Royce Kuromoto waited a long time for this shot at redemption.
Kuromoto pitched a complete game to help the Kaiser baseball team clinch a spot in the state tournament with a 6-1 win over Campbell at Campbell High on Thursday.
The Sabers denied the Cougars a spot in states last year with a 10-0 win, and also did it in the 10th inning in 2009, when Kuromoto was a freshman. The senior hadn’t forgotten.
"Going to states is the best thing," Kuromoto said. "Those guys are so good, they always stop us."
There was no stopping the soft-tossing lefty on Thursday. He threw 86 pitches, gave up seven hits and didn’t walk his first batter until the seventh. That mistake was the only one Campbell was able to push across the plate.
"He’s just trying to make them put it into play," Kaiser coach Mark Rasmussen said. "If they strike out, they probably struck out themselves."
Kuromoto threw 53 of his pitches for strikes, but struck out only four batters. Those four were huge, though, since two of them came the only time Campbell had the tying run on base.
Kuromoto allowed runners to reach second and third with one out in the third and Kaiser leading 2-0. He then struck out Kaeo Kapana swinging and Cole Nagamine, Campbell’s No. 3 hitter, looking. He later got Ikaika Ramie looking to end the fourth inning with a runner on third.
"We knew we were going to face this lefty; he pitched a good game," Campbell coach Rory Pico said. "He knew where to throw it to get us out. He made big pitches with guys on base and that’s what it came down to. I thought we had some decent swings off him; we just ran ourselves out of innings."
The Sabers had three runners thrown out on the bases and stranded five. Kaiser scratched out its six runs on eight hits. Kelen Yoshioka victimized Campbell starter Rayven Kahana early, doubling in two runs in the first. Tyler Lau and Jake Torigoe also drove in runs for Kaiser.
The Cougars move on to play Kailua in the semifinals today at 3 p.m. at Hans L’Orange. Campbell hosts Kalani at 3:30 with a state berth on the line.
"You never feel good when you play the way we played today," Pico said. "But there is tomorrow. We just have to come back and play better tomorrow."
¯¯¯¯¯
At Campbell
| Kaiser |
200 |
020 |
2—6 |
8 |
1 |
| Campbell |
000 |
000 |
1—1 |
7 |
2 |
Royce Kuromoto and Makana Lyman. Rayven Kahana, Paul Arakaki (6) and Tryzen Patricio, Kaeo Kapana (6).
W—Kuromoto. L—Kahana.
Leading hitters—Kais: Kuromoto 2-4, 2 runs; Tyler Lau 2-3, RBI, run; Kelen Yoshioka 2-4, 2B, 2 RBI. Camp: Donato Gallano 2-3; Kahana 2-3, 2B.
OIA RED PLAYOFFS
No. 10 Pearl City 5, Castle 3, 5 innings
Tanner Tokunaga doubled in two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to lead the Chargers over the Knights in a game called due to unplayable conditions.
Pearl City plays Moanalua at 6 p.m. today at Hans L’Orange field.
At Pearl City
| Castle |
000 |
30 |
— |
3 |
6 |
1 |
| Pearl City |
000 |
23 |
— |
5 |
6 |
0 |
Eric Akamine and Manoah Medrano. Tanner Tokunaga, Sammy Pruett (4) and Kamalu Neal.
W—Pruett. L—Akamine.
Leading hitters—Castle: Christian Kapeliela 2-2, 2b, run; Manoah Medrano 2b, 2 RBIs, run; Fraticelli 2b, RBI; Smith 1-2, run. Pearl City: Tyler Akau run; Tanner Tokunaga 2b, 2 runs, 2 RBIs; Kamalu Neal 2-3, Sean Milan 2-2, 2b, 2 RBIs.
No. 7 Moanalua 3, Roosevelt 2
Bryson Yasui doubled to right field to drive in Austin Inabata with the game-winning run in the bottom of the eighth inning.
At Moanalua
| Roosevelt |
020 |
000 |
00 |
— |
2 |
6 |
0 |
| Moanalua |
000 |
110 |
01 |
— |
3 |
13 |
5 |
Edison Sakata, Leighton Kahooilihala (8) and Tyris Tominaga. Nolan Kometani, Tyler Fujimoto (5) and Austin Inabata. W—Fujimoto. L—Sakata.
Leading hitters—Roosevelt: Brandon Ikeda 2-4; Brent Tanaka 1-3, HR, 2 RBIs. Moanalua: Austin Inabata 3-4, run; Austyn Nagamine 1-2, run; Bryson Yasui 1-2, RBI; Nolan Kometani 2-3, RBI; Tyler Fujimoto 2-4, run; Kekoa Kaulukukui 2-4, 2b.
No. 6 Kailua 7, Kalani 3
Bryce Ah Sam went 2-for-3 with a solo home run and the Surfriders turned back the visiting Falcons to advance to tonight’s semifinal matchup against Kaiser.
At Kailua
| Kalani |
010 |
002 |
0 |
— |
3 |
4 |
1 |
| Kailua |
004 |
003 |
X |
— |
7 |
8 |
1 |
Brandon Valuenzuela, Brandon Roberts (6), Trevor Ozaki (6) and Chase Sumida. Eli Davidann, Jacob Cobb-Adams (4), Kea Vierra (6) and Kea Vierra, unidentified catcher (7). W—Cobb-Adams. L—Valuenzuela.
Leading hitters—Kalani: Jayson Okimoto 2-3, 2b, 2 runs; Jarrin Nomura 1-1, 2b, 2 RBIs. Kailua: Wyat D’Alessio 2-4, 2 runs; Eli Davidann 1-3, 2b, RBI; Bryce Ah Sam 2-3, HR, run, 2 RBIs; Kahaku Iaea 2-3.
OIA WHITE PLAYOFFS
Radford 20, McKinley 3
Roscoe Kalilikane batted 3-for-4 with a triple, homer and four RBIs for the Rams, who play Kalaheo today at Kailua Recreation Center.
At Radford
| McKinley |
000 |
12 |
— |
3 |
4 |
4 |
| Radford |
(10)13 |
6X |
— |
20 |
17 |
4 |
Hunter Vincent, Brendan Moy (2), Vincent Hong (4) and Joshua Pearson-Santos. Paul Cavallaro, Caleb Myers (3), Kevin Klein (4), Landyn Bartness (5) and Michael Vito, Dylan Cox (5). W—Myers. L—Vincent.
Leading hitters—McKinley: Franklin Villanueva 2-3; Pearson-Santos 2b. Radford: Jesus Tenorio 2-3, 3b; Harley Thompson 2-3, 3b; Roscoe Kalilikane 3-4, 3b, HR, 4 RBIs; Cavallaro 3-3, 2b; Jacob Gonzalez 2-2, 2b, 3 RBIs; Brett Morrow 2-4, 2 RBIs; Kurt McLane 2-4, 3 RBIs.
Waialua 11, Kaimuki 2
Kekai Rivera-Albeso and Justin Tantog combined to scatter seven hits for Waialua, which plays at Waipahu today.
At Kaimuki
| Waialua |
420 |
300 |
2 |
— |
11 |
9 |
1 |
|
| Kaimuki |
001 |
001 |
0 |
— |
2 |
7 |
6 |
Kekai Rivera-Albeso, Justin Tantog (4) and Robert Ladia. Joey Tamayose and Keoki Kaiahua. W—Tantog. L—Tamayose.
Leading hitters—Waialua: Ladia 3 runs; Rivera-Albeso 2-5, 2 runs; Mykal Guigui 2-5; Christopher Gervacio 2-4; Shannon Fisher-Larue 2-3; Kebi Delletan 2b, 3 RBIs. Kaimuki: Justis Ho’opii-Dias 2-3.
ILH BASEBALL
‘Iolani 8, Damien 0
Chase Wayton pitched a three-hitter with four strikeouts for the Raiders.
At Ala Wai Community Park
| ‘Iolani |
102 |
130 |
1 |
— |
8 |
17 |
1 |
| Damien |
000 |
000 |
0 |
— |
0 |
3 |
0 |
Chase Wayton and John Tanaka. Skyler Tomisato, Tristan Florentin (5) and Alan Mohika. W—Wayton. L—Tomisato.
Leading hitters—’Iolani: Austin Darmawan 3-3, 2b, 3b, 2 runs; Joshua Inouye 2-3, 2b; Jonathan Ide 2-3; Caleb Duhay 2-5, 2 RBIs; Troy Odo 2-3; Tanaka 2 RBIs; Troy Esaki 2-4.
Saint Louis 5, No. 5 Punahou 4
Kaimi Umebayashi went 2-for-4 and singled to drive in Isaac Ramboyan in the bottom of the seventh inning to lead the Crusaders over the Buffanblu.
At Central Oahu Regional Park field 1
| Saint Louis (9-6) |
000 |
000 |
4 |
— |
4 |
5 |
3 |
| Punahou (13-3) |
000 |
004 |
1 |
— |
5 |
7 |
2 |
Rico Garcia, Braden Nelson (6), Jordan Mopas (6) and Niklas Ajifu. Dylan Combs, David Torigoe (5), Cole Kanazawa (6), Nathan Higa (7) and K.J. Harrison.
W—Mopas. L—Higa.
Leading hitters—SL: Isaac Ramboyon 2-4, 2 runs; Rayson Romero run; Ka’ai Tom 1-2, 2b, run; Rico Garcia RBI; Kaimi Umebayashi 2-4, 2b, 4 RBIs. Punahou: Beau Branton RBI; K.J. Harrison 2-3, 2b, RBI.
No. 2 Mid-Pacific 10, Maryknoll 0
Four Owls pitchers combined on a five-hitter.
At Mid-Pacific
| Mid-Pacific (13-2) |
300 |
022 |
3 |
— |
10 |
15 |
0 |
| Maryknoll (6-8) |
000 |
000 |
0 |
— |
0 |
5 |
1 |
Ivan Dilda, Travis Garcia (3), Deric Valoroso (6), Brent Sakurai (7) and Marcus Doi, Trey Saito. Chase Uyema, Brandon Hinck (5), Matthew Yap (7) and Blaine Hokama. W—Garcia. L—Uyema.
Leading hitters—Mid-Pacific: Nikolas Alarcio 2-3, 3 RBIs; Isaiah Kiner-Falefa 2-4; Doi 2b, 2 RBIs; Garcia 2-4; Sakurai 2-3, 2 runs; Cal Muramaru 2-3. Damien: Kaelen Hirashiki 2-3.
Pac-Five 14, St. Francis 1
Joseph Choy batted 3-for-3 with a double and four RBIs as the Wolfpack routed the Saints in five innings.
At Central Oahu Regional Park
| Pac-Five (3-12) |
|
244 |
22 |
— |
14 |
15 |
0 |
| St. Francis (0-15) |
|
000 |
10 |
— |
1 |
4 |
4 |
Ian Akamine and Joseph Choy, Ryllen Abeshima (NA). Kreighton Tsuruda, Sean Baptiste (3) and Tyler Apuna. W—Akamine. L—Tsuruda.
Leading hitters—Pac Five: Braxton Kihara 2 RBIs; Devyn Teruya 2-4, 2 runs, 2 RBIs; Brayden Yabuki 2 runs; Choy 3-3, 2b, 4 RBIs; Kai Sasaki 3b, 2 runs; Jared Osaki 2-3, 2 RBIs; Micah Witty Oakland 2b, 2 runs; Frank Perkins 2 runs; Landon Teramoto 2-3, 2 runs. St. Francis: Laakea Moniz 2b; Bryson Davis 2b; Tyler Apuna 2b.
ILH SOFTBALL PLAYOFFS
No. 5 Punahou 1, Maryknoll 0, 9 inn.
Jaci Young pitched a three-hitter and Kaylin Okuma scored from second base on an error by the left fielder as the Buffanblu outlasted the Spartans.
‘Iolani will play at Punahou today for the league’s third state berth.
At Punahou
| Maryknoll |
000 |
000 |
000 |
— |
0 |
3 |
1 |
| Punahou |
000 |
000 |
001 |
— |
1 |
4 |
1 |
Shearyna Labasan and Carolann Toyama. Jaci Young and Kylie Popovich. W—Young. L—Labasan.
Leading hitters—Maryknoll: Mieko Okimura 2-3, 2b. Pun: Kaylin Okuma 2-3.
‘Iolani 4, Sacred Hearts 2
The Raiders scored all their runs in the bottom of the sixth inning in the win.
At Ala Wai Community Park
| Sacred Hearts |
000 |
001 |
1 |
— |
2 |
3 |
2 |
| ‘Iolani |
000 |
004 |
X |
— |
4 |
6 |
1 |
Jordyn Waracka and Jamie Toler. Nani Taniguchi, Taylor Garcia-Perreira (NA) and Kirstyn Namba. W—Taniguchi. L—Waracka.
Leading hitters—Sacred Hearts: Jamie Tang 3b. ‘Iolani: Taniguchi 3b; Namba 3b; Alyssa Liilii 3b.
