He’s a chip off the old block, a blue-chip ace who has Waianae back on top.
Kekoa Kaluhiokalani Jr. fired a one-hitter, striking out seven with just one walk as the Seariders blanked Radford 7-0 on Saturday to win the OIA White Conference baseball championship.
A hearty crowd at Hans L’Orange Field saw the Seariders (8-3) play flawless defense and Kaluhiokalani baffled the Rams from start to finish.
"What was working for me was my defense," the junior said. "All props go to them."
That was true enough, but the right-hander was on top of his game with a live fastball, a curveball that he threw on 0-2 counts and an occasional cutter.
"I had a hard time with my changeup today," he said.
His father, coach Kekoa Kaluhiokalani, talked with his team in pregame about Seariders baseball history.
"The last time we played for an OIA championship was 1998," the former Seariders standout said, noting that the program had three league titles entering Saturday’s game.
Radford’s lone base hit was a double to left by Derek Rodrigues in the fourth. Kaluhiokalani didn’t issue a walk until the final inning.
The Rams (10-2) haven’t lost their optimism.
"Waianae hit the ball, that’s the bottom line. Kekoa’s son pitched a great game," Radford coach Jacob Sur said. "Our goal from the start of the year was to win states. We’ve still got that journey left."
Sheaven Delima-Ferreira’s single to center brought Brandon Cambra home with the game’s first run in the top of the first inning. The Seariders tacked on two runs in the third off Radford’s crafty Kevin Klein.
Cleghorn Borge’s double to center brought home courtesy runner Dayson Bailey. Brandon Rojo followed with a line drive to center that scored Borge from third.
Facing Klein for a second time made a difference.
"I noticed he was throwing the curve on the first pitch, then fastball, fastball," Rojo said.
Cambra came through with a double to left in the sixth, scoring Chasetin Nash-Santiago. Kaluhiokalani then socked a single up the middle on a 1-2 pitch to score Cambra, and Waianae led 5-0.
In the seventh, the Seariders added a pair of insurance runs. Borge singled and scored on a triple to deep center by Rojo, who later scored on a single to right by Jamison Dedeber.
"We wanted to be in D-I. We’ve faced adversity," said the ace, Kaluhiokalani. "We felt like we belong in the Red, but if it doesn’t happen, it’s all right."
At Hans L’Orange Field
Waianae (8-3) |
102 |
002 |
2 |
— |
7 |
10 |
0 |
Radford (10-2) |
000 |
000 |
0 |
— |
0 |
1 |
2 |
Kekoa Kaluhiokalani Jr. and Wayne Silva. Kevin Klein, Michael Vito (6) and Vito, Dominic Albalos. W–Kaluhiokalani. L–Klein.
Leading hitters–Waianae: Kaluhiokalani 2-3, RBI, run; Cleghorn Borge 2-4, two runs, RBI; Brandon Rojo 2-4, triple, two RBIs, run.