Moanalua captures OIA title

The purple reign has ended in the Oahu Interscholastic Association, thanks to some blue-blooded Menehune. Miles Higa, the No. 9 hitter, came through with a two-run double in the bottom of the sixth to give Na Menehune the lead, and No. 5 Moanalua held on for 4-3 win over No. 9 Pearl City in the OIA Red final last night at Patsy T. Mink Central Oahu Regional Park.

Moanalua (13-1) ended Pearl City’s string of consecutive OIA titles at four. Higa had struggled against Pearl City ace Chevas Numata, hitting into a double play and striking out.

"They were going to pinch-hit for me, but coach Kelsey (Isa) let me hit in that position and get the job done," Higa said. "The whole game, he got me with the curveballs. I was waiting for a fastball. Good thing he threw a fastball."

It was the first OIA title for Moanalua and coach Scott Yamada, who has been at the helm of the baseball program since 1998. His players cornered him after the game near the dugout and gave him a long-deserved Gatorade shower.

"I’m just happy for them," Yamada said of his players. "These kids have been in the state tournament the last two years, so that experience paid off in big games. My staff is my backbone. The kids never give up. Since 2009, they’ve always been fighting and someone new always steps up."

Jordan DePonte came through with a solid night on the field, at the plate and on the mound. He retired the final two batters for a save in relief of Regan Lum and winning pitcher Kamalu Kamoku.

"I was ready to get the ball in a big-game situation," DePonte said. "We have heart, and there’s no team in the OIA with as much heart as us. This is for everybody. This is for Zach (Manago)."

Manago, a former player, died in December by a hit-and-run driver. Pearl City had already clinched a state-tourney berth.

"Hat’s off to Moanalua. A one-man game, anything can happen," Chargers coach Mitch Yamato said. "We’ll bounce back."

The Chargers jolted Na Menehune early with a leadoff triple to the right-field corner by Kai Kealoha, who scored on Tyler Tokunaga’s groundout. Numata and Lum engaged in a pitchers duel for a few more innings. Pearl City added another run in the fifth when Kealoha singled, stole second and scored on a single to center by Tokunaga for a 2-0 lead. That was enough to chase Lum after 41/3 innings. Just as it seemed Numata was on a roll with a three-hitter, Moanalua stormed back with four runs in the bottom of the sixth to seize the lead. Bronson Shim doubled and pinch hitter David Miyashiro’s sacrifice bunt turned into a fielding error by Numata. James Higa’s single to right scored Shim, followed by a sacrifice bunt by Kekoa Kaulukukui and an intentional walk to DePonte.

Higa then drilled a liner down the left-field line for a double, plating Miyashiro and James Higa for a 3-2 Na Menehune lead. After Michael Egami’s safety squeeze bunt brought home DePonte from third, Moanalua had a 4-2 lead entering the seventh. Pearl City’s first two batters in the seventh, pinch hitter Kyle Tom and Tanner Tokunaga, walked. However, Tom was caught edging too far off second base on the first pitch to Kai Kealoha. Catcher Brandon Kong’s rifle throw went to shortstop Tim Arakawa, who tagged Tom out.