunately for him and his squad, those cerebral lapses cost the Surfriders a championship.
The reliever balked in a run in the fifth inning, and with a runner on third base in the seventh and one out, Ramseyer-Ho fielded a ground ball and mistakenly threw Royce Murai out at first, allowing Chace Numata—who tripled to lead off the inning—to score the winning run as Pearl City defeated Kailua 2-1 in the Oahu Interscholastic Association Red Conference championship game last night at Hans L'Orange Park.
Pearl City, ranked No. 1 in the Star-Bulletin Baseball poll, improved to a perfect 15-0 in league play (28-2 overall), and claimed its third consecutive OIA Red crown as the top-seeded squad from the OIA Red West Division.
The Chargers will most likely earn the top seed in next week's state baseball championship tournament, as it looks to improve upon a runner-up finish in 2007 and a third-place standing last season. The OIA receives five berths in the state tourney, so the No. 4 Surfriders qualify for the state tourney as well.
“;We didn't hit the ball, but our pitching and defense kept us in the game,”; said Pearl City coach Gary Nakamoto. “;Kailua is a great team, but we're just lucky to have the breaks. The last play was crucial. It was a tough loss for them and a good win for us.”;
Kailua (13-19, 11-4 OIA) landed on the wrong end of a controversial call in the top of the seventh inning that ended a promising Surfriders scoring threat.
Kory Sasaoka reached base to begin the frame on Pearl City third baseman Chevas Numata's throwing error on a routine ground ball. After Jared Iha sacrificed him to second and Kale Sumner was intentionally walked, Chargers reliever Kahana Neal plunked Reyn Matsuki with a 0-2 fastball to load the bases.
However, Neal got ensuing batter Ryan McMonigle to ground to shortstop. Sasaoka was thrown out at home and was called for interference as he, according to the plate umpire, slid outside the base path and hooked catcher Carlton Tanabe's leg. The heavily scrutinized play resulted in Sasaoka being called out on the force play, and McMonigle, by rule, was out on the interference to end the inning.
“;You can look at the slide mark for yourself. It went straight into the (plate). (Sasaoka) did not interfere with the catcher—he has a right to slide straight into the (plate),”; said Kailua coach Corey Ishigo, who took pictures with a personal camera of the home-plate area following the game. “;You can take a picture of it and I'll show you myself—the slide went straight into the (plate). A rule is a rule; it's not a judgment call.
“;We'll be ready for states, but today, sorry everybody came to watch the umpire,”; Ishigo said.
The Chargers scored their first run in the fifth frame as their first two batters, Bronson Oda and Micah Turell, reached on errors by Kailua shortstop Elia Lono. Royce Murai moved the runners over with a sacrifice bunt, and Ishigo brought in Ramseyer-Ho from third base to preserve the advantage.
Ramseyer-Ho got two strikes on pinch hitter Kala Neal, but balked before his next pitch, allowing Oda to score from third. But the hurler kept his composure and, after Terry Ryan was thrown out trying to steal second, got Jordan Oshiro to fly out to right field, and ended the inning with the score knotted at 1-1.
Iha was responsible for Kailua's lone run, as the Surfriders second baseman led off the third frame by yanking a Kawika Pruett fastball over the left-field fence for a home run to put Kailua up 1-0.
The teams have more than a week to rest and prepare for the state championship tournament, which gets under way May 6 at Les Murakami Stadium.
“;The kids worked hard to get back to states again this year, and winning the OIA again, that was a plus for us,”; Nakamoto said. “;We won the OIA, so it's all gravy right now.”;
At Hans L'Orange Park
| Kailua (11-4) | 001 | 000 | 0 | — | 1 | 5 | 2 |
| Pearl City (15-0) | 000 | 010 | 1 | — | 2 | 3 | 1 |
Bryson Gauthe, Alika Ramseyer-Ho (5) and Alan Baldwin. Jordan Schweitzer, Kawika Pruett (2), Kahana Neal (5) and Carlton Tanabe. W—Neal. L—Ramseyer-Ho.
Leading hitters: Kail: Jared Iha HR. PC: Chace Numata 3b, run; Royce Murai RBI.
ILH baseball
No. 3 Iolani 6, Saint Louis 4
The Raiders scored five runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to come back for the win over the Crusaders in the fourth round of the Interscholastic Leage of Honolulu double-elimination tournament.
Jensen Park led 'Iolani at the plate with two hits, including a double.
The Raiders will host No. 7 Punahou today for a chance to play Kamehameha for the tournament championship. 'Iolani and Kamehameha have already locked up spots in the state tournament.
| Saint Louis (9-9) | 100 | 102 | 0 | — | 4 | 6 | 1 |
| 'Iolani (14-4) | 100 | 005 | x | — | 6 | 8 | 2 |
Sheldon Lee, JR Bunda (4), Trent Miyashiro (5), Brett Watanabe (6), Jarrett Arakawa (6), Breland Almadova and Grant Iwamoto. Chris Chung, Kaeo Aliviado (6), Kini Enos (6) and Jordan Fukumoto. W—Arakawa. L—Chung. S—Almadova.
Leading hitters: StL: Lucas Gonsalves 2b, 2 RBIs; Kaden Kamoe 2b, RBI. 'Iol: Jensen Park 2-4, 2b, RBI, 2 runs; Almadova 2b, 2 RBIs, run; Arakawa 2-4, RBI.
