Mililani, Campbell in OIA final

The imposing freshman faced the crafty southpaw with a spot in the OIA final on the line. 

Mililani lefty Koa Eastlack came through, spinning a three-hitter as the Trojans blanked Kailua 7-0 on Friday afternoon at Patsy Mink Central Oahu Regional Park. 

OIA West runner-up Mililani (12-2) advanced to Saturday’s final with the win, using a five-run sixth inning to finally break open a pitchers’ duel. Kailua (11-3), the East’s top seed, will play for third place this afternoon. 

Kailua’s 6-foot-4 ninth-grader, Stone Parker, went 52/3 innings with four strikeouts and just one walk. 

After permitting two runs in the first inning, he retired 10 of 11 Mililani batters to keep the Surfriders in the game. 

Mililani strung together singles by Kaimana Souza-Paaluhi, Sean Sonognini and Ty DeSa to get the big fifth inning rolling. DeSa drove in a run, and pinch hitter Aris-Shea Nakagawa socked a two-run double off reliever Isaiah Kaeo-Cash to open the lead to 5-0. 

That undid a remarkably poised performance by the freshman. 

"That’s probably his best game against a good team," Surfriders pitching coach Eric Kadooka said. "He’s a mature kid for a freshman. Against good-hitting teams, you’ve still got to mix speeds." 

That’s something that his counterpart, Eastlack, thrived on. With his catcher, Sonognini, calling the shots, the junior stifled the potent bats of Kailua with a blend of fastballs, changeups and a lethal cutter that froze the Surfriders. Eastlack finished with six strikeouts and just one walk. 

"He did a pretty good job. He’s been quality all year long," Trojans coach Mark Hirayama said. "He’s got a couple of different arm slots. Sometimes, he’s wildly effective, but lately he’s had a good feel of his release point. Last week against Campbell, he had them off balance."

Eastlack retired 10 Surfriders in a row after allowing a leadoff single to Matt Hanano in the first inning. Kailua didn’t have a runner in scoring position until the sixth. 

"I don’t know if it’s my best (game), but I was able to spot my fastball," Eastlack said. "I had trust in everyone. The second inning is when my cutter started going good. I had control over it." 

The Trojans scored twice in the top of the first on a single to left by Sonognini (2-for-4) that scored Ryan Kono, who had reached base on a bunt single. DeSa followed with a slow ground ball to first that brought Souza-Paaluhi home for the second run. 

Mililani had vivid memories of last year’s OIA semifinal loss to Kailua, when Dalton Kalama pulled an outside fastball to right for a home run. This time, he went 0-for-3 with three strikeouts. 

"I thought a lot about how to pitch against him," said Sonognini, who often set up on the inside corner for Eastlack when Kalama came to the plate. 

Now the senior-heavy Trojans have their shot at the crown. 

"Sometimes we’re hyped. Sometimes, it’s just another day," Eastlack said. 

Koa Eastlack and Sean Sonognini. Stone Parker, Isaiah Kaeo-Cash (6) and Dalton Kalama. W–Eastlack. L–Parker. 

Leading hitters–Mililani: Kaimana Souza-Paaluhi 2-4, 2 runs; Sonognini 2-4; Jarrin Morikawa 2b, 2 RBIs. 

Campbell 9, Kaiser 0

Kila Kapihe fired a two-hitter as the Sabers caged the Cougars in the other semifinal matchup. Kapihe struck out nine and walked just one for the complete-game win, needing just 85 pitches.

Campbell (12-2) will meet Mililani in the final tonight at CORP. Mililani won their first matchup 2-1 on March 28. Campbell won the second meeting 4-3 on April 17 to clinch first place in the OIA West. 

"(Kapihe) pounded the strike zone. We thought about pulling him, to save him (for tonight)," Sabers coach Rory Pico said. "I’m excited about tomorrow for the boys. They’ve worked hard all offseason, looking for the opportunity to defend the (OIA) title. Mililani’s hot right now." 

Ian Kahaloa, arguably the most heavily scouted and recruited player in the state, will start on the mound for the Sabers. 

Kamalu Simeona, Jace Kaito (5), Luis Omphroy (6) and Emmett Covello. Kila Kapihe and Tryzen Patricio. W–Kapihe. L–Simeona. 

Leading hitters–Kaiser: Omphroy 1-2, SB; Chase Hisatake 1-2. Campbell: Jobe Ibana 2-4, 2 runs; Ian Kahaloa 1-2, triple, RBI, 3 runs; Blayze Arcano-Llacuna 1-3, triple; Kapihe 1-2, double, 2 runs. 

OIA RED FIFTH-PLACE SEMIS

Moanalua 11, Leilehua 1, 5 inn.

Adam Tanoue batted 2-for-3 with a triple and four RBIs and Na Menehune had a 10-run second inning against the Mules.

Moanalua’s Dez Oki-Takahashi allowed one run in four innings and Kekaulike Kalua and Randy Tabura each drove in two runs.

Jared Academia, Trayson Kubo (2), Teaugan Eckstrom (2), Wayne Abear (3),  Jansen Dangaran (5) and Kebi Dellatan. Dez Oki-Takahashi, Skyler Yamamoto (5) and Kekaulike Kalua. W–Oki-Takahashi. L–Academia.

Leading hitters–Moanalua: Adam Tanoue 2-3, 3b, 4 RBIs; Nicholas Enrico 2-2; Kalua 2b, 2 RBIs; Jerred Soriano 2 runs; Randy Tabura 2-2, 2 runs, 2 RBIs.

Pearl City 5, Kalani 4

Sanyo Lo’s one-out bases-loaded single scored Tyler Kushima with the winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning as the Chargers beat the Falcons.

Matthew Beall, Micah Kawano (3), Reece Kakugawa (3) and Bronson Matsumoto. Trestan Nakamura, Chevy Sumile (2) and Shaye Higa. W–Sumile. L–Kakugawa.

Leading hitters–Kalani: Kyle Sasano 2 RBIs; Reece Kakugawa 2b. Pearl City: Tyler Kushima 2-4, 2b, 2 runs; Matt Tsutomi 2b, 2 RBIs; Sanyo Lo 2-4; Brent Clymer 3b.

OIA WHITE SEMIFINALS

Kapolei 5, Kalaheo 2

Ty-Noah Williams scattered 12 hits in a complete-game performance as the Hurricanes beat the Mustangs.

Kaleb Gilmore and Kaliu Lapera. Ty-Noah Williams and Mykah Kuratani. W–Williams. L–Gilmore.

Leading hitters–Kalaheo: Lapera 2-4; Jack Bell 2-4; Gilmore 2-3. Kapolei: Jordan Macias 2-4, 2b; Joe Uesato 2-3.

Aiea 5, Farrington 0

Dylan Madamba allowed one hit and struck out 12 in six innings and Kobe Kato batted 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs in Na Alii’s victory over the Governors.

Kody Leiu, Ranan Mamiya (6), Dindo Venzon (6) and Brett Walden. Dylan Madamba, Jaryn Nakamoto (7) and Makana Ah Yo, Kyle Machida (7). W–Madamba. L–Leiu.

Leading hitters–Aiea: Kobe Kato 2-3, 2b, 2 runs; Machida 2b.