Campbell takes OIA Red crown

It was about sophomore power and, ultimately, small ball.

The Campbell Sabers secured their first OIA Red baseball championship in 18 years, getting a superb performance from starting pitcher Dorrien Villanueva-Hermosura for a 13-3 win over Mililani.

It’s the first league title under coach Rory Pico, 35.

"I’m proud of the kids, especially as hard as they worked all year. They do it," Pico said. "They sacrifice. They do the right things and they played well tonight."

The game ended in the bottom of the sixth inning after Alii Pedrina fueled another Sabers onslaught by taking his third hit-by-pitch of the night. Between the hit batters and bunts, Campbell had Mililani on its heels all night, stoking the capacity crowd at Hans L’Orange Field.

Campbell, ranked No. 2 in the Star-Advertiser Baseball Top 10, is now 14-1 and will have a first-round bye at the Wally Yonamine Foundation/HHSAA State Championships, which begin on May 8 on Maui.

The Sabers won an OIA crown in 1978 with Warren Miyasaki at the helm, and in ’95 with current Leilehua coach Lane Watanuki in charge.

Mililani’s amazing postseason run hit a road block, but the Trojans (9-7) are still one of the hottest teams in the state after three straight playoff wins going into the title-game loss.

Villanueva-Hermosura and reliever Kila Kapihe, who pitched the final out of the top of the sixth, are no strangers to pressure and success. They played on the Ewa Beach squad that reached the Little League World Series three years ago. Two weeks ago, Villanueva-Hermosura got a start against Pearl City late in the regular season, threw five shutout innings and earned more opportunities.

"That’s why we threw them that day. I had to figure out who our next guy in line would be," Pico said.

"They’ve been in these situations before," catcher Tryzen Patricio said. "When they won the World Series, they got lots of experience."

Villanueva-Hermosura, a smooth, 5-foot-7 lefty, scattered four hits, struck out five and walked just two. All three of Mililani’s runs were unearned.

"Coach trusts us," Villanueva-Hermosura said. "He told me two days before that I would pitch in the championship game. I was ready. I could spot my fastball and change. I couldn’t really spot my curveball or slider."

The Trojans jumped to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first when leadoff man Kanoa Wong walked and later scored on an error.

A double to left by Jasten Smiegh and an infield single by Villanueva-Hermosura brought in runs in the bottom of the first for the Sabers, who took the lead and never trailed again.

After two innings, Campbell had a 5-1 lead, and after nine Sabers went to the plate in the third, they led 9-1. Wesley Mendoza led off with a double, and a combination of bunts and a hit batter, plus RBI groundouts by Brannon Okinaka and Villanueva-Hermosura did the trick.