Owls’ Garcia-Perreira shines

The scouts came to see ‘Iolani southpaw Carlos Rodriguez.

Mid-Pacific lefty Travis Garcia-Perreira may have left them with an entirely different impression. The junior threw five shutout innings as the No. 3 Owls overwhelmed the Raiders 13-3 in six innings at ‘Iolani’s field.

Garcia-Perreira suffered a torn labrum in his throwing shoulder two years ago, beginning a long rehab process.

"He was religious about it," trainer Marcus Oshiro said.

Garcia-Perreira’s second win in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu boosted Mid-Pacific to 5-0. The Owls inched closer to one of the league’s two state-tournament berths. With no league tournament, the regular season means more than ever.

"It’s probably better for us. We always win in the regular season," said leadoff hitter Justin Protacio, who reached base three times in four appearances, stole four bases, scored twice and drove in a run.

Owls coach Dunn Muramaru cautioned against losing perspective. The teams meet today at MPI to conclude their three-game series.

"There’s another game, so there’s no time to rest," he said of the format. "If you’re hot, it’s good. If not, you’re out in two weeks. Look at Damien."

Garcia-Perreira had his best performance as an Owl, allowing two runs in the sixth before leaving. He gave up five hits, struck out four and walked just one. In the first five innings, he reached three-ball counts five times without walking a batter.

"I was mixing my speeds to keep them off balance," Garcia-Perreira said. "It felt really good. I gained a lot of confidence and I trusted my coaches and my catcher (Dane Fujinaki)."

"(Lawrence) Chew did the same thing," ‘Iolani coach Jason Arakaki said of another MPI pitcher who pitched in the first game of their series. "A lot of three-ball counts, but (Chew) didn’t walk anybody."

‘Iolani fell to 1-4 in league play.

"It’s been a rough five games," Arakaki said.

Protacio, a senior shortstop who has signed with Kansas, was a disruptive force in his first effort against Rodriguez. The ‘Iolani ace threw 10 consecutive balls to Protacio in a lefty-versus-lefty battle that went MPI’s way.

Rodriguez went 41⁄3 innings, allowing six earned runs, seven hits and four walks. He struck out two.

A crowd of about 150 endured gusts in what started out as pitchers’ duel. Protacio walked, stole second and third, and scored on a groundout by Marcus Doi to give MPI a 1-0 lead in the first.

For three innings, MPI clung to the lead, but a five-run spurt by the visitors in the fourth inning opened the game up. Doi doubled and scored on a double by Fujinaki. Cy Higashi, Daniel Fentriss and Protacio delivered run-scoring singles to help MPI take a 6-0 lead. Two errors by Raiders shortstop Christian Donahue helped the Owls.

MPI loaded the bases against Rodriguez in the fifth, scoring with reliever Bryce Nakamura on the mound.

The Owls scored on a wild pitch, a walk and then a single by Fentriss to open a 9-0 lead.