Fentriss, Mid-Pacific fend off ‘Iolani

It’s not like the No. 1-ranked team in the state needs a power-hitting ace pitcher.

But it must be nice to be the Mid-Pacific Owls, who got 52⁄3 innings of superb pitching from cleanup hitter Daniel Fentriss for a 3-1 win over eighth-ranked ‘Iolani on Tuesday at the Raiders’ field.

Mid-Pacific improved to 5-0 in ILH play, dropping ‘Iolani to 2-3. It’s the first time an ILH foe has scored a run on the Owls, and in this case, it was unearned.

“Daniel works fast, so we’re just live on defense. You’re always ready, expecting the ball. We’ve got his back,” said shortstop Isaiah Kiner-Falefa, who was 2-for-3 and scored a run. “When he works slow, we know he’s struggling. We hit the ball today. We didn’t execute sometimes, but we got the runs we needed.”

Fentriss mixed a hard slider with an over-the-top curve and a pinpoint fastball to strike out six without issuing a walk. The lone run by ‘Iolani came in the bottom of the sixth, after Fentriss had left the game following back-to-back singles by Max Look and Austin Darmawan.

Deric Valoroso, the sidewinding, submarining righty, relieved Fentriss, but an error by normally reliable third baseman Brent Sakurai allowed Look to score. Valoroso got Christian Donahue to ground out, ending the inning.

The home team got a leadoff single by Corey Nakakura in the bottom of the seventh, but Valoroso induced ‘Iolani into the final three outs, including a sweeping curve that got Kainoa Fong swinging for a third strike.

“I worked in the pen a lot more, worked on being consistent, throwing a lot of strikes,” said Fentriss, who normally plays first base. “A lot of pitches were working. I just tried to work in my fastball.”

He finished with 78 pitches thrown in his first start in league play.

“Darmawan’s hit, I left that ball out a little bit. I have to focus on keeping the ball down more. My coach wants me to work in and out on the plate, locate down. Mostly mechanical things,” said Fentriss, who liked one other stat besides the zero walks.

“First-pitch strikes,” he said.

The visiting Owls struck for two runs in the top of the first inning off Raiders starter Caleb Duhay. Kiner-Falefa and Quinton Collier opened with singles, setting up a two-out single to center by Fentriss — on an 0-2 count — to score Kiner-Falefa.

After Sakurai singled to left, Cameron Igarashi sent a tough grounder to short, where Donahue flipped to second base — too late to get the baserunner, Sakurai, and Igarashi beat the throw to first. Courtesy runner Ryan Murata rounded third and scored on the fielder’s choice, and the Owls led 2-0.

Mid-Pacific finally pushed an insurance run across in the top of the sixth against reliever Bronson Ichimura. Ryne Saiki led off with a single and Cal Muramaru squared up to bunt, then slapped a single to left. After a sacrifice bunt by Kiner-Falefa, Saiki came home on Collier’s sacrifice fly to right.

It was a gritty effort by the Raiders, who got a solid performance from Duhay (two runs, six hits) in 41⁄3 innings.

“We’re getting there,” Look, a center fielder for the Raiders, said.

At ‘Iolani

Mid-Pacific (5-0)    200    001    0    —    3    9    0

‘Iolani (2-3)    000    001    0    —    1    4    1

Daniel Fentriss, Deric Valoroso (6) and Marcus Doi. Caleb Duhay, Bronson Ichimura (5) and J.R. Matsuura. W—Fentriss. L—Duhay.

Leading hitters—MPI: Isaiah Kiner-Falefa 2-3, run; Fentriss 2-3, RBI; Brent Sakurai 2-4.

ILH

Kamehameha 5,

Saint Louis 2

Tyler Meditz connected for three hits, including a double, to lead the Warriors past the Crusaders.

At Ala Wai Community Park

KS (2-3)    000    102    2    —    5    6    0

Saint Louis (1-3)    002    000    0    —    2    5    1

Trey Smith, Nick Young (7) and Kekai Rios. Zeke Morris, Eric Scott (6), Peyton Oshiro (7), Marcus Ornelles (7) and Kawai Mook-Garcia. W—Smith. L—Morris. S—Young.

Leading hitters—KS: Tyler Meditz 3-4, 2b, 3 RBIs, run; Ethan Rosehill 2 RBIs. StL: Rayson Romero 2-4; Jordan Mopas 2-4, run.

BIIF

Kamehameha-Hawaii 10, Kohala 0

Softball

OIA Red West

Kailua 2, Kaimuki 1

Teah Kauhi struck out four batters as the Surfriders defeated the Bulldogs.

At Kaimuki

Kailua (4-2)    011    000    0    —    2    6    2

Kaimuki (4-2)    000    100    0    —    1    5    4

Teah Kauhi and Delcie Williams. Ehlen Awaya and Seplynn Aikau.

W—Kauhi. L—Awaya.

Leading hitters—Kail: Moani Kupahu 2b. Kaim: Alison Pologa HR, Darla Amond 2-3, 2b.

Roosevelt 5, Kahuku 3

Maho Wada went 3-for-4 with two doubles to lead the Rough Riders past the Red Raiders.

At Roosevelt

Kahuku (1-6)    100    020    0    —    3    6    1

Roosevelt (1-4)    011    300    x    —    5    9    3

Kulia Kaowili and Loke Mainaaupo-Eugenio. Katie DeBusca and Destiny Holani.

W—DeBusca. L—Kaowili.

Leading hitters—Kah: Sabrina Alo 2-4, RBI; Tiana Aumua-Yamamoto 1-3, 2b, 2 RBIs. Roos: Maho Wada 3-4, 2 2b. Krystle Chung 2b, 2 RBIs, DeBusca 3b, RBI.

OIA white

Waialua 14, Anuenue 0

Keahi Pang hit a grand slam in the bottom of the third in the Bulldogs’ shutout victory over Na Koa.

At Waialua

Anuenue (0-5)    000    00    —    0    2    5

Waialua (4-2)    146    3x    —    14    7    0

Stalysha Williams and Shayenne Moepono-Techur.  Kaili Agabin and Michaela Chalker. W—Agabin. L—Williams.

Leading hitters—Wail: Keahi Pang 2-2, HR, 4 RBIs, 2 runs; Nicole Verdadero 2-4, HR, 2 RBIs, 3 runs; Chalker 2b, 2 RBIs.