Punahou has been waiting all season for something good to happen, and it happened all at once.
The Buffanblu scored five times in the third inning and starting pitcher Dylan Combs took it from there to earn a 7-1 win over Kamehameha on Saturday at Hans L’Orange Park.
"We’re right back in it," Punahou coach Kenny Harrison said. "We kept telling the kids to stay patient and keep working and it worked pretty well for us. The guys just work, they work hard and they do it."
The Buffanblu improved to 3-5 in the ILH and play undefeated Mid-Pacific on Friday at Ala Wai Community Park. Kamehameha dropped to 3-5 and gets Saint Louis on Saturday at Ala Wai.
Kamehameha plated its first run in its first-chance at bat when JC De Jesus singled to center to lead off the game, stole second and scored on a two-out double down the left-field line by sophomore Kekai Rios.
Then Punahou fought back. The Buffanblu turned to ti leaves in their dugout to change their luck, but an adjustment at the top of the order probably made more of a difference. Harrison moved Beau Branton from leadoff to third in the order and put Jake Fujimoto and K.J. Harrison in the top two spots. Those three only went 2-for-11, but the balance of the new lineup caused them to get at least one hit from everyone in the 2-8 spots.
"I’m not a genius, but it worked pretty well for us," Harrison said. "It helped us pad our lineup a little more and (K.J.) came through for us with that big double."
Kamehameha starter Trey Smith was in control of the Buffanblu in the first two innings, but lost it to begin the third. He walked Punahou’s first two batters in the inning and allowed another to reach when Kamehameha third baseman Codie Paiva short-hopped a throw to first that Jason Murakami couldn’t dig out to let Reece Kato score from second. Harrison drove in two more runs with a double to left field.
Smith hit Branton with a pitch and walked Nate Higa to load the bases and draw a visit from his manager to signify his night was over. Relief pitcher Keenan Lum immediately got the first out of the inning on a fly to short right field, but Brad Chan hit a bouncer up the middle that sneaked into center field and scored two more runs to make it 5-1 Punahou.
"I was getting excited," Combs said about the long inning that allowed him to pitch with the lead. "We needed it a lot, coming off a tough loss. We needed this momentum."
Combs tried to let Kamehameha back in it in the bottom of the third, walking Paiva to begin the inning. He walked another batter following a strikeout, but got No. 3 hitter Tyler Meditz to pop to first and struck out Rios to end the threat. Kamehameha wouldn’t threaten Punahou again with Combs on the hill.
Combs held Kamehameha to three hits and didn’t allow a runner past first base after the third inning. He struck out seven batters and walked four while throwing 102 pitches. Kamehameha could only tip its cap to him.
"Combs threw a good game today," Kamehameha coach Vern Ramie said. "He kept us off balance and threw a lot of strikes and did a good job."
Punahou added two more runs in the top of the seventh on a two-run triple to right by Kato, who had walked in each of his three previous at-bats.
The Buffanblu gave Thomas Morris the ball and the senior overpowered Kamehameha with two strikeouts in a 1-2-3 seventh. Morris, who was Punahou’s ace as a sophomore, took last year off because of Tommy John surgery but showed that Punahou’s pitching might be even deeper than anyone realized.
"Thomas Morris can throw," Harrison said. "He’s got a Division I slider and he is finally healthy. We might start him. Our pitching staff is so interchangeable, and this is how we are supposed to win. We have the pitching to be in this thing."
At Hans L’Orange
| Punahou (3-5) |
005 |
000 |
2 |
— |
7 |
8 |
0 |
| KS (3-5) |
100 |
000 |
0 |
— |
1 |
3 |
2 |
Dylan Combs, Thomas Morris (7) and K.J. Harrison. Trey Smith, Keenan Lum (3) and Kekai Rios. W–Combs. L–Smith.
Leading hitters–Pun: Brad Chan 2-4, 2 RBI, Reece Kato 2 RBIs. KSK: none.
ILH DIVISION II
Pac-Five 12, St. Francis 2
Shawn Hampton was 3-for-4 with two RBIs and Braxton Kihara collected four RBIs as the Wolfpack routed the Saints.
Kreighton Tsuruda drove in two runs for St. Francis.
At Hans L’Orange Park
| Pac-Five (7-1) |
102 |
45 |
— |
12 |
10 |
1 |
| St. Francis (0-8) |
101 |
00 |
— |
2 |
2 |
4 |
Chris Andreyka, Devyn Uyeki (4), Frank Perkins (5) and Ryllen Abeshima. Tyler Apuna, Janson Kupau (3), Shawn Baptiste (4), Sean Fernandez (5) and Royce Torres. W–Andreyka. L–Apuna.
Leading hitters–P5: Shawn Hampton 3-4, 2b, 2 RBIs, run; Braxton Kihara 2b, 4 RBIs, 3 runs; Abeshima 2 RBIs. StF: Kreighton Tsuruda 2 RBIs.
OIA RED EAST
Kalani 1, Kaiser 0
Brandon Roberts singled home Trevor Ozaki in the bottom of the fifth inning to lift the Falcons over the Cougars.
Dallas Asuncion earned the win and Reece Kakugawa the save for Kalani.
At Kahala Community Park
| Kaiser (5-3) |
000 |
000 |
0 |
— |
0 |
5 |
1 |
| Kalani (2-5) |
000 |
010 |
X |
— |
1 |
2 |
2 |
Makana Lyman, Michael Austin (5) and catcher not reported. Dallas Asuncion, Reece Kakugawa (6) and catcher not reported. W–Asuncion. L–Austin. S–Kakugawa.
Leading hitters–Kais: Austin 2-3.
OIA RED WEST
Mililani 4, Kapolei 1
Presley Alcover fired a no-hitter and struck out six to lead the Trojans past the winless Hurricanes.
Beau Winchester and Troy Kakugawa had two hits each for Mililani.
At Mililani
| Kapolei (0-8) |
000 |
100 |
0 |
— |
1 |
0 |
3 |
| Mililani (5-3) |
011 |
200 |
x |
— |
4 |
6 |
2 |
Dylan White and Mykah Kuratani. Presley Alcover and Jamesson Madrid. W–Alcover. L–White.
Leading hitters–Mil: Beau Winchester 2-2; Troy Kakugawa 2-3.
No. 2 Campbell 2, Waipahu 1
Alii Pedrina doubled home Jobe Ibana with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning as the Sabers edged the Marauders.
Ibana drew a two-out walk and stole second to set up Pedrina’s game-winning hit.
At Campbell
| Waipahu (4-3) |
000 |
100 |
0 |
— |
1 |
6 |
1 |
| Campbell (9-0) |
001 |
000 |
1 |
— |
2 |
3 |
2 |
Justin Kaeka and Graysen Fuentes. Keanu Smeigh and Tryzen Patricio. W–Smeigh. L–Kaeka.
Leading hitters–Waip: Joshua Maglangit 3-3. Camp: Alii Pedrina 2b.
OIA BLUE
Kahuku 15, McKinley 0
Laakea Graycochea hurled a one-hit, five-inning shutout as the Red Raiders rolled over the Tigers.
Jon Paul was 4-for-4 and scored four runs for Kahuku.
At Kahuku
| McKinley (2-5) |
000 |
00 |
— |
0 |
1 |
6 |
| Kahuku (3-3) |
251 |
7X |
— |
15 |
11 |
1 |
Jayziah Williams, Landon Rita (5) and Brendan Moy. Laakea Graycochea and P.J. Liua. W–Graycochea. L–Williams.
Leading hitters–Kah: Jon Paul 4-4, 4 runs; Justin 2-4, 3 RBIs; Liua 2-4, 2 RBIs.
SCORES
BIIF
Keaau 3, Honokaa 0
SOFTBALL
OIA RED WEST
No. 2 Mililani 4, Leilehua 1
Joen Baker tossed a four-hit complete game and Justine Fabella scored a pair of runs as the unbeaten Trojans stopped the Mules.
Kyla Larson had a pair of hits for Leilehua.
At Leilehua
| Mililani (11-0) |
102 |
010 |
0 |
— |
4 |
4 |
1 |
| Leilehua (5-6) |
000 |
100 |
0 |
— |
1 |
4 |
4 |
Joen Baker and Kacie Oshiro. Taezha-Ann Cordero and Kyla Larson. W–Baker. L–Cordero.
Leading hitters–Mil: Justine Fabella 2 runs. Lei: Larson 2-3.
Pearl City 4, Waianae 3
The Chargers pushed across two runs in the bottom of the seventh to edge the Seariders.
Nat Kang was 3-for-3 with two RBIs for Pearl City, while Kelcey Toguchi was 3-for-4 for Waianae.
At Pearl City
| Waianae (1-10) |
000 |
021 |
0 |
— |
3 |
7 |
1 |
| Pearl City (5-6) |
110 |
000 |
2 |
— |
4 |
6 |
1 |
Rae Diorec and Kamalani Kamai. Cydny Rivera, Kristin Frost (4) and Hope Casarez. W–Frost. L–Diorec.
Leading hitters–Wai: Kelcey Toguchi 3-4; Precious Tabangcua. PC: Nat Kang 3-3, 2 RBIs.
OIA RED EAST
Roosevelt 14, Kalaheo 3
The Rough Riders tamed the Mustangs in six innings due to the 10-run rule.
Maho Wada and Tyra Wallrabenstein led Kalaheo’s offense with a home run and two RBIs apiece.
At Roosevelt
| Kalaheo (1-7) |
200 |
100 |
— |
3 |
5 |
1 |
| Roosevelt (4-6) |
(10)11 |
002 |
— |
14 |
10 |
1 |
Ashlie Hee, Mahina Turner (1) and Ulu Perry. Katie DeBusca and Destiny Holani. W–DeBusca. L–Hee.
Leading hitters–Kal: Turner 2b, 2 RBIs; Jade Martins 2-3. Roo: Maho Wada HR, 2 RBIs; Holani 2-3, 2 RBIs; DeBusca 2 RBIs; Amber Chung 2 RBIs; Tyra Wallrabenstein 2-4, HR, 2 RBIs; Cassey Liu 2b, 2 RBIs.
Castle 12, Kahuku 1
Brandee Lane allowed just two hits as the Knights thumped the Red Raiders in five innings.
Jadelyn Rogers and Alana Igafo recorded two hits and two RBIs each to lead Castle’s offense.
At Castle
| Kahuku (1-9) |
000 |
10 |
— |
1 |
2 |
1 |
| Castle (4-6) |
009 |
3X |
— |
12 |
8 |
1 |
Taina Aumua-Yamamoto, Kulia Kaowili (3) and Loke Manaaupo-Eugenio. Brandee Lane and Taylor Ah Mook Sang, Kawai Hussey (4). W–Lane. L–Aumua-Yamamoto.
Leading hitters–Cas: Jadelyn Rogers 2-4, 2 RBIs; Alana Igafo 2-3, 2 RBIs.
Moanalua 2, Kaimuki 2, rain, 10 innings
Heavy rain halted the Menehunes and Bulldogs in the 10th inning. It has not been decided whether the game will resume at a later date.
At Moanalua
| Kaim. (7-2) |
000 |
020 |
000 |
0 |
— |
2 |
2 |
1 |
| Moa. (9-0) |
010 |
001 |
000 |
X |
— |
2 |
6 |
0 |
Ehlen Awaya and Seplynn Aikau. Cyanne Fernandez, Leisha Yamauchi (8) and Chrissi Omalza.
Leading hitters–Kaim: Lani Preston 2 RBIs. Moa: Kiana Mattos-Felicilda 2-4; Omalza 2-4, RBI.
OIA WHITE
Waialua 12, Radford 1
Sabrina Tolentino tossed a five-hitter and batterymate Keahi Pang drove in four runs as the Bulldogs routed the Rams.
At Waialua
| Radford (3-6) |
010 |
000 |
— |
1 |
5 |
8 |
| Waialua (5-4) |
006 |
123 |
— |
12 |
6 |
5 |
Cheyanne Dochwat and Ilona Petersen. Sabrina Tolentino and Keahi Pang. W–Tolentino. L–Dochwat.
Leading hitters–Rad: Petersen 3b. Wai: Pang 2-4, 3b, 4 RBIs, 2 runs; Michaela Chalker 3b, 2 RBIs, 2 runs; Kaili Agabin 2-4, 2 runs; Tolentino 3b, 2 runs.
Kaiser 11, Farrington 0;
Kaiser 11, Farrington 1
Seli Aholelei tossed a five-inning no-hitter, striking out eight, as the Cougars completed a sweep of the Governors.
Kaiser’s Crystal Ching-Lake struck out five batters and gave up one hit in the five-inning opener.
At Kaiser
First game
| Kaiser (9-0) |
622 |
10 |
— |
11 |
12 |
0 |
| Farrington (0-8) |
000 |
00 |
— |
0 |
1 |
4 |
Crystal Ching-Lake and Tiana Ching-Lake. Precious Peters and Racquel Misioka.
W–C. Ching-Lake. L–Peters.
Leading hitters–Kais: Rainelle Matsuoka 2-4, HR, 2 RBIs, 3 runs; Chelsea Soong 3b, 2 runs; Bailey Gongob 2-3, RBI, 2 runs; Kai Hasegawa 2-4, RBI, 3b.
Second game
| Farrington (0-9) |
100 |
00 |
— |
1 |
0 |
1 |
| Kaiser (10-0) |
230 |
6X |
— |
11 |
13 |
1 |
Precious Peters, Leani Haskell Berinobis (4) and Racquel Misioka. Seli Aholelei and Tiana Ching-Lake. W–Aholelei. L–Peters.
Leading hitters–Kais: Soong 2-2, 3b, RBI, 3 runs; Matsuoka 3-3, 2 RBIs, 2 runs; T. Ching-Lake 2-2; Elyse Tsutsui 2-3, 2b, 3b, 2 runs.
McKinley 19, Anuenue 0;
McKinley 23, Anuenue 0
The Tigers racked up 42 runs in a blowout over Na Koa.
Grace Kapesi led McKinley with four hits, five runs and seven RBIs in the doubleheader.
At Kaiser
First game
| McKinley (7-3) |
367 |
12 |
— |
19 |
6 |
0 |
| Anuenue (0-7) |
000 |
00 |
— |
0 |
0 |
3 |
Kimberly Amor and Jaclyn Galinato. Stalysha Williams and catcher not reported. W–Amor. L–Williams.
Leading hitters–McK: Tiare Sugui 2b, 3 runs, RBI; Grace Kapesi 3b, 3 runs, 2 RBIs; Amor 2b, 2 runs, 2 RBIs.
Second game
| Anuenue (0-8) |
|
000 |
— |
0 |
1 |
0 |
| McKinley (8-3) |
|
(10)94 |
— |
23 |
6 |
1 |
P. Silva and catcher not reported. Jillian Cristobal and Rachel Amor. W–Cristobal. L–Silva.
Leading hitters–McK: Sugui 3b; Kapesi 3-4, 3b, 2 runs, 5 RBIs.
