Kaiser comes up big, advances to quarters

Luis Omphroy wasn’t sure the game was over.

Neither was Kaiser coach Mark Rasmussen nor the home plate umpire.

After a moment of indecision, Omphroy’s two-run double with two outs in the bottom of the fifth inning correctly ended the game as Kaiser defeated Kapolei by mercy rule, 15-5 in five innings on Wednesday in the first round of the Oahu Interscholastic Association playoffs.

The Cougars (9-4) won their seventh in a row to advance to the OIA quarterfinals against West top seed Campbell (11-1) on Thursday at 3:30 p.m.

"I think it’s just confidence," said Rasmussen, whose team lost four of its first six OIA games. "These guys believe and have confidence in what they can do and I think that’s what it is."

Kaiser scored at least 10 runs for the fourth straight game and has won three of those games by mercy rule, including a 14-4 win over East No. 1 seed Kailua in its regular-season finale.

Catcher Kelan Yoshioka went 3-for-4 with two runs and three RBIs and was a home run shy of the cycle with no outs in the third inning after Kaiser opened up a 10-0 lead.

Yoshioka’s three-run double highlighted an eight-run second inning as Kaiser sent 13 batters to the plate.

Kapolei had cut the lead to 10-5 in the fifth inning when Kaiser added a run on a bases-loaded walk by Shawn Miyashiro.

Pinch hitter Aaron Oda followed with a two-run double and Omphroy hit a long fly ball to right-center that got behind the left fielder as he backpedaled trying to catch it, allowing Miyashiro and Oda to score.

After a brief moment in which just about everyone didn’t know the actual score, Omphroy celebrated with his teammates as the game was officially called.

"I was just trying to square up the ball and when my teammates came out running and yelling, that’s when I realized what happened," Omphroy said. "I knew we needed five runs to walk off, but I really wasn’t keeping track."

Omphroy had two of Kaiser’s 11 hits and Michael Austin went 3-for-4 with two runs scored.

The game started with a questionable call in the first inning, as Kaiser was awarded two runs after it was ruled Kapolei catcher Mykah Kuratani dropped a swinging third strike that should have ended the inning.

With Yoshioka on third after a leadoff triple, Kapolei starter Aizon Kahana struck out Jeshua Bitanga swinging with a slider that was low and outside.

Kuratani started toward the dugout as Bitanga took off for first. Kuratani turned to throw to first, but it sailed over Dylan White’s head, allowing Yoshioka and Bitanga to score for a 2-0 lead.

The lead grew to 10-0 after the second inning.

"I think we were kind of shell shocked because of that," Kapolei coach Thomas Ebanez said. "The kids needed to gather their composure and regroup and come back and play baseball and it was all heart after that to score five."

Kahana finished 2-for-3 with two stolen bases, a run and an RBI for the Hurricanes (5-8), who ended their season in the playoffs after going 0-12 last year.

"These are the same boys that we had last season and they came back with five wins," Ebanez said. "I’m proud of these guys. Kaiser played great and we didn’t bring our ‘A’ game today to compete with them."

Aizon Kahana and Mykah Kuratani. Noah Sakatani and Kelan Yoshioka. W–Sakatani. L–Kahana.

Leading hitters–Kapo: Kahana 2-3, 2 sb, run, RBI. Kais: Yoshioka 3-4, 2b, 3b, sb, 2 runs, 3 RBIs; Michael Austin 3-4, 2 runs; Aaron Oda 2b, 2 RBIs; Luis Omphroy 2-4, 2b, run, 2 RBIs.

OIA RED PLAYOFFS

Waipahu 3, Kalani 2, 8 Inn.

Tyler Enos’ two-out single brought home Rustin Ho in the bottom of the eighth inning to help the Marauders beat the Falcons.

Waipahu plays at Kailua on Thursday.

Reece Kakugawa, Dallas Asuncion (4) and Reyn Shitanishi, Kakugawa (4). Dylan Sugimoto and Greyson Fuentes.

W–Sugimoto. L–Asuncion

Leading hitters–Kaln: Sean Romo 2-4; Brandon Roberts 3-3. Waip: Tyler Enos 2-5, Fuentes 2-4; Rustin Ho 3-3.

Leilehua 3, Castle 0

Mikah Takashige pitched a three-hit shutout and struck out 10 batters to help the Mules beat the Knights. Takashige also had an RBI. Leilehua plays Roosevelt on Thursday.

Stephen Lee and Jordan Harvest. Mikah Takashige and Jarred Chai.

W–Takashige. L–Lee

Leading hitters–Cas: Nicolas Gibbons 2b. Lei: Jonah Paas 2-3; Dustin Ancheta-Maeda 2-3, RBI.

Aiea 6, Moanalua 2

Jansen Kudaishi and Dylan Madamba combined on a five-hitter to help Na Alii upset Na Menehune.

Hunter Yara had two hits and Makana Ah Yo had two RBIs for Aiea, which plays at Mililani on Thursday.

Also

MIL

King Kekaulike 4, Lahainaluna 1