Kailua’s bench jockeys have a new song to sing: “We Are the Champions.”

The Surfriders beat defending champion Moanalua 3-1 on Saturday night at Hans L’Orange to earn their first Oahu Interscholastic Association baseball championship since 2005.

Kailua has the loudest bench on Oahu, singing songs throughout each game. Now the Surfriders take their show to the state tournament, beginning

May 8. They will take the trophy, but judging by their subdued celebration, singing about states is all that really matters.

“It’s a bye in states,” Kailua coach Corey Ishigo said. “That’s all it means. The real goal is still in front of us.”

Kailua had a 2-0 lead after just four pitches. Leadoff man Kea Vierra was hit on a high and tight fastball to begin the game, and Wyatt D’Alessio bunted the first pitch he saw and reached on an error by Moanalua catcher Austin Inabata. Ishigo ordered the next hitter, Kila Zuttermeister, to bunt, but the hitter missed the sign and drilled the first pitch he saw to center field for the first run of the game. Eli Davidann, hitting next, was also too excited to wait and drilled his first pitch to right field to drive in another run.

“We just came out real excited, we were just pumped,” Davidann said. “I could feel the energy when I stepped to the plate, I could just feel it.”

Moanalua starter Kekoa Kaulukukui stranded two runners and settled down to hold Kailua scoreless until the sixth, when the Surfriders got a little insurance. The starter got two quick outs in the inning before running into trouble. He walked Bobby Spencer on six pitches, then misplayed a grounder back to the mound to put runners on first and second. Moanalua coach Scott Yamada summoned first baseman Nolan Kometani to the mound, but Kometani walked Vierra to load the bases and hit D’Alessio on the toe to allow the run to score and the lead to grow to 3-1.  

“They were aggressive swinging the bat,” Yamada said. “You can’t do anything about that; they have a great team and deserve it.”

Moanalua got its run in the fifth, with Bryson Yasui breaking through with a single for Moanalua’s first hit of the game to lead off the inning and Tyler Fujimoto adding another single two batters later. Jacob Cobb-Adams surrendered a sacrifice fly to Jake Nakagawa before overpowering Mark Kuga to get out of the jam and strand one of Kailua starter Bryce Ah Sam’s runners.

Ah Sam struck out six batters in his 51⁄3 innings, including retiring the side in order in the third and fourth innings. Not bad for someone who had pitched fewer than 10 innings all season and only learned that he would get the ball just before the game.

“I didn’t know what I was doing,” Ah Sam said. “I was so scared. It is the biggest game of my high school career. But once I got on the mound, I just knew I had to do what I had to do.”

Moanalua threatened in the top of the seventh when Fujimoto singled to bring the tying run to the plate, but Vierra took the hill and struck out Jaared Salas to end it after walking Nakagawa.

At Hans L’Orange

Kekoa Kaulukukui, Nolan Kometani (6) and Austin Inabata. Bryce Ah Sam, Jacob Cobb-Adams (5), Kea Vierra (7) and Rusty Choy Foo.

W—Ah Sam. L—Kaulukukui.

Leading hitters—Moan: Tyler Fujimoto 2-3. Kail: Vierra 1-1, 2 BBs, HBP; Eli Davidann 2-3, 2 RBI.

No. 10 Pearl City 5, Kaiser 4

Noah Derby hit a home run as the Chargers held on to defeat the Cougars for third-place in the OIA Red division.

Both teams qualified for the state tournament.  

At Pearl City field

Tyler Lau and Makana Lyman. Kamalu Neal, Reid Akau (7) and Shaye Higa.

W—Neal. L—Lau.

Leading hitters—Kaiser: Kelan Yoshioka 2-2, 2b; Andy Verke Jr., 2-3, 2b, 2 RBIs. Pearl City: Derby HR; Neal 2-4.

Castle 2, Campbell 1

Dustin Nakayama scattered two hits as the Knights captured the OIA’s fifth seed with their victory over the Sabers.

Campbell plays at Hilo, the BIIF’s second-place team, at 3 p.m. Wednesday for the final berth into the state tournament.

At Campbell field

Nakayama and Manoah Medrano. Paul Arakaki and Kaeo Kapana.

W—Nakayama. L—Arakaki.

Leading hitters—Castle: Medrano 2b; Nakayama 2b.