Punahou can take a punch. The Buffanblu gave up two runs in the top of the first inning and rallied to beat Saint Louis 10-6 on Tuesday at Central Oahu Regional Park.
Rick Nomura went 3-for-3 with three RBIs and the Buffanblu had 13 hits to overcome five errors and run their record to 6-0 in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu. The young Crusaders dropped to 1-3.
Punahou responded to being down before getting a chance to bat when the Crusaders roughed up starting pitcher David Torigoe and the leaky defense behind him for two runs on a double by Ka‘ai Tom and a single by Ka‘imi Umebayashi.
“We preach it every day at practice,” Punahou coach Kenny Harrison said. “We want them to battle and never give up. Making a mistake is OK, it makes them get better and it proved it today.”
The Buffanblu put the first three batters on in the bottom of the frame on a single, a walk and a hit batter. Saint Louis starter Jordan Yamamoto fell behind to each hitter but didn’t have to worry about falling behind against Nomura.
3 football players among top recruits
Three Hawaii high school seniors-to-be have been ranked among the top-25 college football prospects in the nation at their positions.
The recruiting website Rivals.com lists Saint Louis School’s Reeve Koehler, a 6-foot, 3-inch, 290-pounder as the leading offensive guard in the country.
Punahou School’s Isaac Savaiinaea, a 6-3, 230-pounder, is ranked No. 6 at inside linebacker, and Moanalua’s Scott Pagano (6-4, 280) is 21st at defensive tackle.
Punahou girls soccer coach resigns
Matt Martinson, who guided the Punahou girls soccer team to three state titles in his five years as varsity head coach, has resigned.
“I have loved coaching the student-athletes and being able to build on Punahou’s tradition of excellence,” Martinson said in a statement. “While I will miss coaching, the time is right for me to focus on teaching and family.”
Martinson also teaches high school physical education at the school.
“Matt set an extremely high standard on the field and in the classroom,” said Punahou athletic director Jeaney Garcia. “We are grateful for his dedication, commitment and exemplary coaching.”
The position will be posted to the School website by mid-April. For more information and to apply, please visit punahou.edu/employment.
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“It was just a first-pitch curveball,” Nomura said. “I just swung at it because I wanted to hit. I kind of had a feeling he would start with a curve and just turned on it. Saint Louis is tough, they have that killer instinct attitude.”
Nomura blasted the offering into the corner in right field and hustled into third with a bases-clearing triple and a 3-2 lead. Nomura was erased after Yamamoto struck out Jason Rosen and Nathan Higa bunted into a double play.
“When guys get in trouble we emphasize it even more,” Harrison said. “We want to attack and Rick is a senior leading by example. Swing early and often.”
Scrappy Saint Louis came back and tied it in the third and fifth innings before the Buffanblu put the Crusaders away with two runs in the fifth and sixth. Punahou broke a 6-6 tie in the bottom of the fifth when Nikolas Takayesu, Kainoa Harrison and Nomura all reached base. Bradford Chan drove in the go-ahead run on a double-play ball. Higa plated another with a single up the middle.
The Crusaders put a pair of runners on in the sixth, but were held scoreless when Jesse Crabtree forced Rayson Romero to fly out to right field.
Zak Muenster got Saint Louis 1-2-3, including a pair of strikeouts, in the seventh.
All six of Saint Louis’ runs were unearned as the Punahou pitching staff held the Crusaders to five hits. Torigoe settled down from his rough first inning to get the Crusaders in order in the second for his only clean inning of the four he had the ball.
“Torigoe is one of the best pitchers in our league,” Saint Louis coach George Gusman said. “He wasn’t as sharp as he usually is, because he has been dominant, but we had our chances.”
Punahou plays Maryknoll at CORP on Friday before a showdown with Mid-Pacific at Hans L’Orange Park on Saturday night. The Owls are second in the standings at 5-0 after beating Maryknoll on Tuesday. The Crusaders get a chance to break their three-game losing streak against St. Francis on Thursday.
“Saint Louis is a great team and we had to battle back,” Harrison said. “It is definitely going to help us moving forward.”
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At CORP field 1
| StL (1-3) |
201 |
030 |
0 |
— |
6 |
5 |
3 |
| Pun (6-0) |
300 |
322 |
X |
— |
10 |
13 |
5 |
Jordan Yamamoto, Braeden Nelson (5), Rico Garcia (6), DJ Dureg (6) and Niklas Ajifu. David Torigoe, Jesse Crabtree (5), Zak Muenster (7) and Kainoa Harrison.
W—Crabtree. L—Nelson.
Leading hitters—StL: Isaac Ramboyon 2-3, 3 runs; Ka‘ai Tom 2b, RBI, 2 runs. Pun: Nikolas Takayesu 2-3, 2 runs; Rick Nomura 3-3, 3b, 3 RBIs; Tyler Loui 2b, RBI, run; Nathan Higa 2-3, RBI, run; Lanson Yamamoto 2-3, 2 runs.
No. 1 Mid-Pacific 9, Maryknoll 5
The top-ranked Owls held onto an early lead to overcome the Spartans.
Mid-Pacific’s Daniel Fentriss picked up the win on the mound.
Isaiah Kiner-Falefa went
3-for-3 with a double, two runs scored and two runs batted in as Mid-Pacific built a 9-0 lead before Maryknoll came back.
At Mid-Pacific
| MPI (5-0) |
230 |
400 |
0 |
— |
9 |
12 |
2 |
| Mryk (2-1) |
000 |
230 |
0 |
— |
5 |
7 |
1 |
Daniel Fentriss, Deric Valoroso (5), Trey Saito (7) and Marcus Doi. Josh Muneno, Brandon Hinck (4) and Neal Nakasone.
W—Fentriss. L—Muneno.
Leading hitters—MPI: Isaiah Kiner-Falefa 3-3, 2b, 2 RBIs, 2 runs; Doi 2-4, run; Skylar Tengan 2-4, 2 runs; Brent Sakurai 2b, 2 RBIs. Mryk: Kaelen Hirashiki 2-4, run; Jed Andrade 2b, RBI, run; Nakasone 2b, RBI.
Kamehameha 12, ‘Iolani 3
Jason Murakami doubled home three runs as the Warriors scored four runs in the top of the first in a rout of the Raiders.
At ‘Iolani
| KS (4-2) |
410 |
034 |
0 |
— |
12 |
12 |
0 |
| ‘Iol (2-4) |
010 |
110 |
0 |
— |
3 |
7 |
2 |
Trey Smith, Keenan Lum (6), Zach Kaohu 97) and Moku Kukonu, Ethan Rosehill. Joshua Inouye, Javin Nohara (2), Dane Arakawa (5) and John Ryan Matsuura, John Tanaka.
W—Smith. L—Inouye.
Leading hitters—KS: Alika McGuire 2-2, 2 runs, RBI; Moku Kukonu 2-3, 2 2b, run; Jason Murakami 2-3, 3 RBIs, 2b; Tyler Meditz 2b, 2 runs. Iol: Christian Donahue 2b; Pikai Winchester 2-3, 2 RBIs, triple.
OIA RED EAST SOFTBALL
Moanalua 13, Roosevelt 6
Pitcher Leisha Yamauchi slowed down the Rough Riders offense to pick up the win for Na Menehune.
Moanalua’s Cyanne Fernandez pitched in the first two innings and also led the offense with a home run in the second inning.
At Moanalua
| Roos (0-5) |
006 |
000 |
0 |
— |
6 |
5 |
3 |
| Moan (3-2) |
034 |
105 |
X |
— |
13 |
9 |
2 |
Katie DeBusca and Alyssa Johnston. Cyanne Fernandez, Leisha Yamauchi (3) and Chrissi Omalza.
W—Yamauchi. L—DeBusca.
Leading hitters—Roos: Johnston 2-3. Moan: Fernandez 2-3, HR, 2 runs, 2 RBIs; Yamauchi 3-4, 2b, 2 RBIs, 3 runs.
No. 8 Castle 11, Kaiser 5
The co-No. 8 Knights broke a 5-all tie with three runs in the bottom of the fifth and four in the sixth to beat the Cougars.
Castle’s Brittany Hawn pitched in the win while also going 4-for-5 with a double and two runs batted in.
At Castle
| Kais (3-4) |
210 |
020 |
0 |
— |
5 |
9 |
2 |
| Cast (4-1) |
101 |
234 |
x |
— |
11 |
17 |
1 |
Kimberly Dilda, Shawna Kuroiwa (5), Dilda (6) and Sadie Karratti-Abordo. Brandee Lane, Brittany Hawn (5) and Bailey Arevalo-Perry.
W—Hawn. L—Kuroiwa.
Leading hitters—Kais: Rainelle Matsuoka 3-4, 2 RBIs, 3b. Cast: Hawn 4-5, 2b, 2 RBIs; Arevalo-Perry 2-4, 3 RBIs; Alana Igafo 2-4; Darrien Dacosin 2-3, 2b; Tiari Halemanu 2-4, 2 RBIs.
OIA RED WEST SOFTBALL
No. 5 Mililani 11, Aiea 1
Winning pitcher Alysia Maddison struck out eight batters as the Trojans shut down Na Alii in five innings.
Justine Fabella went 3-for-4 for Mililani.
At Aiea Annex field
| Mililani (5-1) |
023 |
06 |
— |
11 |
9 |
2 |
| Aiea (2-5) |
000 |
01 |
— |
1 |
1 |
4 |
Alysia Maddison, Rayna Malina (5) and Ariel Beaudoin. Raisa Strom-Okimoto and Ashley Nakamoto, Kendra Chong (4).
W—Maddison. L—Strom-Okimoto.
Leading hitters—Mil: Justine Fabella 3-4, RBI, run; Kacie Oshiro 2-2, 2b, RBI, 2 runs.
No. 8 Campbell 7, Leilehua 6
The Sabers rallied for two runs in the bottom of the eighth to edge the Mules.
Campbell built a 5-0 lead only to see Leilehua tie it with five runs in the sixth. The Mules went ahead 6-5 with a run in the eighth before the Sabers rallied.
At Campbell
| Lei (2-3) |
000 |
005 |
01 |
— |
6 |
7 |
0 |
| Camp (3-1) |
101 |
300 |
02 |
— |
7 |
5 |
0 |
Maegan Tupinio and Jasmine Villegas. Kayce Koohia, Summer Palipti (6) and Kiana Ulufale.
W—Palipti. L—Tupinio.
Leading hitters—Lei: Villegas 2-4, 3b; Kyla Larson 2-4, 2b. Camp: Taylor Hoohuli 2-3; Ashlynn Yagin 2-4.
No. 7 Kapolei 5, Waianae 0
Winona Pauline pitched a no-hitter and struck out a whopping 17 batters as the Hurricanes blanked the Seariders.
Kapolei’s Aimee Aipa added a homer, going 2-for-4 with two runs scored and two runs batted in.
At Waianae
| Kapo(3-2) |
020 |
210 |
0 |
— |
5 |
11 |
0 |
| Wain (3-4) |
000 |
000 |
0 |
— |
0 |
0 |
2 |
Winona Pauline and Aimee Aipa. Raelene Diorec and Kristy Keomalu.
W—Pauline. L—Diorec.
Leading hitters—Kapo: Mikela Manewa 2-4, 2b; Ashalyn Umiamaka 3-4, 2b, 2 runs; Aipa 2-4, HR, 2 RBIs, 2 runs.
OIA WHITE SOFTBALL
Radford 19, Anuenue 3
The Rams pushed across 11 runs on three hits and 10 walks in the first inning to cruise by Na Alii.
At Radford
| Anue (0-5) |
030 |
00 |
— |
3 |
5 |
6 |
| Rad (2-4) |
(11)24 |
2x |
— |
19 |
5 |
2 |
P. Silva, H. Haumea (2) and K. Luke; Ritanna Pocaigue and Ilona Petersen.
W—Pocaigue. L—Silva.
Leading hitters—Anue: B. Nao 2 RBIs. Rad: Pocaigue 2-2, 2 RBIs; Wynona Sugiyama 3 RBIs.
Waipahu 13, Kahuku 3
Tami Viliamu was 3-for-4 with three RBIs to power the Marauders over the Red Raiders in five innings.
At Waipahu
| Kahuku (4-2) |
030 |
00 |
— |
3 |
3 |
5 |
| Waipahu (6-0) |
230 |
62 |
— |
13 |
9 |
1 |
Paige Kauhi, Aiyana Aipia (4) and Kasey Capillian. Anu Aikala, Shevan DeFreitas (3) and Shandell Palencia.
W—DeFreitas. L—Kauhi.
Leading hitters—Kah: Napua-Ku‘uipo Aumua-Yamamoto 2-3, 3b. Waip: Tavana Niuatoa 2-3, RBI; Tami Viliamu 3-4, 3 RBIs.
Waialua 16, Farrington 2
The undefeated Bulldogs made quick work of the Governors in five innings.
Waialua pitcher Sabrina Tolentino earned the win, while Kaili Agabin led the offense with a homer in the bottom of the third inning, helping the Bulldogs build a 16-1 lead.
At Waialua
| Farr (0-6) |
001 |
01 |
— |
2 |
6 |
4 |
| Waialua (6-0) |
646 |
0X |
— |
16 |
10 |
3 |
Precious Peters and Lehualani Newo. Sabrina Tolentino and Gabby Maxwell.
W—Tolentino. L—Peters.
Leading hitters—Farr: Valerie Laloulu 2-3, RBI; Kailee Young 3b, run; Litea Halafonua 2b. Wail: Kaili Agabin 2-2, HR, 2 RBIs, 3 runs; Jasmyne Agricula 2-3, 2b, 3 RBIs.
