Campbell finds balance in whipping Waipahu

Four Campbell pitchers combined to hold Waipahu to three hits in a 7-0 shutout of the Marauders on Thursday night at Hans L’Orange Park.

Lacking offensive punch of late, the Sabers erupted for five runs in the third inning to break a scoreless tie.

"We put guys on base and had some good swings, and that’s a good sign because we had been struggling," said Rory Pico, the head man at Campbell (6-0), which is the top-ranked team in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser’s Top 10. "It was great to see the kids put up a crooked number early. That helped us relax."

Ian Kahaloa, the Sabers’ ace pitcher who was used as a designated hitter against the Marauders, crushed a two-run triple in the third that hit the center-field fence 400 feet away on one hop. Keola Himan, Blayze Arcano-Llacuna and Jake Mendoza followed with RBI singles for a commanding 5-0 lead.

Meanwhile, left-hander Dorrien Hermosura whizzed through Waipahu’s batting order in his first pitching start of the season, giving up two hits and striking out eight in four innings for the victory.

"Coaches told me they were going to rest me because of a shoulder injury in the summer and about midseason I would get a start," Hermosura said. "I had been closing before this. I felt pretty good. My curveball was really working. They told me they’re going to work me in as the third starter (behind Kahaloa and Zachary Kapihe).

"We’re working extra hard to get to the (state) championship (game). That’s our goal, to get there."

The Sabers reached the state semifinals the past two seasons.

Waipahu (2-4) failed to come up with clutch hits and stranded eight runners on base.

Defensively, the Marauders made several spectacular plays — centerfielder Rustin Ho’s running, outstretched diving catch, shortstop Kobie Russell’s diving stab of sharp grounder for a force out at second, and third baseman Oakland Scanlan’s stab of a low, hard liner.

"We got in trouble with our pitching early," Marauders coach Jared Abreu said. "And our hitting, well, we talked about a plan, but it didn’t look like we had a plan. They took too many strikes. Dorrien’s a helluva pitcher, but we didn’t swing the bat too well."

Dewayne Sprinkel’s RBI triple to right and Hermosura’s run-scoring base hit tacked on the final two runs in the sixth.

Chad Samante, Himan and Markus Ramos pitched one inning each and all had two strikeouts.

"Dorrien was on a pitch count and he was getting close to that," Pico said. "Those three guys didn’t get to throw last week and they looked good in the bullpen and needed some time on the mound."

Dustyn Mori, Michael Price (3), Kobie Russell (7) and Graysen Fuentes. Dorrien Hermosura, Chad Samante (5), Keola Himan (6), Markus Ramos (7) and Tryzen Patricio. W–Hermosura. L–Mori.

Leading hitters–Campbell: Dewayne Sprinkel 3b, RBI, 2 runs; Hermosura 2-3, RBI; Ian Kahaloa 2-2, 3b, 2 RBIs, SB; Keola Himan 2-4, RBI; Blayze Arcano-Llacuna 2-4, RBI; Jake Mendoza 1-2, SB, RBI.

OIA RED WEST BASEBALL

Leilehua 5, Waianae 1

Trayson Kubo pitched a one-hitter with 12 strikeouts and drove in three runs as the Mules beat the Seariders. Kubo walked two batters and the run he allowed was unearned.

Tavita Lalau, Thomas Kaauwai (6) and Ejay Kuakini. Trayson Kubo and Kebi Dellatan. W–Kubo. L–Lalau.

Leading hitters–Leilehua: Kubo 3b, 3 RBIs; Nainoa Paragoso 3-3, 3b; Jansen Dangaran 2 runs; Jaryn Kanbara 2b.

MIL baseball

King Kekaulike 4, Lahainaluna 1

Baldwin 11, Kamehameha Maui 0 

OIA WHITE SOFTBALL

Farrington 16, Kahuku 10

Aimee Sorensen, Jocelyn Alo (2) and J. Uli. Kaipo Castillo and Kaycie Okada W–Castillo. L–Sorensen.

Leading hitters–Kahuku: Alo 4-5, 2b, 2 HRs, 3 runs, 3 RBIs; Uli 3-5, 3 runs; Ry. Ramscyer 3-4, 2 RBIs. Farr: Kailee McGloghon 3-4, 2 runs; Kylie Carganilla 2-5, 3 runs, 3 RBIs; Kaipo Castillo 3-run HR; Jazmayne Williams 2-3, HR, 3 runs, 3 RBIs.