StarBulletin.com

Pearl City's Neal 1-hits Campbell


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POSTED: Thursday, April 08, 2010

Pearl City pitcher Kahana Neal went into the game just trying to help his team stay on top of the OIA Red West. He ended up flirting with perfection.

Neal retired the first 15 batters in orde before giving up a leadoff single to start the sixth inning. He rebounded to dispatch the remaining six, as the top-ranked Chargers blanked No. 9 Campbell 4-0 yesterday at Pearl City.

The Chargers, the defending OIA champs, are ranked No. 1 in the Star-Bulletin Top 10, and improved to 9-0 in conference play, while the Sabers fell to 6-3.

Neal's only blemish in an otherwise perfect outing came in the top of the sixth when Sabers third baseman Cole Nagamine led off with a single to right.

“;I knew the situation going into the inning — maybe I was thinking about it a little too much,”; Neal said. “;After that, I just thought, what's done is done, moved on and went to work on the next batter.

“;After Nagamine got that hit, there wasn't anything I could do but stay focused and keep going for the win. We got the win, so that's just fine with me.”;

As Neal mastered his way through the Campbell lineup, the mood in the Pearl City dugout began to change. The high-fives and shouts of encouragement gave way to cautious silence, with perhaps a slight nod of acknowledgment to what was happening on the field.

“;After a while, no one said anything to him,”; said Chargers coach Gary Nakamoto. “;That's how it is in baseball. Nobody wanted to jinx him.

“;I could see him get a little upset, giving up the hit, but he didn't let it affect him. Kahana still got the win and that's good.”;

Pearl City gave Neal an early cushion with two runs in the first when third baseman Austin Bali hit a two-run double to deep center field, scoring Jonathan Kealoha and Chace Numata.

The Chargers padded their lead in the fourth when Chevas Numata singled to center, driving in Reid Ramos from second. Pearl City tacked on its final run in the bottom of the sixth when catcher Isaac Shim had a sacrifice bunt that moved Ramos to second. Royce Murai followed with a single to right that drove in the fourth and final run.

Campbell head coach Rory Pico was impressed with Neal's performance and saw it as a good lesson for his team, which will face Pearl City again Saturday.

“;He was hitting all his pitches today, not just for strikes, but a good overall command of the plate,”; Pico said. “;He threw it where he wanted to throw it and had a fantastic performance. I told my team that when a pitcher is out there throwing like that, you just have to get more aggressive.

“;He was getting to our hitters early in the count — they were down 0-2 before they even knew it. It is really tough to hit from behind with a pitcher like that. But we have to go back to work and see how to work when a guy is having a day like Kahana just did. We still have to find a way to put the ball in play and get guys on base in situations like this.”;

 

Pearl City 4, Campbell 0

                                                                                                                                                           
CAMPBELL0000000012
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Charles Kaaalekahi, Robert Kapana (5) and Chadwick Kaalekahi. Kahana Neal and Isaac Shim. W—Neal. L—Charles Kaalekahi.

Leading hitters—PC: Jonathan Kealoha 2-4, 2b; Austin Vali 2-2, 2 RBIs, 2b; Royce Murai 2-2, 2 RBIs.

 

OIA RED WEST

Leilehua 6, Kapolei 5

                                                                                                                                                           
LEILEHUA 0200202694
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Cyrus Ah Quin, Wayne Pacheco (5) and Aaron Higa. Cody Kamei and Brandon Damas. W—Pacheco. L—Kamei.

Leading hitters—Lei: Kenan Sadanoga 2-4, 2b, 2 runs; Bronson Smithe 2-4, run, RBI; Joshua Chandler RBI; Alfred Paas 2-3, 2b, 3b. Kapo: Kamei 2b; RBI; Christian Estabillo 2-4, 3b, 2 RBIs; Trent Hiramoto RBI.

Also
Aiea at Mililani, ppd. rain

 

OIA RED EAST

Kalani 11, Kalaheo 2

                                                                                                                                                           
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Pavli and Pagan. Devin Lee and Kiel Odo. W—Lee. L—Pavli.

Leading hitters—Kalh: none. Kaln: Devin Lee 2-2, 2b, 4 RBIs; Jace Shimabukuro 2-4, HR, 2 runs, 3 RBIs; Spencer Shiroma 2-2, 2 runs.

Moanalua 12, Kaiser 8

                                                                                                                                                           
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Jacob Fukuyama, Bronson Shim (7), Tim Arakawa (7) and Brandon Kong. Kaipo Oamilda-Scholtz, Royce Kuromoto (3), Austin Ortega (5), Tyler Lau (7) and Makana Lyman. W—Fukuyama. L—Oamilda-Scholtz.

Leading hitters—Moan: Kamalu Kamoku 4-4, HR, 2 RBIs; Shim 3b, RBI; Todd Takabuki 1-2, 2b, RBI; Jordan Deponte 2-4, 2b, 2 RBIs. Kais: Shane Tsutahara 1-3, HR, 4 RBIs; Landon Nakai 1-3, HR, RBI; Dennis Duro 2-3.

Kailua 4, Roosevelt 2

                                                                                                                                                           
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Billy Kamau and Cameron Fujikami. Ryan McMonigle and Alan Baldwin. W—McMonigle. L—Kamau.

Leading hitters—Roos: none. Kail: Kory Sasaoka 3b; McMonigle 2-3.

 

OIA WHITE

Kaimuki 3, Farrington 2

                                                                                                                                                           
FARRINGTON 0001100261
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Bradley Parras and Brysten Doctolero. Maa Tau, Eddie Char (6) and Char, Pono Ayers (6). W—Char. L—Parras.

Leading hitters—Far: Doctolero 2-3, 2b; Lester Calaro 2-3. Kaim: Kohta Nishitani 2-3; Char 2-3, 2b; Dallas Reis 2b.

Radford 10, Waipahu 3

                                                                                                                                                           
RADFORD 100018010141
WAIPAHU1001010375


Rylee Moore and Troy Evans. Drake Yoshioka, Sam Chee (5) and Aldrin Padilla. W—Moore. L—Yoshioka.

Leading hitters—Rad: Jobi Fontenot 3-5; Christian Espenshade 2-4, Jesus Tenorio 2-4; Joseph Mafnas 2-4; Damon Puskarick 2-4. Waip: Yoshioka 3b; Chee HR; Jonathan Casamina 2-3.

 

ILH SOFTBALL

'Iolani 3, Punahou 1

                                                                                                                                                           
PUNAHOU0100000140
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Jasmine Ioane and Kayla Shimoda. Nalani Taniguchi and Kryn Masutani. W—Taniguchi. L—Ioane.

Leading hitters—Pun: Shimoda 2-3, 2b, 3b; Ioane HR. Iol: Kimberlee Souza 3b, 2 RBIs.

 

OIA WHITE SOFTBALL

Kalaheo 6, Aiea 3

                                                                                                                                                           
KALAHEO2022000664
AIEA 0002001337


Sarah Fitzherbert, Teone Farley-Mahoe (4) and Tiffany Harada. Kelcie Takeuchi, Joe-Ann Rapoza (4) and Ashlei Liilii. W—Fitzherbert. L—Takeuchi.

Leading hitters—Kalh: Fitzherbert 2-4; Harada 2-4. Aiea: Tani Tauanuu 2-2, 3b.

Roosevelt 13, Kahuku 1 (Wednesday)

                                                                                                                                           
ROOSEVELT1264013163
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Lianna Bajarin and Lindsay Takekawa. Kellie Ching, Dalys Tapusoa (3) and Qiana Heffernan. W—Bajarin. L—Ching.

Leading hitters—Roos: Aimee Taniguchi 3-3, 2b, 3b, 2 RBIs; Leani Barinobis 3-4, HR, 3 RBIs; Bajarin 2-2, 3b; Maho Wada 2-3, 2 HR, 4 RBIs; Kamalei Pitoy 2-4; Takekawa HR.