Warriors eke out another victory

On a hot-and-cold day at Goeas Field, it took a 10th-grader to close out a big win for Kamehameha.

Sophomore Li‘i Pontes delivered two scoreless innings in relief of Micah Mau as No. 7 Kamehameha eked out a 5-4 win over No. 10 ‘Iolani on Thursday afternoon.

It was a hard-luck loss for the Raiders, who had rallied from a 4-1 deficit with three runs in the top of the fifth inning.

‘Iolani’s second hurler, Brandon Yamane, had momentum entering the bottom of the seventh. The right-handed sophomore had just mowed down the Warriors in the previous two innings, striking out two.

But the Warriors began to sit on his tricky breaking pitch.

Chase Miyasato (2-for-3) led off with a single to right and Mason Quinlan (4-for-4) followed with a single to left. Kawai Takemura squared up to bunt twice, taking balls. On the third pitch in the count, he laid down a bunt toward the third baseman, Everett Lau.

Lau’s throw to first was wide on the infield side and sailed into right field. Miyasato scored easily from second base on the throwing error to give Kamehameha a hard-earned win.

“Anything for the team,” said Takemura, the No. 6 batter in the lineup.

Glare from the late-afternoon sun, perched low and directly in the sight line of anyone throwing from near home plate to first base, was certainly a factor. The composure of Pontes, who followed Makoa Mau (four innings, three runs) and Micah Hee, was remarkable.

“Li‘i is very comfortable. He’s steady and poised, and he hits his spots,” Kamehameha coach Tommy Perkins said.

Kamehameha improved to 4-2 in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu. ‘Iolani, which had upended Kamehameha 10-3 in their previous matchup on Mar. 3, slipped to 2-4 with its third loss in a row.

“What matters is that our team stays focused on our main goal, winning states,” Pontes said.

ILH DIVISION I

Kamehameha 5, ‘Iolani 4

No outs when winning run scored.

Everett Lau, Brandon Yamane (5) and Keene Tanaka. Makoa Mau, Micah Hee (5), Li’i Pontes (6) and Revan Wong. W–Pontes. L–Yamane.

Leading hitters–‘Iolani: Lau 3-3, two 2Bs, 2 RBIs, run, BB. KS: Chase Miyasato 2-3, 2B, 3 runs, BB; Mason Quinlan 4-4, 2 RBIs; Hee 1-2, HR, 2 RBIs, run.

ILH DIVISION II

Hanalani 8, St. Francis 7

Matt Tsutsui knocked in the go-ahead run in the sixth and scored later in the inning as the Royals beat the Saints.

Tsutsui and Aidan Koanui each drove in two runs for Hanalani.

Kaimanuwai Akana batted 2-for-4 with a double and three RBIs for St. Francis.

Steven Perry, Zachary Alcos (3) and Jared Yara. Nicholas Garcia-Reid, Aidan Koanui (4) and Reyn Romero. W–Koanui. L–Alcos.

Leading hitters–St. Francis: Jacob Poole 2-5, double; Kaimanuwai Akana 2-4, 2b, 3 RBIs; Alcos 2-3; Darin Rita 2 RBIs. Hanalani: Romero 2b; Matt Tsutsui 2-3, 2 RBIs; Chad Wakabayashi 2-3; Max Ares 3b; Koanui 2 RBIs.

Junior Varsity

Maryknoll 17, Punahou 7

OIA EAST

Moanalua 5, Kaimuki 0

Nainoa Chun pitched three innings and combined with four relievers on a five-hitter in Na Menehune’s win over the Bulldogs.

KB Palsis, Bailey Uehara (6) and Kobe Hedger. Nainoa Chun, Noah Kang (4), Austyn Kometani (5), Christian Capinia (6), Ryne Oshiro (7). W–Chun. L–Palsis.

Leading hitters–Kaimuki: Hedger 2b; Reymundo Gomez Jr. 2b. Moanalua: Randy Tabura 2-2; Mark Kitano-Maguire 2-3, 2b; Oshiro 2-3, 2b, 2 runs.

MIL

Molokai 17, Lanai 1

Maui High 11, Kamehameha-Maui 2