Mililani tops Leilehua, plays Campbell for title

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DARRYL OUMI / SPECIAL TO THE STAR-ADVERTISER
Leilehua left fielder Nainoa Paragoso makes a diving catch in their OIA semi-final game against Mililani at the Hans L'Orange Field.

Presley Alcover pitched 61/3 innings and the Mililani Trojans made a five-run second inning stand for a 5-4 win over Leilehua on Friday in the semifinals of the OIA Red baseball playoffs at Hans L’Orange Field.

Mililani (9-6) is on a tear after going 6-6 in league play. The Trojans will play Campbell tonight in the league final. Leilehua (6-9) will take on Kailua for third place.

Alcover, a burly 6-foot-2 senior, struck out five and walked three while scattering four hits. Shortstop Troy Kakugawa took the mound in relief with one out in the top of the seventh, a moment after Cody Academia’s triple brought home Nainoa Paragoso to cut the lead to 5-3.

Trey Yukumoto slapped a hard grounder to first that was misplayed by Travis Maekawa, and Academia scored to cut the margin to one run.

But Kakugawa bore down, using his cutter to set up high-heat fastballs that Ian Kaopua and Jonah Paas swung on and missed for strikeouts, ending the game.

"We’re lucky to be in this situation. They know how fortunate they are," Trojans coach Mark Hirayama said, noting that the program hasn’t played for the OIA title in more than a decade. "Leilehua was not going away. We have a lot of respect for Lane (Watanuki) and their team. He gets a lot out of his kids."

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Alcover was determined to finish, and with a live fastball through the middle innings, appeared on track to do that.

"My four-seam and two-seam (fastballs) were working. I really like to finish my games, but if I can’t, Troy’s solid," he said.

"I used my cutter and fastball. I just try to mix up their eye levels," Kakugawa said. "This feels good. It’s the first finals for us in awhile."

The Trojans jumped on Mules starter Jared Academia in the bottom of the second. Maekawa’s fielder’s choice grounder brought home Ekolu Ramos. A throwing error by Academia on a sacrifice bunt compounded Leilehua’s problems, and with the bases loaded, Kakugawa walked to force in a run.

Jansen Kim then socked a double down the right-field line, clearing the bases for a 5-0 lead.

Leilehua answered with two runs in the top of the third. Paragoso singled and scored on a groundout by Cody Academia, and Ricky Van Gelder scored on a groundout by Trey Yukumoto.

The Mules had runners in scoring position in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings, but came up empty.

"Our kids played hard. They played well. It’s unfortunate that we couldn’t come out on top," Watanuki said. "Our guy couldn’t bunt the ball, and when you can’t execute the short game, the things you practice every day, what else can we do?"

At Hans L’Orange Field

Leilehua (6-9)	002	000	2	—	4	4	3
Mililani (9-6)	050	000	x	—	5	7	2

Jared Academia, Wayne Abear (3), Dancin Ah Quin (5), Nick Rivera (6) and Ian Kaopua. Presley Alcover, Troy Kakugawa (7) and Jamesson Madrid. W–Alcover. L–Academia. S–Kakugawa.

Leading hitters–Leilehua: Cody Academia 1-3, triple, RBI; Nainoa Paragoso 1-2, two runs. Mililani: Kakugawa 1-1, two walks, double, run; Jansen Kim 1-3, 3 RBIs, walk; Trevor Inouye 2-3.

OIA RED PLAYOFFS

No. 2 Campbell 3, No. 10 Kailua 0

Ian Kahaloa struck out eight as the Sabers beat the Surfriders to advance to the OIA Red title game.

Keanu Smeigh lit up Campbell’s offense with two hits, including a triple, while Alii Pedrina added a double and RBI.

At Hans L’Orange field

Kailua	000	000	0	—	0	2	0
Campbell	001	200	X	—	3	6	0

Matthew Hanano and Royce Komesu. Ian Kahaloa and Rayvan Kahana.

W–Kahaloa. L–Hanano.

Leading hitters–Camp: Keanu Smeigh 2-3, 3b, run, RBI; Alii Pedrina 1-2, 2b, RBI.

No. 6 Pearl City 1, Kaiser 0, 8 inn.

Kamalu Neal pitched a complete game and doubled in the eighth inning, helping set up the game-winning run that scored on an error as the Chargers clinched a state berth.

Kelan Yoshioka pitched a complete game and struck out eight for the Cougars, who saw their season come to an end.

At Pearl City

Kaiser	000	000	00	—	0	4	2
Pearl City	000	000	01	—	1	4	2

Kelan Yoshioka and Makana Lyman. Kamalu Neal and Tanner Tokunaga.

W–Neal. L–Yoshioka.

Leading hitters–Kais: Michael Austin 2-3. PC: Matthew Tsutomi 2-4, 2b; Neal 1-3, 2b.

Waipahu 5, Castle 4

Rustin Ho singled and later scored the go-ahead run on an error in the top of the 10th as the Marauders clinched a state playoff berth.

Waipahu hosts Pearl City today for fifth place. The Knights’ season is over.

At Castle

Waipahu	110	002	000	1	—	5	11	2
Castle	001	210	000	0	—	4	12	5

Justin Kaeka, Joshua Maglangit (6) and Graysen Fuentes. Matthew Anderson Lee, Bill Kerkau (5) and Dane Kamalu, Christian Kapeliela. W–Maglangit. L–Kerkau.

Leading hitters–Waip: Maglangit 3-5; Guy Villanueva 3-5; Fuentes 2-5. Cast: Andre Fraticelli 2-4, 2b; Kyler Martin 2-5; Micah Camara 2-5, 2 RBIs; Kamalu 2-5.

OIA WHITE PLAYOFFS

Radford 3, Kaimuki 1

The Rams rallied for three runs in the sixth inning to defeat the visiting Bulldogs.

Radford’s Harley Thompson struck out five to help the Rams advance to the White finals against Waianae 3:30 p.m. today at Hans L’Orange Field.

At Radford

Kaimuki	001	000	0	—	1	4	4
Radford	000	003	X	—	3	5	0

Keisuke Inayoshi, Jesse Benitez (5), Justis Hoopii-Dias (6) and William Higa. Harley Thompson and Michael Vito.

W–Thompson. L–Benitez.

Leading hitters–Kaim: Dominick Liva 2-2. Rad: Dominic Albalos 2-2, 2b.

Waianae 6, Waialua 0

Tavita Lalau pitched a one-hit shutout and added two hits to lead the Seariders to the finals.

At Waianae

Waialua	000	000	0	—	0	1	1
Waianae	100	014	X	—	6	6	1

Shannon Fisher-Larue and Kebi Dellatan. Tavita Lalau and Wayne Silva.

W–Lalau. L–Fisher-Larue.

Leading hitters–Wain: Lalau 2-3, run; Brandon Cambra 1-3, 2b.