Saint Louis stays ahead
Iolana Akau of Saint Louis rounded third after hitting a home run against Mid-Pacific yesterday.
Kaeo Aliviado and Iolana Akau first burst into local prominence for their Little League exploits.
Lately, they’ve been helping the Saint Louis baseball team move to the forefront in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu race.
With Akau behind the plate, Aliviado turned in a gritty pitching performance in the top-ranked Crusaders’ 4-2 win over No. 2 Mid-Pacific yesterday at the Owls’ field.
Akau hit a solo home run in the fourth inning and Aliviado, who was limited by a sore arm early in the season, struck out five in a complete-game victory and Saint Louis (11-0) claimed its second win in this week’s three-game series with MPI (9-2). The series concludes today at 6:30 p.m. at Ala Wai Field.
"He was unbelievable," Saint Louis coach George Gusman said of Aliviado."His arm was a little tender the first week so we had to lay off. And then we had to come back, give him an inning, two innings, try to get his pitch count up. It’s been a work in progress. … We were building up for today, so he was more than prepared."
Aliviado, a senior left-hander, was a member of the West Oahu team that won the Little League World Series in 2005, and Akau played on the champion Waipio team three years later.
Along with holding MPI to six hits and working out of a bases-loaded jam in the third, Aliviado went 2-for-4 with a double at the plate. Akau, a sophomore, launched a shot over the center-field fence with one out in the fourth to give the Crusaders a 3-1 lead.
"You can’t buy that experience," Gusman said. "It’s probably as unique as you can get having two guys that played in two different world series and won. They’re two great kids and that was really good for Iolana."
Saint Louis first baseman Travis Shaw drove in the Crusaders’ first two runs with a single in the top of the first and a sacrifice fly in the third, giving him five RBIs in the series so far.
But unlike Tuesday’s 11-1 Saint Louis rout, MPI kept yesterday’s game tight throughout thanks to Marcus Doi’s first-inning home run and his RBI double in the fifth. Doi came up again representing the tying run in the bottom of the seventh, but Aliviado ended the game with a swinging strikeout.
"Just came in throwing strikes and hopefully the defense could back me up and that’s what they did," said Aliviado, who has signed to play at Hawaii next year. "All the credit goes to the defense."
| Saint Louis (11-0) | 101 | 101 | 0 | — | 4 | 11 | 0 |
| Mid-Pacific (9-2) | 100 | 010 | 0 | — | 2 | 6 | 0 |
Kaeo Aliviado and Iolana Akau. Lawrence Chew and Dane Fujinaka. W–Aliviado. L–Chew.
Leading hitters–Saint Louis: Derek Nakasato 2-4; Aliviado 2-4, double; Travis Shaw 2 RBIs; Kalei Contrades 2-3; Akau homer. Mid-Pacific: Justin Protacio 2-4 run; Marcus Doi 2-3, double, homer, 2 RBIs; Tyler Tonaki double.
ILH BASEBALL
No. 10 Kamehameha 5, ‘Iolani 2
Alii Pedrina batted 2-for-4 with three RBIs, and Keenan Lum allowed two runs over six innings as the Warriors beat the Raiders.
At ‘Iolani
| Kamehameha | 020 | 003 | 0 | — | 5 | 6 | 1 |
| ‘Iolani | 110 | 000 | 0 | — | 2 | 7 | 0 |
Keenan Lum, Zack Kaohu (7) and Moku Kukonu. Eland Tsubata, Chase Wayton (2), Tyler Ushio (6), Dane Arakawa (7) and Tiras Koon, Kody Mento. W–Lum. L–Wayton. S–Kaohu.
Leading hitters–Kamehameha: Alii Pedrina 2-4, 3 RBIs; Kukonu 2-3, double, 2 runs; Trey Kodama double. ‘Iolani: Dylan Goto double; Tanner Nishioka double; Westin Fabro double.
No. 9 Punahou 10, Damien 5
Rolenn Himuro, Lanson Yamamoto and Rick Nomura each scored two runs for the Buffanblu in a victory over the Monarchs.
At Central Oahu Regional Park
| Punahou | 410 | 220 | 1 | — | 10 | 12 | 2 |
| Damien | 101 | 010 | 2 | — | 5 | 9 | 3 |
Nathan Higa, Jason Rosen (5), David Torigoe (5) and Kainoa Harrison. Kemana Kealoha, Riley Perry (2), Ryan Ozaki (4), Dean Okamura (6) and Alan Mohika. W–Higa. L–Kealoha.
Leading hitters–Punahou: Rolenn Himuro 2-3, triple, 2 runs; Lanson Yamamoto 2-4, 2 runs; Rick Nomura 2 runs; Harrison 2-4, 2 doubles, 2 RBIs; Higa triple. Damien: Mohika 3-4; Jordan Murai 2-3, 2 RBIs; Kealoha double, 2 RBIs; Justin Abe double, 2 runs.
Pac Five 18, St. Francis 0
Ryan Ueunten batted 4-for-5 with a triple and six RBIs, and Devyn Teruya went 2-for-4 with four RBIs as the Wolf Pack routed the Saints in a game shortened to five innings.
At Ala Wai Community Park
| Pac-Five | 505 | 08 | — | 18 | 18 | 0 |
| St. Francis | 000 | 00 | — | 0 | 2 | 4 |
Tyler Fujimoto, Jordan Morimoto (4) and Joseph Choy. Shawn Baptiste, Drew Wilson (4), #13 (4), Keha Wong (5) and Sosiua Havea. W–Fujimoto. L–Baptiste.
Leading hitters–Pac-Five: Reyn Sugai triple, 3 runs; Ryan Ueunten 4-5, triple, 2 runs, 6 RBIs; Morimoto 2-5, double, 2 runs, 2 RBIs; Ian Akamine 3 runs; Devyn Teruya 2-4, 4 RBIs; Chris Sekiguchi double; Landon Kiyabu triple.
OIA BASEBALL
Aiea 5, Waianae 1
Daylen Pajimola batted 2-for-3 with two doubles and four RBIs, and Travis Uyeda worked six solid innings as Na Alii beat the Seariders.
At Aiea
| Waianae | 100 | 000 | 0 | — | 1 | 5 | 2 |
| Aiea | 023 | 000 | x | — | 5 | 6 | 0 |
Austin Reese, Alan Ibanes (6) and Clinton Kala-Mahiai. Travis Uyeda, Brock Asher (7) and Taylor Taliulu. W–Uyeda. L–Reese.
Leading hitters–Waianae: Kana Kuiee 2-4; Ibanes double. Aiea: Taylor Kim 2-3; Brett Tanonaka 2 runs; Daylen Pajimola 2-3, 2 doubles, 4 RBIs.
Also
Maui Interscholastic League
Thursday
Baldwin 6, Maui 5 (8 inn.)
OIA SOFTBALL
Mililani 6, Leilehua 2
Alysia Maddison fanned 10 and recorded two hits as the Trojans defeated the Mules.
At Mililani
| Leilehua | 002 | 000 | 0 | — | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| Mililani | 020 | 211 | x | — | 6 | 11 | 2 |
Maegan Tupinio and Jasmine Villegas. Alysia Maddison and Amelia Ariola. W–Maddison. L–Tupinio.
Leading hitters–Mililani: Jade Yadao-Dalvez 2-3; Cheyenne Koki 2-3; Joen Baker 2-4; Maddison 2-2, 2 runs; Kacie Oshiro double.
