The heart of the order is gone, but the state champions still have plenty of heart.
Matt Tsutomi doubled down the left-field line to drive in Kamalu Neal in the bottom of the sixth after Campbell tied it with six runs in the top of the inning and defending state champion Pearl City pulled out a 7-6 win at home on Saturday.
The Chargers improved to 2-0, while the Sabers dropped their opener after having their first three attempts to hit the field rained out.
The Chargers’ 3-4-5 batters — Tyler Tokunaga, Neal and Sean Milan — went 6-for-12 to keep runs moving across the plate against Campbell starter Paul Arakaki. Not bad for a group short on experience. Only three players in Saturday’s lineup got into last year’s state championship game against Moanalua.
"(Neal) hardly got to play last year, and (Milan) the same thing," Pearl City coach Mitchell Yamato said. "So they are filling some big shoes. They are doing a good job of it, swinging the bat, just being unselfish players."
Pearl City scored in three of the first four innings to build a 6-0 lead before it was tested by gritty Campbell. Neal, Pearl City’s starting pitcher, scattered four hits in five innings before unraveling in the sixth. Neal hit the first two batters and walked the third before surrendering a single to Jaris Floria and another single to left by Cody Silver. Tokunaga came on to put out the fire but gave up a single to left by Cole Nagamine to tie the game. The potential go-ahead run died trying to go from first to third on the play.
"He’s a tough kid," Campbell coach Rory Pico said of Nagamine, who was 2-for-3. "He’s been hitting the ball well for us, clutching up, and you saw that today."
The Chargers made a living out of winning close games last year and still appear to have the magic. Neal responded to being down with a double off the fence in the gap in left field off Brannon Okinaka to set up Tsutomi’s heroics.
At Pearl City
| Camp (0-1) |
000 |
|
006 |
|
0 |
– |
6 |
6 |
2 |
| PC (2-0) |
201 |
|
301 |
|
x |
– |
7 |
12 |
1 |
Paul Arakaki, Austin Mariano (4), Brannan Okinaka (6) and Rayven Kahana. Kamalu Neal, Tyler Tokunaga (6) and Shaye Higa. W–Tokunaga. L–Okinaka.
Leading hitters-Campbell: Nagamine 2-3, 2b, 2 RBIs. Pearl City: Matt Tsutomi 3-4, 2b; Sean Milan 2-4, 2b; Kamalu Neal, 2-4, 2b, 2 RBIs; Tyler Tokunaga 2-4, 2b.
OIA RED WEST
Waianae 7, Mililani 4
Chrenston Kauwe had a home run and three RBIs for the Seariders.
At Waianae
| Mililani (0-1) |
000 |
103 |
0 |
— |
4 |
8 |
1 |
| Waianae (1-1) |
200 |
104 |
x |
— |
7 |
10 |
4 |
Kanoa Hironaka and Jameson Madrid. Sean Stevens-Sadamaru, Kekoa Kaluhiokalani (5), Cleghorn Borge (7) and Darion Domingo, Joe Garcia (4). W–Kaluhiokalani. L–Hironaka.
Leading hittters–Mililani: Hironaka 2-4, HR; Justin Revilla 2-4, 2b. Waianae: Stevens-Sadamaru 2-3; Alan Ibanez 2-3, 2b; Chrenston Kauwe 2-4, HR, 3 RBIs.
Aiea 11, Kapolei 8
John Woodin and Keanu Arke each drove in three runs, and Na Alii scored four in the top of the seventh against the Hurricanes.
At Kapolei
| Aiea (1-1) |
003 |
301 |
4 |
— |
11 |
13 |
2 |
| Kapolei (0-1) |
011 |
310 |
2 |
— |
8 |
4 |
2 |
Jaycob Alacantra, John Woodin (5), Kaulana Wong (6) and Brett Tanonaka. Trey Kamachi, Chase Domogsac (5), Kamachi (7) and William Leskovec. W–Woodin. L–Kamachi.
Leading hitters–Aiea: Tyler Agtang 2-4, 3 runs; Trevor Ling 3-4; Keanu Arke 3-5, 2b, 3 RBIs; Tanonaka 2b, 2 RBIs; Woodin 2b, 3 RBIs; Patrick Villanueva 2 RBIs. Kapolei: Robbi Depp 3b; Kaipo Cambra 3b, 2 RBIs.
OIA RED EAST
Kaiser 7, Castle 0
Royce Kuromoto and Jordan Simao each drove in two runs for the Cougars.
At Castle
| KAISER (1-0) |
000 |
033 |
1 |
— |
7 |
10 |
1 |
| CASTLE (0-2) |
000 |
000 |
0 |
— |
0 |
6 |
3 |
Jordan Alcoran, Michael Austin (5), Kelan Yoshioka (6) and Makana Lyman. Dustin Nakayama, Christian Kapeliela (6) and Manoah Medrano. W–Alcoran. L–Nakayama.
Leading hitters–Kaiser: Royce Kuromoto 2-3, 2b, 2 RBIs; Yoshioka 2-3; Joey Torigoe 2-4; Jordan Simao 2-4, 3b, 2 RBIs. Castle: Eric Akamine 2-3, 2b.
OIA WHITE
Radford 12, Nanakuli 0
Jesus Tenorio batted 3-for-3 with three runs scored and two RBIs for the Rams.
At Radford
| NANAKULI (0-3) |
000 |
00 |
— |
0 |
1 |
3 |
| RADFORD (2-0) |
324 |
3X |
— |
12 |
14 |
0 |
Braydon Ramaila, James Lincoln (4) and Alika Kealoha. Wesleigh Simler, Paul Cavarallo (3), Kevin Tyler-Owens (5) and Michael Vito. W–Cavarallo. L–Ramaila.
Leading hitter–Radford: Jesus Tenorio 3-3, 2b, 3b, 3 runs, 2 RBIs; Austin Jackson 3-4; Tyler-Owens 2-2, 2 RBIs; Roscoe Kalilikane 2b.
Kalaheo 15, Kaimuki 1
Christian Palmer struck out eight over four innings for the Mustangs.
At Kaliua Rec. Center
| KAIMUKI (2-1) |
100 |
00 |
— |
1 |
3 |
4 |
| KALAHEO (1-0) |
273 |
3X |
— |
15 |
14 |
1 |
Keisuke Inayoshi, Sidney Poore (3) and Keoki Kaiahua. Christian Palmer, Joseph Whiting (5) and Geoffrey Craighead. W–Palmer. L–Inayoshi.
Leading hitters–Kalaheo: Matthew Anderson-Lee 2-2, HR; Brian Silva 2-2, 2 RBIs; Alika Andres 2-4; Whiting 2-4, 2b, 3 RBIs; Craighead 2-3; Chris Seiple 2-3, 2 RBIs.
Waialua 11, McKinley 4
Mykai Guigui and Kekai Rivera-Albeso combined for 12 strikeouts for the Bulldogs.
At McKinley
| WAIALUA (1-0) |
300 |
213 |
2 |
— |
11 |
10 |
1 |
| MCKINLEY (0-2) |
102 |
000 |
1 |
— |
4 |
7 |
6 |
Mykai Guigui, Kekai Rivera-Albeso (6) and Kebi Delletan. Hunter Vincent, Brendan Moy (6), Landon Rita (7) and Jayziah Williams. W–Guigui. L–Vincent.
Leading hitter–Waialua: Rivera-Albeso 3-5; Robby Ladia 2-4, 3b. McKinley: Moy 2-2; Kela Kaawa 2-3, 2b; Rita 2-4.
ILH
‘Iolani 15, St. Francis 0
John Ryan Matsuura batted 2-for-3 with a double and four RBIs in a five-inning rout of the Saints.
At ‘Iolani
| ‘IOLANI (2-1) |
520 |
35 |
— |
15 |
13 |
0 |
|
| ST. FRAN (0-2) |
000 |
00 |
— |
0 |
1 |
3 |
Joshua Inouye, Chase Wayton (3), Dane Arakawa (4), Christian Donahue (5) and John Ryan Matsuura, John Tanaka. Oda, Moniz (3), Baptista (5) and Murakami. W–Wayton. L–Oda.
Leading hitters–‘Iolani: Austin Darmawan 2-4, 3 runs; Caleb Duhay 2-2, 2b, 3b, 2 runs; Pikai Winchester 2-3, 2b, 3b, 3 RBIs; Kody Mento 2b, 2 runs, 2 RBIs; Jonathan Ide 2 runs; Matsuura 2-3, 2b, 4 RBIs; Max Look 2-3; Tanner Nishioka 2b; Troy Esaki 2b.
ILH SOFTBALL
Pac-Five 7, ‘Iolani 6, 8 inn.
Sara Holden’s single scored Kylee Yamamoto for the go-ahead run in the top of the eighth inning as the Wolfpack beat the Raiders.
At Ala Wai Field
| PAC-FIVE (1-1) |
000 |
101 |
41 |
— |
7 |
10 |
1 |
| ‘IOLANI (0-1) |
000 |
003 |
30 |
— |
6 |
5 |
4 |
Kaleihiwa Ah New and Courtney Kipi. Nani Yamaguchi and Kirstyn Namba. W–Ah New. L–Yamaguchi.
Leading hitters–Pac-Five: Anuhea Memea 2-4; Kailee Russell 2-4; Kipi 3 RBIs; Quirena Natividad 3b; Kylee Yamamoto 2b. ‘Iolani: Alyssa Liilii 2-3; Amanda McCaskill 2 RBis.
OIA EAST SOFTBALL
Moanalua 7, Kaimuki 2
Leisha Yamauchi pitched a six-hitter with six strikeouts for Na Menehune.
At Kaimuki
| MOAN (1-0) |
230 |
200 |
0 |
— |
7 |
13 |
3 |
| KAIMUKI (2-1) |
000 |
011 |
0 |
— |
2 |
6 |
4 |
Leisha Yamauchi and Chrissi Omalza. Ehlen Awaya and Seplynn Aikau. W–Yamauchi. L–Awaya.
Leading hitters–Moanalua: Ciana Russ 3-4; Jadeen Sakauye 2-4, 2b; Kiana Mattos 2-4, 3b; Omalza 3-3, 2b, 3 RBIs; Hope Arakawa 2-3, 2 RBIs. Kaimuki: Nikki Vongprochanh 2-4.
OIA RED WEST SOFTBALL
Leilehua 7, Pearl City 1
Maegan Tupinio pitched a seven-hitter with three strikeouts for the Mules.
At Kaala Elementary field
| PEARL CITY (1-1) |
100 |
000 |
0 |
— |
1 |
7 |
2 |
| LEILEHUA (1-0) |
004 |
030 |
X |
— |
7 |
6 |
0 |
Sella Rodridguez, Anuhea Rapoza (7) and Taylor Kawakami, Tita Leleo (7). Maegan Tupinio and Jasmine Villegas. W–Tupinio. L–Rodriguez.
Leading hitters–Pearl City: Sierra Tadiarca 2b; Joe-Ann Rapoza 2-3. Leilehua: Tupinio HR, 2 runs; Krystin Kubo 2-2, 2b, 3b, 2 runs; Villegas HR, 2 RBIs.
Campbell 13, Aiea 0
Kawehi Kahana batted 2-for-3 with a triple, a homer and four RBIs for the Sabers.
At Campbell
| AIEA (0-2) |
000 |
00 |
— |
0 |
3 |
1 |
| CAMPBELL (1-0) |
524 |
2X |
— |
13 |
13 |
0 |
Raisa Strom-Okimoto, Lauren Tauanuu (5) and Brooke Taiese. Kayce Konohia and K. Ulufale. W–Konohia. L–Strom-Okimoto.
Leading hitters–Campbell: Sharae Esprecion 3-4, 2 2bs, HR, 3 RBIs; Tiana Rosario 2-3, 3 runs; Kawehi Kahana 2-3, 3b, HR, 2 runs, 4 RBIs; Konohia 2-3, 2b, 3b; Dolodolea 2-2, 2 runs.
OIA WHITE SOFTBALL
Waipahu 9, Kalaheo 0
Tali Villiamu pitched a three-hitter with 10 strikeouts for the Marauders.
At Waipahu
| KALAHEO (0-2) |
000 |
000 |
0 |
— |
0 |
3 |
3 |
| WAIPAHU (2-0) |
000 |
504 |
X |
— |
9 |
6 |
1 |
Sarah Fitzherbert and Jarnica Vinment. Tali Villiamu and Shandell Palencia. W–Villiamu. L–Fitzherbert.
Leading hitters–Kalaheo: Shawna Perry 3b. Waipahu: Mizpah Leau 2 RBIs; A.J. Miranda double, 2 RBIs.
Waialua 23, Anuenue 1
Sabrina Tolentino pitched a two-hitter with no walks and seven strikeouts, and Gerika Kauua-Acorda batted 3-for-3 with a homer and five RBIs as the Bulldogs routed Na Koa in five innings.
| ANUENUE (0-1) |
000 |
10 |
— |
1 |
2 |
7 |
| WAIALUA (2-0) |
5(11)4 |
3X |
— |
23 |
14 |
6 |
P. Silva, S. Williams-Kahookele (1), H. Houmea (3) and T. Silva. Sabrina Tolentino and Gabby Maxwell, Kiara Kamakea (3). W–Tolentino. L–P. Silva.
Leading hitters–Anuenue: Houmea 3b. Waialua: Gerika Kauua-Acorda 3-3, HR, 5 RBIs; Kiali Agabin 2-2, 2b, HR, 3 runs, 4 RBIs; Uluwehi Pang 2-2, 2 runs, 2 RBIs; Charee Wong 2-4, 3b, 3 runs; Ciara Balidoy 2b, 3 runs.
79
JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARADVERTISER.COM