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Chase Meilleur doesn’t do the chasing.
The senior ace didn’t have a clean feel for his curveball, so he let his fastballs and changeups do the work. Meilleur went six innings, allowing just one earned run while scattering eight hits as Saint Louis stifled Kamehameha 6-2 on a long Saturday afternoon at Ala Wai Field.
Saint Louis improved to 8-2 in Interscholastic League of Honolulu baseball action, moving into a tie with Kamehameha.
Meilleur has been steady all season, poised and trusting his defense. Of the 18 outs he recorded over six frames, 10 were fly balls and one was a pop-up. Kamehameha’s normally lethal hitters were consistently in front of Meilleur’s offerings. He struck out one and walked one while tossing 83 pitches, and Dawson Yamaguchi got the final three outs.
It was all the more impressive because of the strange start to the game. The chief umpire did not show up and his crew could not locate him. When a replacement was found and arrived at the field, the game had been on hold for 81 minutes after the scheduled 3 p.m. start time.
That may have thrown off the timing and rhythm of Kamehameha’s starting pitcher, Christian DeJesus. The talented sophomore looked powerful at times, and wild at others. He went two innings, throwing 63 pitches, striking out two, walking three, hitting two batters and uncorking one wild pitch. Two of Saint Louis’ first three runs were earned.
“They’re the home team, so it was harder for them. Their starting pitcher warmed up two times. I didn’t really have to get warmed up yet because we were the visitors,” Meilleur observed. “Our coaches were talking to the umpire (during the delay) and he told us, ‘We can’t find our umpire.’ “
Kamehameha coach Tommy Perkins was instructed to get his team ready early in the delay.
“The (base) umpire who does the lines said we’re playing in five minutes. It was 3:10,” Perkins said. “But I’m not going to make excuses. We didn’t play our best. We were trying to do too much at the plate, trying to drive everything instead of just putting it in play. It was the same thing last time.”
That last time was the regular-season opener on Feb. 24 at Hans L’Orange Field, when Meilleur went the distance for a four-hitter, outdueling Warriors ace Hunter Breault.
“It’s like I’ve said, Chase is our bulldog. They keep coming after him and they kept chasing his first pitches,” Crusaders coach George Gusman said.
Saint Louis stranded runners at the corners in the first frame, and Kamehameha took a 1-0 lead moments later.
Kawai Takemura led off the bottom of the first with a single to left and Logan Salcedo followed with another single to left. Nakoa Hanohano grounded into a textbook 6-4-3 double-play, except that shortstop Keith Torres’ throw to first was off-line, allowing Takemura to score all the way from second base.
Saint Louis scored three times in the second. Charles Lopez was hit by a pitch, Hunter Peneueta reached base on an outfield error, and Lopez scored on a single to center by Makana Ontai. With two outs, Dylan Pagente walked and D.J. Stephens followed with a single to center, scoring Peneueta and Ontai for a 3-1 lead.
From there, Meilleur was in control despite Takemura’s bat. Takemura belted a one-out triple in the third and a two-out double in the fifth, but was stranded both times.
The Crusaders added two runs in the top of the fourth. Pagente and Stephens walked with two outs against reliever Jace Borja, and Matt Wong walloped a triple to deep left, scoring both baserunners for a 5-1 lead.
Saint Louis tacked on an insurance run in the sixth. Pagente reached base on a fielder’s choice and Stephens reached base on an infield error. Wong then singled to left, plating Pagente for a 6-1 lead.
PREP SCOREBOARD
ILH DIVISION I BASEBALL
No. 4 Saint Louis 6, No. 2 Kamehameha 2
At Ala Wai Field
>> Saint Louis (7-2) 030 201 0 — 6 6 1
>> Kamehameha (7-2) 100 001 0 — 2 7 2
Chase Meilleur, Dawson Yamaguchi (7) and Kai Perreira-Alquiza. Christian DeJesus, Jace Borja (3), Kamaha‘o Arita (6), Vance Miyamoto (7) and D.J. Stephens. W—Meilleur. L—DeJesus.
Leading hitters— Saint Louis: Stephens 1-3, run, RBI; Matt Wong 2-3, 3b, 3 RBIs; Charles Lopez 1-3, run; Makana Ontai 1-3, RBI. Kamehameha: Kawai Takemura 3-3, 2b, 3b, run; Kalamaku Kuewa 1-4, 2b, run; Dylan Salcedo 1-2, RBI.
‘Iolani 7, No. 6 Punahou 6
At Ala Wai Field
>> ‘Iolani (3-6) 200 041 0 — 7 10 1
>> Punahou (6-3) 014 001 0 — 6 8 1
Trevor Ichimura, Jonah Miyazawa (7) and Blake Hiraki. Kahi Bisho, Beau Whittaker (5), Riley Guieb (5) and Matthew Nakamoto. W—Ichimura. L—Bisho. S—Miyazawa.
Leading hitters— Iolani: Shane Sasaki 3-4, 3 2bs, run; Zack Kon 2-3, 2 RBIs; Micah Yonamine 2-3, 2b, run, 2 RBIs; Aaron Ujimori 2-4, 3b, 3 RBIs. Punahou: Kai Terada-Herzer 3-3, 2b, RBI; Collin Freeman 2b, 2 runs, 3 RBIs.
Mid-Pacific 5, No. 7 Maryknoll 2
At Ala Wai Field
>> Mid-Pacific (3-6) 000 001 4 — 5 6 1
>> Maryknoll (1-8) 000 110 0 — 2 7 4
Carter Rustad, JT Nevyac (6) and Kyle Layugan. Matthew Dunaway, Shane Himeda (7), Justice Yamashita (7), Kody Miyamoto (7) and Chayson Dulatre. W—Nevyac. L—Himeda.
Leading hitters— MPI: Ryne Aniya 2-4, RBI; Jet Uechi 2-3. Maryknoll: S. Himeda 2-3, 2b; Maddux Miyasato 2-2, 2b; Jonah Chinen 3b, RBI.
ILH DIVISION II BASEBALL
Damien 20, Hanalani 5, 5 inn.
At Central Oahu Regional Park
>> Damien (6-4) 462 53 — 20 16 1
>> Hanalani (0-10) 201 20 — 5 3 7
Chayne Wayton, Shilo Kaeo (3), Devin Shimabukuru (4), Dylan Tapat (5) and Kana Schuman. Robbie Jacobs-Kea, Laramie DeSoto (4), Nick Garcia-Reid (5) and Chad Wakabayashi. W—Wayton. L—Jacobs-Kea.
Leading hitters— Damien: Akila Arechi 2-3, 4 runs; Jordan Donahue 3-5, 2b, 4 runs, 4 RBIs; Pomai Kim 2-5, run, 2 RBIs; Grayson Bueno 2-3, 2b, 2 runs, 2 RBIs; Kayson Kajiwara 2-3, 2 2bs, 2 runs, 2 RBIs; Shimabukuru 2b, RBI. Hanalani: Seth Willams 2b, RBI; Max Ares 2b, 2 RBIs.
Pac-Five 5, St. Francis 4
At Central Oahu Regional Park
>> Pac-Five (5-5) 101 300 0 — 5 5 3
>> St. Francis (9-1) 010 030 0 — 4 6 4
Brooks Horton, Brandon Miyasato (5), Blaise Wada (5) and Jared Miyasato. James Yamasaki, Kiyo Perry (5) and Makana Poole. W—Horton. L—Yamasaki.
Leading hitters— Pac-Five: Kama Goss 2-4, 3 runs, RBI. St. Francis: Bubba Akana 2-3, run; Perry 2b; Zach Alcos 3b, 2 RBIs.
OIA EAST BASEBALL
No. 5 Kailua 4, Kaiser 1
At Kaiser
>> Kailua (5-2) 020 000 2 — 4 6 2
>> Kaiser (3-4) 100 000 0 — 1 6 2
Joey Cantillo, Jalen Ah Yat (6) and Kalua Neves. Steven Miyata, Chase Asuncion (7) and Kainoa Torres. W—Cantillo. L—Miyata.
Leading hitters— Kailua: Matthew Kaleiohi 2 runs; Cody Riturban 3-4, 2 RBIs; Dylan Kurahashi Choy Foo 2 RBIs. Kaiser: Kainoa Craig 2-3; Antonio Omphroy 2-3, 2b.
Roosevelt 2, Moanalua 1
At Roosevelt
>> Moanalua (4-3) 000 100 0 — 1 3 0
>> Roosevelt (4-3) 000 200 x — 2 7 1
Christian Capinia, Skyler Yamamoto (4), Ryne Oshiro (6) and Andrew Oasay. Hiram Kaikaina and Kekoa Lima. W—Kaikaina. L—Yamamoto.
Leading hitters—Moanalua: Randy Tabura 2b. Roosevelt: Lima 2-3; Ty Taguchi 2b.
OIA WEST BASEBALL
No. 3 Campbell 4, Aiea 3, 10 inn.
At Aiea
>> Camp. (7-0) 200 001 000 1 — 4 7 0
>> Aiea (3-4) 102 000 000 0 — 3 7 2
Markus Ramos, Dayton Robinson (4), Ayzek Silva (6), Jamin Kalaola, (8) and TJ Takahama. Ty Matsunami, Bronson Nekomoto (5), Kobe Kato (7), Ethan Bautista (9) and Jake Nakamoto. W—Kalaola. L—Bautista.
Leading hitters—Campbell: Jamin Kalaola 3-4, 2 RBIs; Nick Sampson 2-5, 2b; Justin Fernandez 2b. Aiea: Jake Nakamoto 2-4; Kato HR, 3 RBIs; Ty Matsunami 2b, 2 runs.
Waipahu 5, Pearl City 3
At Waipahu
>> Pearl City (3-4) 010 020 0 — 3 7 2
>> Waipahu (4-3) 000 005 0 — 5 5 2
Jansen Shigeta, Dillin Hasegawa (3), Cade Halemanu (6) and Kaleb Nishijo. Kobie Russell, Jaron Sugimoto (6), Gabriel Ballesteros (7) and Cole Phillips. W—Sugimoto. L—Halemanu. S—Ballesteros.
Leading hitters— Pearl City: Matt Aribal 3-3, 2 2bs; Davin Kapuras 2-3, 2b run. Waipahu: Khaine Viliamu 2-2, run; Matt Fiesta 2b; Steven De Silva 2b, run, RBI.
OIA DIVISION II BASEBALL
Waianae 8, Radford 3
At Radford
>> Waianae (5-0) 002 310 2 — 8 11 0
>> Radford (4-1) 201 000 0 — 3 4 4
Braedyn Chong, Macaiah Borling (7) and Earl “EJ” Keamo-Young. Jack Dillon and Cole Courtney. W—Chong. L—Dillon.
Leading hitters— Waianae: Braiden Ayala 2-4, 2b, HR, 2 runs, 3 RBIs; Matthew Orian 3b; Chong 3-4, 2b, 3b, 2 RBIs; Rudyjay Keopuhiwa 2-4.
Farrington 7, Kahuku 1
At Farrington
>> Kahuku (1-4) 000 000 1 — 1 2 4
>> Farrington (4-1) 021 112 x — 7 10 3
Andrew Kohlert, Makenna Cameron (5), Maximus LaGrass (6) and Keola Bailey. Trey Kaawa, Bishop Rapoza (7) and Treven Isobe. W—Kaawa. L—Kohlert.
Leading hitters —Kahuku: Elvis Vakapuna 2b. Farrrington: Cisqo Sagucio 2-3, 2b, RBI; JP DeSaugun 2b, run; Dindo Venzon 2-3, HR, RBI, 3 runs.
Nanakuli 10, McKinley 0, 5 inn.
At Nanakuli
>> McKinley (0-5) 000 00 — 0 0 1
>> Nanakuli (2-3) 040 51 — 10 6 1
Koolau Anderson, Noah Diaz (4) and Elijah Vincent. Lexsen Kunukau and C. Hoopai. W—Kunukau. L—Anderson.
Leading hitters— Nanakuli: Austin Souza 3-3, 2b, 2 runs, 2 RBIs; Nainoa Banks 1-2, run, 3 RBIs.
Waialua 4, Kaimuki 3
At Kaimuki
>> Waialua (2-3) 000 022 0 — 4 3 1
>> Kaimuki (2-3) 000 000 3 — 3 7 3
Matthan Hatchie, Kyler Dicion (6) and Zane Dobecki. KB Palsis, Jamon Young (6) and Kaulana Kaluna Jr., Palsis (6). W—Hatchie. L—Palsis.
Leading hitters— Waialua: Kape Cleveland 2 runs. Kaimuki: Palsis 2-4, 3b; Simon Ono-Federle HR.
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