Jordan Yamamoto doesn’t just talk about small ball.

He practices it daily. The senior pitcher struck out seven and went the distance as No. 3 Saint Louis held off No. 9 Kamehameha 7-3 on Thursday at Hans L’Orange Field. But it was his delivery of one of four Crusaders bunts — a suicide squeeze, one of two by Saint Louis — that was crucial.

"It’s the small ball. Right now, the bats, it’s hard to get the home run," Yamamoto said.

The rough ILH schedule left the Crusaders with little choice but to put their top gun on the mound.

"We pitched our best guy against Kamehameha because I’m very concerned about their offense," Crusaders coach George Gusman said. "They hit the ball, they hit everybody. If they get a little more quality pitching, they’re awfully dangerous."

Saint Louis improved to 7-2 in ILH play, sharing first place with Mid-Pacific (7-2-1). Kamehameha fell to 3-4-2 in league play despite some power hitting off Yamamoto, arguably the top pitcher in the state. Scouts from the New York Yankees and Atlanta Braves were on hand, and one speed gun notched a Yamamoto fastball at 91 mph.

"I’m proud of the way our guys hit. Jordan’s a tough pitcher, probably the best in the state. He didn’t have his best stuff, but he has the will to win and battle through those situations. Hat’s off to him," Kamehameha coach Billy Pieper said. "Our boys made the adjustments. I just wish they’d made them sooner — getting their feet down in time. Hunting that fastball because he didn’t have his best off-speed stuff. Our two-strike approach wasn’t good. We were taking a lot of fastballs."

The steady right-hander didn’t have his curveball going, so it was the fastball and slider from start to finish in a somewhat uneven, but gritty effort. He scattered five hits and walked four in the victory.

"I feel good, but today, my outing wasn’t my best. I got my defense and I got through the game with a win," Yamamoto said. "You have those games sometimes."

The Crusaders amassed 12 hits against four Kamehameha pitchers, but it was their use of the bunt that was most significant.

"Wins are so hard to come by. We work on bunting at every single practice. We did some things today a little different because they countered some of the things we were doing, so it was a chess match. Fortunately, we got some excellent execution," Gusman said of his team’s four bunts. "It’s a big part of our game. Everybody that hits needs to be able to bunt. It’s easier after they buy in."

Leadoff man Rayson Romero was 3-for-4 with two runs and Ryder Kuhns was 3-for-3 with a triple, double and two RBIs.

William Young socked a solo homer off Yamamoto in the sixth, a towering blast that sailed over the left-field fence 330 feet from home plate.

Brendan Uchima got the Crusaders going in the top of the third. He singled, advanced on a wild pitch and scored on a single to center by Romero for the first run of the game. Romero went from first to third on a single by Jordan Mopas, then came home to score on a safety squeeze by Jacob Gribbin for a 2-0 lead.

Saint Louis made it 3-0 in the third and 5-0 in the fifth when Ramero led off with an opposite-field single to right and scored on a triple off the left-field wall by Gribbin. Then Yamamoto stepped into the box and delivered a perfect squeeze bunt with Gribbin stampeding to home plate.

The Warriors reached Yamamoto for two runs in the bottom of the fifth and Young’s two-out solo blast over the left-field fence brought Kamehameha within 5-3 in the bottom of the sixth, but Saint Louis plated two insurance runs in the seventh.

At Hans L’Orange

Leading hitters—Saint Louis: Rayson Romero 3-4, 2 runs, RBI; Jordan Mopas 2-3, run; Jacob Gribbin 1-3, triple, 2 RBIs, run; Ryder Kuhns 3-3, triple, double, 2 RBIs, run.

ILH DIVISION I

NO. 4 ‘IOLANI 9, PAC-FIVE 0

The Raiders scored all nine runs in the fifth inning to beat the Wolfpack.

At Central Oahu Regional Park field 2 

Leading hitters—Iol: Joshua Inaba 2-3, 2b, 2 RBIs; Corey Nakakura 1-3, 2b, RBI; Max Look 1-3, 2b, 2 RBIs. P5: Francis Sonoda 2-2.

OIA WHITE

NANAKULI 10, FARRINGTON 9, 8 INN.

Wednesday
At Farrington

W—Lincoln. L—Misioka.

Leading hitters—Nan: Lincoln 3-4, 2b, 3b, 3 runs, 2 RBIs; Barrozo 2-4, run, RBI.; Lono-Soares, HR, RBI. Farr: Paul Madamba 2-3, 2 runs; Baquio 2-4, 2 runs.

Also
MIL
Maui 8, Kamehameha-Maui 3
Baldwin 11, King Kekaulike 1

OIA RED EAST SOFTBALL

NO. 4 MOANALUA 11, ROOSEVELT 0, 5 INN.

Cyanne Fernandez threw a three-hitter and struck out 10 as Na Menehune routed the Rough Riders.

At Moanalua

Leading hitters—Roos: Holani 2-2, 2b, 3b. Moan: Taylor Takushi 2-2, RBI; Fernandez 2-3, HR, 2 RBIs; Omalza 2-3, 2b, RBI; Leisha Yamauchi 1-2, 3b, RBI; Najae Reed 1-2, 2b, RBI.

CASTLE 17, KAIMUKI 1, 5 INN.

Asia Igafo blasted a two-run home run to center in the bottom of first and Darrien Dacosin added a two-run shot in the next frame as the Knights trounced the Bulldogs.

At Castle

Leading hitters—Kaim: none. Cast: Chelsea Aweau 4-4, 2 3bs. 2 RBIs; Igafo 4-4, 3b, HR, 4 RBIs; Darrien Dacosin 3-4, 3b, 2b, HR, 3 RBIs; Paige Matsuki 2-4; Lane 2-3.

KAISER 7, KAILUA 6

A five-run sixth inning propelled the Cougars over the Surfriders.

At Kaiser

Leading hitters—Kail: Robi Lono 3-4, 2b; Skylar Nojima 2-4. Kais: Chelsea Soong 2-3, RBI; Marissa Oda 2-4, 3b; T. Ching-Lake 2-4, 2b; Rainelle Matsuoka 1-4, 2 RBIs.

OIA RED WEST SOFTBALL

PEARL CITY 6, NO. 9 LEILEHUA 4

The Chargers pounded out 12 hits and scored three runs in the top of the seventh to upset the Mules.

At Kahala

Leading hitters—PC: Hope Casarez HR; Makana Kekauli 2b; Naomi Hernandez 2b; Kaaialii 2-4; Frost 2-3, 3b; Kristyn Uehara 2-3, 2b. Lei: Shanaye Mattson 3b.

WAIANAE 2, KAPOLEI 1

Nue Sivia hit two home runs as the Seariders edged the Hurricanes.

At Waianae

W—Kamaka. L—Pedebone.

Leading hitters—Kapo: Makana Meyers 2-3; Shaycelynn Hoohuli 1-4, RBI. Wain: Nue Sivia 2-3, 2 HRs, 2 RBIs; Wagner 2-3, 2b.

NO. 3 MILILANI 13, WAIPAHU 0, 5 INN.

Aubree Kim and Tristan Cozo combined on a one-hitter and the Trojans put the game away early with 10 runs in the second inning.

At Mililani

Leading hitters—Waip: none. Mil: Jade Yadao-Valdez 3-4, 2b, 3 runs; Maya Yoshiura 4-4, 2b, 3b, 2 RBIs, 2 runs; Karly Macadangdang 2-4, 2B, 3 RBIs, 2 runs; Justine Fabella, 3-3, RBI, run; Kristen Ishii, 2-3, HR, RBI, 2 runs.

OIA WHITE SOFTBALL

AIEA 18, FARRINGTON 0, 5 INN.

Na Alii blasted four homers and Raisa Strom-Okimoto struck out seven and was perfect until Noele Workmeister singled in the bottom of the fifth inning.

At Farrington

W—Strom-Okimoto. L—Peters.

Leading hitters—Aiea: Strom-Okimoto 3b; Tiana Pantil HR, 3 RBIs; Shantelle Shimabukuro 3-5, 2b; Alama 1-3, 2b; Kyle Johnson 2-3, 2b; Tessie Tavale 2b; Kendra Kakazu 2-3. Farr: none.

KALANI 18, RADFORD 8, 5 INN.

The Falcons defeated the Rams in a game shortened due to the mercy rule.

At Kalani

W—Toyama. L—Lojkar.

Leading hitters—Rad: S. Halsey 2-2, HR; S. Saelua HR; Samantha Mongillo 2b. Kaln: K. Kakuda 5-5; A. Toyama 3-4, HR; J. Wakatake 3-4; L. Cook 2-3.

WAIALUA 14, KALAHEO 4

Kaili Agabin had three hits and earned the win as the Bulldogs rolled.

At Aikahi Park

Kaili Agabin and Keahi Pang. Jacqui Howard and Autumn Grant.

W—Agabin. L—Howard.

Leading hitters—Wail: Agabin 3-5, 2b, 3b, HR; Pang 2-5, 2b, 3b; Christel Agtina 2-5, 3b; Emily Pahinui 2-3, 2b. Kalh: Tiffani Beach 2-4; Tyler Meredith 2-3.

NANAKULI 12, MCKINLEY 2

Alexis Paulo-Meyers and Ashley Van Gieson homered to lead the Golden Hawks.

At McKinley

W—Koko. L—Cristobal.

Leading hitters—Nan: Alexis Paulo-Meyers 3-3, 3b, HR, 3 runs, 5 RBIs; Koko 2-2, 2b, 2 runs; Ashley Van Gieson HR, RBI. McK: Sugui 2-3, run. G. Kapesi 3-3, 2b.

ILH SOFTBALL

PAC-FIVE 9, ST. FRANCIS 8

Wednesday
At Ala Wai 

W—M. Yoshioka. L—Chinen.

Leading hitters—St. F: Resela Vili 3-4, 3b, 3 RBIs; Korrie Matsumura 3-4, RBI; Lynelle Nakata 2-4, 2 RBIs; Danielle Antolin 2-4, 3b, RBI. P5: Cameron Peterson 3-3; Alisha Candelaria 2-2, 2 RBIs; Tatiana Guzman 2-3, 2 RBIs; Brazzlynn Tovio-Asato 2-4, 2b; Keila Lee 2-4, RBI; Noelle Nakamura 1-2, 2 RBIs; Nani Trias 1-3, RBI; K. Yoshioka 1-4, 2b, RBI.