Kamehameha bounces back to beat ‘Iolani

Kamehameha left a rough performance behind on its way to savoring a bounce-back win.

Two days after struggling through a lopsided loss, the seventh-ranked Warriors turned their momentum with a five-run first inning in a 7-2 win over No. 5 ‘Iolani on Thursday at Central Oahu Regional Park.

"Our whole mentality is to flush mistakes," Kamehameha coach Billy Pieper said. "The most important thing after a mistake is the next play."

Or, in the wider view, the next game.

Coming off a 10-2 loss to Mid-Pacific on Tuesday, the Warriors trailed ‘Iolani 1-0 after a half-inning. The Warriors answered with their outburst in the bottom of the first, with second baseman Kody Cacal breaking out of a slump with a three-run double.

"I told the boys, ‘We’re fine, believe in the process,’ " Pieper said, "and I’m glad they listened and they believed because they came out and it was a different team. It was good to see the boys respond that way."

The Warriors (3-2-2) now have a week off before playing again, "so we’re going to be able to relish this for a little longer than normal," Pieper said.

The Warriors head into the break on an upswing after three Kamehameha pitchers combined to hold off ‘Iolani (4-3), which left 13 runners on base.

After giving up a run in the top of the first, Kamehameha starter Josh Souza escaped a bases-loaded jam in the second and stranded two more Raiders in the third.

Eric Sniffen gave up one run in three innings of relief and Keenan Lum closed out the win in the seventh. The Warriors gave up eight hits and seven walks but managed to stay out of big innings.

"We can’t defend a walk; we have to cut down on the walks," Pieper said. "But the defense had their back."

Cacal provided offensive support with his two-out double with the bases loaded in the first. The junior had been struggling at the plate and spent the previous day’s practice tweaking his swing.

"Today the swing I had just felt comfortable, so I was just going with it and going after the first pitch," Cacal said.

After ‘Iolani took the lead on Christian Donahue’s RBI fielder’s choice, Kamehameha promptly tied the game when Kekai Rios scored on a wild pitch, then took the lead on Makana Arakaki’s double to score Codie Paiva.

After a walk and a single loaded the bases, Cacal lined the first pitch he saw into the left-field corner.

"Before that at-bat my teammates were telling me just hunt the fastball," Cacal said. "The first pitch was a fastball and I got a good hit on it."

‘Iolani starter Joshua Inouye held Kamehameha without a hit over the next three innings before the Warriors padded their lead in the fifth on Will Young’s RBI single. Kamehameha added another run in the sixth when Paiva drove in James DeJesus.

‘Iolani had a three-game winning streak snapped and will also have a week off before facing Saint Louis on March 28.

At Central Oahu Regional Park

Leading hitters—’Iolani: Bronson Ichimura, 2-3; Christian Donahue, 2-4, 2B, RBI; Inaba, RBI; Matthew Campos, 2-3. Kamehameha: Codie Paiva, 2-4, RBI; Makana Arakaki, 2B, RBI; Will Young, 2-3, RBI; Kody Cacal, 2B, 3 RBIs.

ILH DIVISION II

MARYKNOLL 12, DAMIEN 1, 5 INN.

The Spartans scored eight runs in the bottom of the first inning and beat the Monarchs in five innings.

Michael Nishiki led Maryknoll with two hits and two runs batted in. Joshua Muneno allowed four hits in five innings for the win.

At Goeas Field

Leading hitters—Dam: Lauti 2b, run. Mryk: Michael Nishiki 2-3, 2 RBIs, run.

ST. FRANCIS 8, PAC-FIVE WEST 3

Royce Torres had three hits, including two doubles, as the Saints fended off the Wolfpack. St. Francis’ Laakea Moniz picked up the win.

At CORP Field 

W—Moniz. L—Baker.

Leading hitters—StF: Sean Fernandez 3b, 2 runs, RBI; Shawn Baptiste 2-4, 2b, run, RBI; Torres 3-4, two 2bs; Janson Kupau 2-3, 2b. P5W: Romero 2b, RBI; Dayne Ramos 2-4.