Damien baseball defeats Hanalani

Damien’s experience with late-game drama paid off Friday.

Right-hander Grayson Bueno threw a complete game and the Monarchs fought off a Hanalani rally attempt with a seventh-inning double play to secure a 7-4 victory in an ILH Division II baseball game at Hans L’Orange Park.

Reyn Romero and Matt Tsutsui signaled the Royals’ final-inning comeback intentions with sharp singles to center. But after one popout, Damien second baseman Brennan Bactista caught a popup and stepped on the bag, beating Romero — who had strayed toward third — by a step, for the game-ending out.

“We’ve had some teams making late-inning rallies on us,” said Monarchs coach Timo Donahue, referring to last week’s extra-inning loss to Pac-Five and two-run victory over St. Francis. “The  boys have been through it and it helped them and worked in our favor today.”

Tsutsui, called “Matt the Bat” by his teammates, gave the Royals — who are playing their first year of high school baseball at any level — a 3-0 first-inning lead with a three-run triple.

But it was pretty much all Damien (2-1) after that. The Monarchs came back in a hurry in the bottom of the first to tie it 3-all on Kana Schuman’s RBI single and a two-run Hanalani error.

And Damien didn’t stop there. Christian Capinia led off the bottom of the second with a triple and Austin Ballesteros doubled to drive him in. Later in the inning, Kamana Cameron laced a triple to center to score another run for a 5-3 lead.

“Our guys came out swinging the bats,” Donahue said. “That was really nice and somewhat surprising to see, because we don’t really have a baseball field to practice on. We practice on our school field, which is really a football field, so we don’t really take batting practice.”

Hanalani (0-3) has problems of its own. As a first-year squad, the Royals are trying to develop chemistry.

“We did a lot of things well,” Hanalani catcher and field general Ryllen Abeshima said. “I was really happy with the pitching today. We still need a lot of work in many areas, including communication. All we need is more practice. We’re not mentally strong yet.”

Three Hanalani pitchers gave up nine Damien hits. Starter and loser Kevin Matsuoka allowed all seven runs, but only one was earned. Kenan Cooper and Max Ares tossed one inning of shutout ball each. Cooper also had an RBI groundout, cutting Damien’s lead to 5-4 in the third.

Bueno, the complete-game winner for the Monarchs, scattered seven hits and allowed just two earned runs.

“He (Bueno) is becoming a workhorse for us,” Donahue said.

Schuman’s two-run triple to deep center in the fourth capped Damien’s scoring, giving the Monarchs their 

7-4 edge. Cooper, in center field, made a long run for the ball over his head and appeared to make the catch, but the ball popped out as he fell and rolled on the ground.

Brian Tsutsui, the Hanalani coach, thought the catch was made and was held long enough. He made his case to the home-plate umpire, who ruled that Cooper did not show that he controlled it.

“We have a lot to work on, for sure,” Tsutsui said. “But these boys are competing and we’ve been in close games. There’s a lot for them to get caught up with. Many are first-year players and others are coming off playing other sports.”

Kevin Matsuoka, Kenan Cooper (5), Max Ares (6) and Ryllen Abeshima. Grayson Bueno and Shiloh Kaeo. W—Bueno. L—Matsuoka.

Leading hitters—Hanalani: Matsuoka 2-3; Matt Tsutsui 2-4, 3b, 3 RBIs. Damien: Austin Ballesteros 2b, RBI; Kaimana Cameron 3b, RBI; Kana Schuman 2-3, 3b, 3 RBIs; Christian Capinia 3b.

OIA RED WEST SOFTBALL

No. 2 Campbell 13, Waipahu 0

The Sabers did not have an extra-base hit, but scored 13 runs with 15 singles to defeat the Marauders.

Darien Robinson and Chardonnay Pantastico each had three hits for Campbell.

W—Danielle Cervantes. L—G. Kaopua.

Leading hitters—Waipahu: R. Agbunag 1-1. Campbell: Nashlynn Anguay 3-3, Darien Robinson 3-3; Chardonnay Pantastico 2 RBIs.

Pearl City 16, No. 8 Kapolei 6

The Chargers erupted for 14 runs in the sixth inning to blow past the Hurricanes.

Taylyn Kimura had three hits and scored three runs for Pearl City.

Makana Meyers led Kapolei with three hits.

Tyanna Kaaialii, Kristin Frost (5) and Hope Casarez. Sadie Kapaku-You, Makana Meyers (6), Kayla Higa (6) and Lili Kaimi.

W—Kaaialii. L—Kapaku-You.

Leading hitters—Taylyn Kimura 3-5, 2 RBIs; Casarez 2 RBIs; Darian Obara 2 RBIs; Hailey-Alexis Yamaguchi 2 RBIs. Makana Meye 3-4, 2B; Kayla Higa 2B.

ILH SOFTBALL

NO. 7 PUNAHOU 5, MARYKNOLL 4

Thursday

Shearyna Labasan and Nohea Hee. Nicole Nishizawa and S. Buck. W—Nishizawa. L—Nishizawa.

Leading hitters—Maryknoll: Bree Soma 2B; Kamalei Labasan 2 RBIs. Punahou: Bailey Akimseu 2-3, 2B, 2 RBIs.