This time, Bryce Ah Sam was all “through the ball.”

The pitcher/cleanup hitter went hitless in four at-bats before delivering a go-ahead opposite-field single in the eighth inning, scoring Wyatt D’Alessio from second as No. 5 Kailua edged Moanalua 5-4 Thursday at Na Menehune’s field.

The clutch hit in the top of the inning was a gift Ah Sam unwrapped just in time. On the previous pitch, the senior had swung and missed on a low inside pitch from Austyn Nagamine.

“He was pulling the ball through the day,” Kailua coach Corey Ishigo said. “The last one, he pulled a little bit but went through it a little more. That’s one of his strengths, going the other way. I think he saw the small park today and got other ideas.”

The dimensions at Moanalua’s immaculate diamond: 308 feet to left, 383 to center and a mere 286 to right. Ah Sam bats left-handed.

Ishigo’s advice paid off. Ah Sam’s inside-out swing sent a soft liner down the left-field line, bringing home D’Alessio, who had walked and advanced to second on a wild pitch.

“Every day and at Coach’s camps, Coach says, ‘Through the ball.’ I just poked it, got a bat on the ball and put it out there,” Ah Sam said. “I got pretty lucky, it went on the line.”

A 6-4-3 double play ended the inning, and Moanalua loaded the bases against Jacob Cobb-Adams with two outs. The right-hander induced pinch hitter Kristian Yap into a game-ending grounder to first, where Kaipo Oamilda-Scholtz handled the groundout unassisted.

Kailua collected 13 hits against three pitchers but stranded 11 baserunners.

“We got lucky today. Moanalua always plays us tough,” Ishigo said. “We’re just lucky to get out of here with a ‘W.’ Both sides pitched really well.”

A crowd of about 100 enjoyed cool, drizzly weather and a game loaded with momentum swings and missed opportunities. Kailua improved to 3-0 in the Oahu Interscholastic Association, with a rematch against Moanalua coming on Monday at the Surfriders’ field. Moanalua suffered its first loss after two league wins.

“It was a good game, exciting game. It could’ve gone either way,” Moanalua coach Scott Yamada said. “(Cobb-Adams) threw strikes. We had chances. We clutched up when we had to. We could’ve done a lot better on the offensive side, but these kids tried their best.”

Using a pinpoint fastball and sharp bender, Cobb-Adams provided five strong innings of relief for the starter, Ah Sam. Cobb-Adams allowed two earned runs and four hits, struck out five and walked two.

Ah Sam, a crafty southpaw, permitted just one run on four hits in three innings on the mound.

Alii Pedrina went 4-for-4 with a double, two runs and three RBIs as the Warriors beat the Monarchs.
Moku Kukonu and Alika McGuire each added two hits for Kamehameha.

Destinee Chang drove in four runs, including a two-run single in the sixth inning, as the Surfriders beat the Cougars.
Hiilani Wong went 2-for-4 with two doubles and four RBIs for Kailua, which scored three in the sixth to break a 12-12 tie.
Kaiser’s Winnie Markowitz had three RBIs.

Alysia Maddison pitched a three-hitter and Joen Baker’s sacrifice fly to right scored Jade Yadao-Valdez in the fourth for the game’s only run as the Trojans beat the Hurricanes.
Maddison walked one and struck out nine.
Kapolei’s Winona Pauline pitched a three-hitter with no walks and 13 strikeouts.

Tali Villiamu pitched a no-hitter with two walks and 12 strikeouts as the Marauders beat the Tigers.
Kylie Nishino had a three-run double during Waipahu’s eight-run third.

Jaci Young and Tai Manu-Olevao combined on a two-hitter as the Buffanblu beat the Lancers on Wednesday.
Manu-Olevao also drove in two runs.