Saint Louis’ offense took most of the drama out of the opening act in this week’s series with Mid-Pacific.

A seven-run first-inning outburst propelled the top-ranked Crusaders to an 11-1 win over No. 2 MPI yesterday at Central Oahu Regional Park in the first of three meetings between the Interscholastic League of Honolulu leaders.

Saint Louis senior Kalei Contrades held the Owls hitless through four innings and contributed an RBI single and the Crusaders (10-0) took sole possession of first place in the ILH baseball standings.

Mid-Pacific (9-1) will try to bounce back when the Owls host the Crusaders on Friday. The series concludes Saturday at Ala Wai Community Park.

The ILH’s format this season doesn’t include the safety net of a postseason tournament, meaning the league championship and state-tournament berths will be decided in the regular season. As such, “every win is big,” Saint Louis coach George Gusman said.

“It was one of those days where everything we hit found holes. … We’re going to enjoy this and (today) when we come to practice we’ll forget about it and get to work.”

Contrades mixed speeds effectively to keep the Owls off balance and finished with five strikeouts in five innings.

“He was great,” Gusman said. “He’s got good velocity, and he’s got a changeup and a curveball so he’s been really good for us.”

Contrades walked two batters in the top of the first, but got out of the inning unscathed. The Crusaders then sent 11 hitters to the plate in the bottom of the inning, scoring seven runs, six coming with two out.

“My team backed me up all the way,” Contrades said. “I’m lucky I have a good defense behind me and we came out with the bats today. After one guy starts it up, it’s like a domino effect.”

Saint Louis senior Derek Nakasato set the tone at the top of the order by going 3-for-3. He led off the first with a single and went all the way to third on a groundout. Kaeo Aliviado then opened the scoring with a single to right.

After a fly out, Contrades singled in Aliviado and Dallas Tuumalo and Isaac Ramboyon came through with RBI doubles later in the inning. Nakasato capped the rally with a two-run double in his second at-bat of the inning.

The Crusaders scored four more runs in the third, all of the scoring coming with two out. After Aliviado drew a bases-loaded walk, Travis Shaw hammered a three-run double down the left-field line.

Contrades allowed his first hit of the game on an infield single in the top of the fifth and Justin Protacio tripled into the left-center gap to score Justin Matoi with MPI’s lone run of the game. But Contrades got out of the inning to bring the 10-run rule into effect.

At Central Oahu Regional Park

Ivan Dilda, Marcus Doi (1), Jarren Dang (3), Daniel Fentriss (4) and Dane Fujinaka. Kalei Contrades and Iolana Akau. W–Contrades. L–Dilda.
Leading hitters–MPI: Justin Protacio, 3b, RBI. StL: Derek Nakasato, 3-3, 2b, 2 RBIs; Kaeo Aliviado, 2 RBIs; Travis Shaw, 2-3, 2b, 3 RBIs; Contrades, RBI; Dallas Tuumalo, 2b, RBI; Isaac Ramboyon, 2b, 2 RBIs.

Pac-Five 8, Maryknoll 7

The Wolf Pack rallied in the bottom of the seventh, scoring four runs to beat the Spartans.

At Ala Wai Community Park

Jordan Kurokawa, Tyler Todd (7) and David Nishiki. Landry Kiyabu, Royce Fujii (5), Tyler Fujimoto (7) and Bryson Kihara. W–Fujimoto. L–Todd.
Leading hitters–Mryk: Nishiki 3-4,2b, RBI; Blaine Hokama 3-3, 2b, 2 runs, RBI; Kaelen Hirashiki 2-3, 2b, 2 RBIs; Todd 2-4, run, RBI; Aaron Tom 2-4, run, RBI. P5: Ryan Ueunten 2-4, 3b, 2 RBIs; Kihara 2-4; Sugai, HR, 2 runs, 2 RBIs.