Mid-Pacific shuts down Saint Louis

Mid-Pacific Baseball Inc. is in the business of creating offense out of seemingly nothing, and the Owls did it to perfection Saturday in a 2-0 victory over Saint Louis.

Left-hander Alex Oley on the mound and nine errorless fielders held the Crusaders to one hit, allowing No. 4 Mid-Pacific (7-3) to jump over No. 1 Saint Louis (6-3) and into an Interscholastic League of Honolulu first-place tie with No. 7 Kamehameha.

“We didn’t do anything offensively,” Crusaders head coach George Gusman said. “I did not give an offensive signal and had my hands in my pockets the whole game. We’ve only scored four runs in the last three games.”

The only hit Oley gave up was a one-out double to the second batter he faced, Taylor Meilleur, who was caught off second for a double play after a running catch by shortstop Jacob Maekawa of Kai Alquiza’s hard-to-reach pop-up to left. After that, Oley — who faced the minimum 21 batters — got 19 straight outs at Central Oahu Regional Park.

“He’s the best lefty in the state,” Gusman said. “Koa Eastlack at Mililani is pretty good, too. Alex was phenomenal today, and they played great defense and we didn’t have any hard hit balls.”

Saint Louis righty Chase Meilleur went the distance and was the tough-luck loser, allowing 10 hits. He kept Mid-Pacific off the board through four innings before the Owls’ systematic offense finally found gold. Hunter Hill led off the fifth by beating out an infield hit. Jacob Maekawa sacrificed Hill to second and Hill moved to third on Oley’s sharp liner down the third-base line off the glove of Brendan Uchima.

And then came a piece of right out of Baseball Folklore 101. Chase Wago hit a grounder to second base and, after a forceout at second, beat what would have been an inning-ending double-play throw to first by a split-second, with Hill scoring to make it 1-0.

“We do that every day, but it’s just baseball,” Mid-Pacific head coach Dunn Muramaru said about generating small-ball offense. “Wago was big, though. He pulled the ball. When I used to play for Dick Kitamura (who won a state title with Farrington in 1963) in summer ball, if there was a runner on first and third, he used to say to put the ball to the second baseman’s left, make him go that way. I never understood why he told us that until I started coaching and it’s because if a ground ball was to the left of the second baseman, he couldn’t turn the double play.

“When he came to the bench, I said to Wago (a lefty), ‘That’s how to pull the ball. He said, ‘I was looking for something to pull there, make sure the guy goes to his right.’ “

They train them well at Mid-Pacific Baseball Inc.

The Owls made it 2-0 in the sixth, the same old way. Cameron Wong singled and pinch runner Jarrod Infante moved up on Kyle Layugan’s sacrifice and to third on Trevin Tengan’s groundout before scoring on Zach Gushiken’s base hit.

“We’re all trying our best, all putting in our extra work,” the Crusaders’ Taylor Meilleur, one of three captains, said. “Baseball is a funny game, a game of failure. We just need to power through and stay together as a team and family.

“The ILH is great and Mid-Pac is great at manufacturing runs. They do the best with what they have. Every game is going to be tough. We just gotta come ready to play.”

Oley, who had three of the 10 hits off Chase Meilleur, talked about his mound rival.

“Chase, he’s always a hard pitcher to face,” Oley said. “He mixes his pitches up a lot and his brother calls a great game, too, behind the plate and they have a good defense. Saint Louis is also a great hitting team, so it was luck (on his own part), I guess.”

ILH DIVISION I BASEBALL

No. 4 Mid-Pacific 2, No. 1 Saint Louis 0

Alex Oley and Kyle Layugan. Chase Meilleur and Taylor Meilleur. W–Oley. L–C. Meilleur.

Leading hitters–MPI: Oley 3-3; Zach Gushiken 2-3; Hunter Hill 2-3. StL: T. Meilleur 2b.

No. 7 Kamehameha 9, No. 3 Punahou 3

Revan Wong batted 3-for-4 with two doubles and three RBIs to lead the Warriors over the Buffanblu.

Kawai Takemura and Makoa Mau each added two hits, two runs and two RBIs for Kamehameha.

Chase Miyasato, Kaliko Banquel (2), Ricky Costa (6) and Revan Wong. Kahi Bisho, Geoffrey Moore (3), David Zane (6), Chris Amemiya (7), Ethan Nakaoka (7) and Codey Kitagawa.

W–Banquel. L–Bisho.

Leading hitters–KS: Kawai Takemura 2-3, 2 RBIs, 2 runs; Makoa Mau 2-3, 2b, 2 RBIs, 2 runs; Wong 3-4, 2 2bs, 3 RBIs. Pun: Andrew Matsueda 2 runs.

‘Iolani 8, Maryknoll 3

Shane Sasaki doubled, tripled, scored twice and drove in two runs, and the Raiders had a four-run first inning in a victory over the Spartans.

Chayson Dularte had two RBIs for Maryknoll.

Matt Dunaway and Chayson Dularte. Everett Lau, Kaimana Bartolome (4), Ezra Heleski (6) and Devin Ide.

W–Lau. L–Dunaway.

Leading hitters–Mryk: Dularte 2-4, 2 RBIs; Jarin Kobashigawa 2-3. Iol: Shane Sasaki 2-2, 2b, 3b, 2 runs, 2 RBIs.

ILH DIVISION II BASEBALL

Damien 10, Hanalani 2

Jayden Cabbab’s home run highlighted the Monachs’ six-run third inning against the Royals.

Damien’s Milton Gainey allowed two runs and two hits over six innings.

Milton Gainey, Javin Cortez (7) and Kaimana Cameron. Chad Wakabayashi, Nick Garcia-Reid (3), Zane Pantil (7) and Reyn Romero, Aidan Koinui (7).

W–Gainey. L–Wakabayashi.

Leading hitters–Dam: Gainey 2-2; Grayson Bueno 2-4, 2 runs, 2 RBI; Jayden Cabbab HR, 2 RBIs.

St. Francis 7, Pac-Five 5

Jacob Poole and Zach Alcos each drove in two runs and Ian Phillips struck out 10 batters in a complete-game performance for the Saints.

Shandon Lagua drove in two runs for the Wolfpack.

Brandon Miyasato, Kama Goss (5), Trevor Kubo (5), Canaan Fernandez (7) and Jared Miyasato. Ian Phillips and Jared Yara.

W–Phillips. L–B. Miyasato.

Leading hitters–Pac: Matt Matsuda 2-3; J. Miyasato 2-4; Shandon Lagua 2b, 2 RBIs; Zane Oshiro 3b. StF: Jacob Poole 2-4, 2 RBIs; Zach Alcos 2 RBIs, 2 runs.

OIA DIVISION I EAST BASEBALL

No. 5 Kalani 2, Moanalua 1

Connor Zalewski pitched a two-hitter with no walks and four strikeouts and Harrison Moy hit a two-run double in the second inning as the Falcons beat Na Menehune.

Moanalua’s Tanner Inouye pitched a two-hitter.

Tanner Inouye and catcher not reported.Connor Zalewski and catcher not reported.

W–Zalewski. L–Inouye.

Leading hitter–Kaln: Harrison Moy 2b, 2 RBIs.

Roosevelt 15, Kaimuki 4

Hiram Kaikaina allowed one hit over five innings with seven strikeouts in the Rough Riders’ win over the Bulldogs.

Roosevelt’s Kekoa Lima went 3-for-5 with a home run, three runs and two RBIs.

Hiram Kaikaina, Kekoa Lima (6) and Jared Tamashiro. Kamaha’o Keoho, Bailey Uehara (4), Jamon Young (6) and Kobe Hedgar.

W–Kaikaina. L– Keoho.

Leading hitters–Roos: Lima 3-5, HR, 2 RBIs, 3 runs; Shayne Cazinha 2-3, 2b; Zack Harano 2-4, 2 RBIs, 2 runs; Thane Kim 2-5; Tamashiro 2b; Cameron Oshiro 2 runs; Riley Tanimura 2 runs. Kaim: Austin Inouye 2b, 2 runs.

Kailua 10, Castle 9

Dylan Kurahashi-Choy Foo went 2-for-2 with a triple and three RBIs, Noah Ah Yat scored three times and the Surfriders rallied to victory despite allowing seven runs in the first inning.

The Knights’ Kade Kaupiko drove in two runs and scored twice.

Matt Hanano, Cody Riturban (1), Brendan Odo (2), Bryson Ewaliko (2), Dylan Kurahashi-Choy Foo (4), Dalton Kalama (6) and Kila Thomas. Jonah Moniz-Jones, Noa Brown-Santiago (5), Maui Gaison (5) and Jordan Harvest.

W–Kurahashi-Choy Foo. L–Moniz-Jones.

Leading hitters–Kail: Kurahashi-Choy Foo 2-2, 3b, 3 RBIs; Noah Auld 2 runs; Lawson Faria 2-4, 2b, 2 RBIs; Noah Ah Yat 3 runs; Cody Takabuki 2b. Cast: Harvest 2-3; Inoa Robello 2-5; Gaison 2-3; Kade Kaupiko 2-3, 2b, 2 RBIs, 2 runs.

oia division i west baseball

No. 6 Mililani 4, Aiea 3

Rico Sallas scored the winning run on a throwing error by the pitcher in the bottom of the seventh inning as the Trojans defeated Na Alii.

Mililani’s Kaimana Souza-Paaluhi drove in three runs and Brennan Anzai pitched three hitless innings of relief for the victory.

Jake Saum, Kobe Kato (7) and Jake Nakamoto. Justin Ogasawara, Brennan Anzai (5) and Hunter Kirihara.

W–Anzai. L–Saum.

Leading hitters–Aiea: Bronson Nekomoto 2 RBI. Mil: Ryan Kono 2-3, 3b; Rico Sallas 3b, 2 runs; 3 RBIs.

Campbell 8, Waipahu 4

Roy Clemons batted 2-for-3 with four RBIs and the Sabers overcame a four-run first-inning deficit.

Campbell’s Jordan Macias scored twice and drove in three runs.

The Marauders’ Blazen Ferreira had two RBIs.

Jaron Sugimoto, Michael Price (4) and Cole Phillips. Nick Sampson, Ayzek Silva (4), Markus Ramos (6), Chad Samante (1) and Bronson Burr.

W–Silva. L–Sugimoto.

Leading hitters–Waip: Steven De Silva 2-3; Blazen Ferreira 2 RBIs; Kobie Russell 2-4. Camp: Roy Clemons 2-3, 4 RBIs; Jordan Macias 2 runs, 3 RBIs; Kainoa Ganancial 2-4.

Leilehua 3, Waianae 2

Christian Ontai pitched a five-hitter with nine strikeouts and hit a solo homer as the Mules topped the Seariders.

Leilehua’s Na’i Cordero drove in the go-ahead run on a sacrifice fly in the fifth inning.

Thomas Kaauwai and Ejay Kuakini. Christian Ontai and Jaryn Kanbara.

W–Ontai. L– Kaauwai.

Leading hitters–Wain: Tavita Lalau 2-4, 2b; Austin Keliinoi-Westbrook 2-3. Lei: Kawai Phifer 2 runs; Ontai 2-2, HR; Jaryn Kanbara 2-3.

OIA DIVISION II BASEBALL

Kalaheo 4, Farrington 1

Thomas Capllonch pitched a three-hitter with 12 strikeouts in the Mustangs’ victory over the Governors.

Kalaheo’s Mark Lehner drove in two runs.

Stanley Misioka, Trey Kaawa (6) and Brett Walden. Thomas Capllonch and Curtis Chung.

W–Capllonch. L–Misioka.

Leading hitters–Kalh: Kekai Smith 2-3, RBI; Mark Lehner 2 RBIs.

Kapolei 8, Radford 2

Kamea Wong scattered four hits over six innings and 10 Hurricanes recorded one hit in a victory over the Rams.

Wong walked one batter and struck out nine.

Isaac Badua scored twice and drove in two runs for Kapolei.

Carter Ogino, Jacob Nishitomi (4) and Dominic Albalos. Kamea Wong, Jacob Filio (7) and Mykah Kuratani.

W–Wong. L–Ogino.

Leading hitters–Rad: Nishitomi 2-3; Dominic Albalos 3b, 2 RBIs. Kapo: Isaac Badua 2 runs, 2 RBIs.

Waialua 10, Nanakuli 7, 8 inn.

The Bulldogs scored three runs in the top of the eighth inning and benefitted from seven errors against the Golden Hawks.

Mila Lele scored twice for Waialua.

Matthan Hatchie, Royce Tashiro (4) and Mila Lele. Chuck Hoopai and Chy Lute.

W–Tashiro. L–Hoopai.

Leading hitters–Wail: Lele 2b, 2 runs; Tashiro 2b; Hatchie 2-4, 2b. Nan: Lex Kunukau 2-4, 2 runs; Lute 4-4, 3 2bs, 2 runs.

McKinley 13, Kahuku 12, 8 inn.

Royden Espiritu scored the go-ahead run on a fielding error in the top of the eighth inning as the Tigers beat the Red Raiders.

Espiritu finished 2-for-3 with three runs.

Moon Pilanca-Parkin went 4-for-5 with two RBIs for the Red Raiders, who scored seven runs in the seventh.

Royden Espiritu, Noah Diaz (4), Cameron Fernandez (6) and Elijah Vincent, Espiritu (5). Elvis Dakapuna, Moon Pilanca-Parkin (5) and Moewaa Graycochea.

W–Fernandez. L–Pilanca-Parkin.

Leading hitters–McK: Espiritu 2-3, 3 run; Vincent 2-3; Diaz 2-5; Daven Woo 2-3; Jeremy Coloyan 2-4. Kah: Pilanca-Parkin 4-5, 2 RBI; Keawe Denis 3-5.

OIA DIVISION I EAST SOFTBALL

No. 6 Kaiser 8, Kailua 2

Seli Aholelei pitched a six-hitter and batted 3-for-4 with two runs and two RBIs as the Cougars remained undefeated in league play.

Skylar Nojima had two hits for the Surfriders.

Seli Aholelei and Tiana Ching-Lake. Dyani Cummings and Harley Teixeria.

W–Aholelei. L–Cummings.

Leading hitters–Kais: Aholelei 3-4, 2 runs, 2 RBI; Marissa Oda 2-4. Kail: Skylar Nojima 2-5.

Roosevelt 1, Castle 0, 8 inn.

Mika Emoto drove in the winning run in the bottom of the eighth inning and Mari Foster pitched a four-hitter in the Rough Riders’ win over the Knights.

Castle’s Mele Turner scattered eight hits in a complete-game performance.

Mele Turner and Moana Hillen. Mari Foster and Haylie Uetake.

W–Foster. L–Turner.

Leading hitters–Cast: Rayla Keanu 2-3. Roos: Tyra Wallrabenstein 2-4; Foster 2-4.

Moanalua 25, McKinley 0, 4 inn.

Makamae Kaleikini and Shanelle Lum each drove in four runs and Na Menehune had 25 hits in a rout of the Tigers.

Kyler Tsukada and Lum combined on a three-hitter.

Kyler Tsukada, Shanelle Lum (3) and Raven Rosa-Lasco. Pam Espinda, Whitney Pauso (3) and Aga Viengmany, Mariah Makuakane (3).

W–Tsukada. L–Espinda.

Leading hitters–Moan: Makamae Kaleikini 3-3, 2b, 3b, 4 RBIs, 3 runs; Taylor Takushi 3-3, 3b, 3 RBIs, 3 runs; Lum 4-5, 2b, 4 RBIs, 2 runs; Iyana Reed 3-4, 3 runs; Tsukada 2-3, 3 RBIs, 2 runs; Rosa-Lasco 3-4, 2 runs; Genice Gabriel 3-5, 3 RBIs, 3 runs; Megan Oshiro 2 runs; Lacey Wilson-Pena 2-3, 3b, 3 RBIs, 3 runs. McK: Espinda 2-2.

OIA DIVISION I WEST SOFTBALL

No. 2 Mililani 10, Leilehua 1

Misha Carreira and Aubree Kim combined on a three-hitter and Kristen Ishii homered twice as the Trojans beat the Mules.

Carreira struck out nine batters over six innings.

Markie Okamoto and Merilis Rivera also homered for Mililani.

Misha Carreira, Aubree Kim (7) and Markie Okamoto. Chasity Stalcup, Kaena Nistal (5) and Staisa Micky.

W–Carreira. L–Stalcup.

Leading hitters–Mil: Keri Togami 2b, 2 RBIs; Merilis Rivera 2-4, HR, 2 RBIs; Kristen Ishii 2-4, 2 HRs, 2 RBIs, 2 runs; Jerae Keliikoa 2-3, 3b; Brooke Yasuda 3-3, 2 runs; Okamoto HR.

Also

Waianae 12, Waipahu 9

OIA DIVISION II SOFTBALL

Kalani 4, Kalaheo 3, 8 inn.

Jaycee-Ann Faruya singled in the winning run in the bottom of the eighth inning as the Falcons beat the Mustangs.

Faruya finished 3-for-5 and also homered.

Michelle Sasaki and Elise McCabe. Cherise Orita and Kylie Pagud.

W–Orita. L–Sasaki.

Leading hitters–Kalh: Tiffany Beach HR, 2 RBIs; Sasaki 2-5. Kaln: Jaycee-Ann Faruya 3-5, HR, 2 RBIs, April Kochi 2-4.

Nanakuli 17, Kahuku 4, 5 inn.

Chalyssa Belford and Kaila Burnett combined on a one-hitter and Daria Kawaauhau and Chabrynne Kekua each drove in three runs in the Golden Hawks’ win over the Red Raiders.

Sorensen, Aumua (3) and Uli. Chalyssa Belford, Kaila Burnett (4) and Burnett, Karmen Aiwohi (4).

W–Belford. L–Sorensen.

Leading hitters–Kah: Alo 2b. Nan: Burnett 2 runs, 2 RBIs; Kama Kaeo 3 runs; Daria Kawaauhau 2-3, 2b, 2 runs, 3 RBIs; Ashley VanGieson 2 runs; Belford 2 RBIs; Chabrynne Kekua 2-2, 2 runs; 3 RBIs; Minei Daley 3 runs.

Nanakuli 26, Kahuku 0, 5 inn.

Keani Sonognini-Keopuhiwa pitched a two-hitter and Kaila Burnett and Daria Kawaauhau each scored four times and drove in four runs in the Golden Hawks’ victory.

Keani Sonognini-Keopuhiwa and Karmen Aiwohi, Kaila Burnett (4). Sorenson, Aumua (3), Sorenson (4) and Uli, Heffernan (4).

W–Sonognini-Keopuhiwa. L–Sorenson.

Leading hitters–Nan: Sonognini-Keopuhiwa 3 runs; Burnett 2-2, 2b, 4 runs, 4 RBIs; Kama Kaeo 2-3; Chalyssa Belford 2 RBIs; Daria Kawaauhau 3-4, 2b, 4 runs, 4 RBIs; Ashley VanGieson 2b, 3 runs; Ray Meyers-Kahalehoe 2 runs; Daley 2 runs, 3 RBIs; Chabrynne Kekua 2-5, 2b, 2 runs, 3 RBIs; Aiwohi 2-5, 3 runs, 2 RBIs.

Also

Radford 10, Farrington 0, 5 inn.

Farrington 10, Radford 9, 8 inn.

Note: Radford is 3-3, Farrington is 3-2.