Ryan Nishi drew a bases-loaded walk with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning as No. 7 Punahou edged Maryknoll 1-0 on Tuesday afternoon at Hans L’Orange Park.
The Buffanblu mustered just one base hit, but improved to 7-5 in Interscholastic League of Honolulu baseball play. Maryknoll, with just three seniors in the starting lineup, dropped to 1-11 with yet another close loss.
It was a hard-luck defeat for Maryknoll ace Matthew Dunaway, who allowed just just one unearned run and one hit in six innings with five strikeouts. He walked seven.
Cole Cabrera led off the sixth with a walk and advanced to second base on Jake Tsukada’s sacrifice bunt. Kyson Donahue’s pop fly was dropped by second baseman Noah Kinder, and after Andrew Matsueda walked — it was his third base on balls in the game — the bases were loaded. After Jerick Nomura bunted into a pop-up to the catcher, Nishi walked on four pitches, forcing Cabrera home for the go-ahead run.
Kyle Uemura, who went six innings, was the winning pitcher for the Buffanblu. The crafty right-hander permitted just three hits with one strikeout and three walks.
“He actually worked deeper into the count than usual,” Punahou coach Keenan Sue said. “The great thing about Kyle is he will dig deep. Dunaway is a tremendous pitcher with a great changeup. He doesn’t alter his motion. For him to have control like that at this level, that’s something to tip the hat to.”
Maryknoll coach Eric Kadooka tipped his hat, as well.
“Matt battled. He is tough. If he was on any other team, he’d beat anybody,” Kadooka said.
First baseman Matsueda moved to the mound for the seventh inning and earned a save. It wasn’t easy. Maryknoll’s Maddux Miyasato walked, and after Payton Grant’s sacrifice bunt was ruled an infield single — the call changed after Kadooka asked the home plate umpire to confer with his base umpires — the Spartans had the go-ahead run on base.
Kadooka opted to let his hottest hitter, Shane Himeda, swing away rather than sacrifice bunt. Himeda flied out, and then Jonah Chinen flew out to deep center and Noah Kinder grounded out to second, ending the game.
“If I try to push the game into extra innings, I’ve got to take Matt out, so I’m not playing to tie the game,” Kadooka said. “With any other group, I’ll play for the tie, but not when we’re 1-10.”
No. 3 Kamehameha 7, No. 3 ‘Iolani 0
Li‘i Pontes struck out seven and allowed just two hits over six innings as the Warriors remained in first place with a win at Hans L’Orange Park.
Jace Borja pitched the final inning, whiffing two batters in relief. Pontes tossed just 78 pitches, mixing his fastball and breaking ball effectively.
‘Iolani dropped to 4-9.
The Warriors scored twice in the second inning against Raiders starting pitcher Logan Yee. Dylan Salcedo led off with a single and Francis Gora reached base on a one-out infield error. After Kauai Takemura walked with two outs to load the bases, Logan Salcedo singled to left, playing two unearned runs.
Yee went four innings, allowing five hits with one strikeout and one walk, along with the two unearned runs.
Kamehameha scored three runs in the fifth frame against reliever Brandon Yamane. Dylan Salcedo singled, and pinch hitter Jesse Awa and Gora followed with walks to load the bases.
Takemura drilled a two-run double to the left-field corner, clearing the bases for a 5-0 Warriors lead.
They tacked on two runs against Cade Yonamine in the sixth inning. Nakea Hanohano walked and scored on Kalamaku Kuewa’s double to left. Kuewa then scored on pinch hitter Mattingly Ho’s single to center.
ILH DIVISION I BASEBALL
No. 6 Punahou 1, Maryknoll 0
At Hans L’Orange Park
Maryknoll (1-11) 000 000 0 — 0 5 0
Punahou (7-5) 000 001 x — 1 1 1
Matthew Dunaway and Blake Hiraki. Kyle Uemura, Andrew Matsueda (7) and Matthew Nakamoto.
W—Uemura. L—Dunaway. S—Matsueda.
Leading hitters—Mryk: Shane Himeda 2-3; Trey DePonte 1-3. Pun: Jake Tsukada 1-3.
No. 3 Kamehameha 7, No. 3 ‘Iolani 0
At Hans L’Orange Park
‘Iolani (4-9) 000 000 0 – 0 2 2
KSK (11-2) 020 032 x – 7 10 0
Logan Yee, Brandon Yamane (5), Cade Yonamine (6) and Blake Hirai. Li’i Pontes, Jace Borja (7) and Dylan Salcedo.
W—Pontes. L—Yee.
Leading hitters—Iol: Matthew Inaba 1-3; Hiraki 1-3. KSK: Kawai Takemura 2-3, double, BB, 3 RBIs; Logan Salcedo 1-4, 2 RBIs; Kalamaku Kuewa 3-4, double, RBI, run; D. Salcedo 3-3, HBP, 2 runs.
OIA Softball
McKinley 17, Kahuku 5
At McKinley
Kahuku (0-5) 120 02 — 5 6 4
McKinley (2-4) 107 9x — 17 8 0
Kuuipo Aumua, Tiara Letoi (4) and Trinity Seguritan. Madison Cristobal and Gabrielle Viramontes.
W—Cristobal. L—Aumua.
Leading hitters—Kah: Aumua 1-3, 2B; Seuritan 2-3. McK: Agasana Viengnany 2-3; Anela Costorio-Meyer 2-4.
Aiea 23, Waialua 0
At Waialua
Aiea (7-0) 343 1(12) — 23 13 0
Waialua (2-4) 000 00 — 0 3 6
Poamai Tuli, Chantelle Shimabukuro (5) and Mikelle Gonzales. Honey Jose-Woods, Nova Rivera (5) and Leaa Puleiala.
W—Tuli. L—Jose-Woods.
Leading hitters—Aiea: Tuli 5-5, 2 HR, 4 RBIs; Shimabukuro 2-3, HR, 4 RBI; Gonzalez 2-3; Testimoni Tavale HR, 3 RBI.
