Mid-Pacific denied ‘Iolani a chance to tighten the ILH baseball race Saturday with a 10-6 victory over the Raiders.

After scoring eight runs in the first two innings, the Owls (2-1) went cold in the middle innings and were fortunate to keep the Raiders (1-3) from pulling it out at the end.

"We scratched back and we had our chances," ‘Iolani coach Brent Shimokawa said. "We had the bases loaded with no outs (and got just one run out of it in the fourth). That’s baseball. We dug ourselves an eight-run hole and created a big mountain that we had to climb. We started to reel them in, but that’s not the ideal way to get things done."

To hold off the storming Raiders, MPI coach Dunn Muramaru found the answer in reliever Jacob Maekawa, who is usually a closer.

Maekawa finished the final three innings of scoreless ball by giving up only one hit to record the win. Left-handed starter Alex Oley lasted 22/3 innings and was not in long enough to be eligible for the victory.

"I didn’t want to bring him in that soon," Muramaru said about Maekawa, who entered with an 8-6 lead and one Raider on base in the fifth. "But the game was on the line and we needed him. I was really glad we got those last two runs."

Those last two MPI runs in the seventh came with two outs and after what appeared to be a third out, but on a third strike to Hunter Hill, catcher’s interference was called on the Raiders’ Josh Inaba. Maekawa came through with an RBI single and Noah Shackles cracked a run-scoring double for what turned out to be the 10-6 final score.

A disputed call that went in favor of MPI led to the Owls’ eighth run in the second inning. Ryne Yamashiro was cut down at the plate on a relay to Inaba, but it was ruled an obstruction against Inaba and the run counted.

"I (calmly) told the umpire that I was fighting for my boys and that I thought he missed that call," Shimokawa said. "I thought (Inaba) had every right to go for the ball that was coming right at him. (The umpire) said he was standing in the way of the plate even before the relay was thrown."

Everett Lau, ‘Iolani’s third of six pitchers, used his breaking ball and mixed in some fastballs to keep MPI from taking a bigger lead. He pitched 3 2/3 innings with three strikeouts and didn’t allow a run on just one hit.

"I hadn’t pitched in a long time, but somehow I just found it (the curve) and everything went well," Lau said. "Our start (as a team) was shaky, but we’ll be practicing to get things down more."

Shimokawa said Lau was "tremendous," and Muramaru added that Lau "gave them a chance to catch up."

Chase Wago’s two-run double keyed MPI’s four-run opening inning against ‘Iolani starter Austin Jim On. 

In the ‘Iolani seventh, Lau doubled and Matt Campos walked, but Maekawa fanned the next two batters en route to three straight outs to end it.

"I was just trying to throw strikes and was confident in the defense behind me," Maekawa said. "We came out firing (on offense), but we let up. We need to keep being relentless. I knew that lead wasn’t big enough."

Alex Oley, Noah Sills (3), Jacob Maekawa (5) and Noah Shackles. Austin Jim On, Kaimana Bartolome (2), Brandon Yanagi (2), Everett Lau (3), Ezra Heleski (6), Corey Nakakura (7) and Josh Inaba. 

W–Maekawa. L–Jim On.

Leading hitters–Mid-Pacific: Maekawa 2-3, 2 runs; Shackles 3-4, two 2b, 3 RBIs; Tyler Yamaguchi 2-5, RBI, 2 runs; Chase Wago 3b, 2 RBIs. ‘Iolani: Jim On 2 RBIs; Pikai Winchester 2-4, 2b; Lau 2b, RBI; Matt Campos 2b; Landen Moran 2-4, 2 RBIs.

No. 4 Saint Louis 2, No. 6 Kamehameha 0

Pono Anderson pitched a three-hit shutout for the Crusaders, who handed the Warriors their first loss.

Codie Paiva and Kekai Rios. Pono Anderson and Taylor Meilluer.

W–Anderson. L– Paiva.

Leading hitters–Kamehameha: Chance Arakaki 2-3. Saint Louis: Travis Tanaka 2-3, 2b.

ILH DIVISION II

Hanalani 8, St. Francis 0

Chad Wakabayashi and Ryllen Abeshima combined on a three-hitter as the Royals won for the first time in school history.

Zach Alcos, Kanta Kinoshita (6) and Royce Torres, Jarred Yara (6). Chad Wakabayashi, Ryllen Abeshima (7) and Reyn Romero. W–Wakabayashi. L–Alcos.

Leading hitters–St. Francis: Shawn Eliis 2-2. Hanalani: Romero 2b; Aaron Leong 2-4, 3b, 2 RBIs; Abeshima 2b, 2 RBIs; Max Ares 2b.

Maryknoll 8, Pac-Five 4

Kaliko Thomas collected three hits including a double and drove in four runs to help the Spartans hand the Wolfpack their first ILH loss.

Ramos, Ogasawara (3) and Joshua Muneno.

W–Muneno and Neal Nakasone Jr.. L–Ramos and Lum.

Leading hitters– Pac-Five: Sonoda 3-4, RBI; Tanaka 3-4; Lum 2-4, RBI; Nakashima 2-4. Maryknoll: Kaliko Thomas 2-2, 2b, 4 RBIs.

OIA RED WEST

Mililani 2, Leilehua 1

Trojans starter Micah Chinen allowed a run on two hits through six innings and struck out four en route to earning the victory for the undefeated Trojans.

Wayne Abear and Kebi Dellatan. Micah Chinen, Keolu Ramos (7) and Sean Sonognini.

W–Chinen. L–Abear. S–Ramos.

Leading hitters–Lei: Abear RBI. Mil: Adam Connell 2b, RBI; Sonognini 2-2; Jarrin Morikawa 2-3.

OIA RED EAST

Kaiser 5, Moanalua 3

The Cougars scored four runs in the seventh frame, all of which were unearned, to hand Na Menehune their first league loss.

Noah Sakatani, Luis Omphroy (7) and Emmett Covello. Tanner Inouye, Andrew Oasay (7), Dez Oki-Takahashi (7) and Kekaulike Kalua.

W–Sakatani. L–Inouye.

Leading hitters–Kalani: none. Roosevelt: none.

Kalani 7, Roosevelt 3

The Falcons rode a three-hit, four-RBI day at the plate by leadoff hitter Justin Ibara to hold off the winless Rough Riders.

Reece Kakugawa and Bronson Matsumoto. Jonah Sasahara, Christopher Haida (6) and Jared Tamashiro.

W–Kakugawa. L–Sasahara.

Leading hitters–Kalani: Justin Ibara 3-4, two 2b, 4 RBIs; Reyn Shitanishi 2-2; Kohl Suehiro 2-4. Roosevelt: Hiram Kaikaina 2-3, 2b, RBI.

No. 5 Kailua 13,  Kaimuki 2, 5 inn.

The Surfriders held an early lead and coasted to a 10-run-rule-shortened rout of the Bulldogs. 

Keiki Kanahele-Santos, Cody Takabuki (3), Joey Cantillo (4), Kaeo DePonte (5) and Kila Thomas. Tyler Fujita, Keith Masui (3), Issac Waikiki (5) and Kobe Hedgar.

W–Kanahele-Santos. L–Fujita.

Leading hitters–Kail: Dustin Imanaka 3-3, 2 RBIs, 3 runs; Stone Parker 2-2; Thomas 3-4, HR, 2 RBIs; Cody Takabuki 2b, run. Kaim: none. 

OIA WHITE

Aiea 9, Kalaheo 1

Jarred Uyeda struck out seven batters to lead Na Alii over the visiting Mustangs.

Kaliu Lapera, Kaleb Gilmore (4), Thomas Capllonch (6) and Brandon Burton, Dillon Veneziani (7). Jarred Uyeda, Kobe Kato (6), Jaryn Nakamoto (7) and Makana Ah Yo.

W–Uyeda. L–Lapera.

Leading hitters–Kalh: Lapera 2b. Aiea: Kato 2-3, RBI, 3 runs; Uyeda 2-3, 2 runs; Shannon Fermahin 2-2, RBI, run.

Waialua 9, Nanakuli 5

The Bulldogs tacked on four runs in the top of the eighth inning to beat the Golden Hawks in their season opener. 

Royce Tashiro, Mila Lele (5) and Matthan Hatchie. Chucky Hoopai, Brayden Ramaila (5), Josh Lincoln (8) and Zayn Kaaihue-Vasconcellos.

W–Lele. L–Lincoln.

Leading hitters–Wail: Lele 2-4, RBI; Virgilio Bareng 2-4; Branigan Lee 2-4; Hatchie 2-3, 2b. Nan: Lincoln 2-3, HR, 4 runs; Ramaila 2-3, 3b, 2 RBIs; Hoopai 2-4; Ronson Vea 2-3.

Other scores

MIL

Seabury Hall 11, Lanai 5

Maui 9, Lahainaluna 1

Baldwin 6, King Kekaulike 0

ILH SOFTBALL

Kamehameha 11, Pac-Five 0 (6 inn.)

Chris Hipa had three strikeouts and posted a no-hitter for the undefeated Warriors.

Chris Hipa and Rachel Ogasawara. Khaliah Kahoano, Kiara Peterson (4) and Kailee Russell, Alisha Candelario (4).

W–Hipa. L–Kahoano.

Leading hitters– Kamehameha: Kalei Kaneshiro 2-2, HR, 3 RBIs; Dallas Millwood 2b, Rachel Ogasawara 2b.

No. 7 Punahou 13, Sacred Hearts 3, 6 inn.

Sarah Sumida drove in four runs as the Buffanblu beat the Lancers.

Nicole Nishizawa, Lauren Mooney (4), J. Fujita (NA) and S. Buck, J. Sato (NA). K.Huihui and J. Tyler. W–Nishizawa. L–Huihui.

Leading hitters–Punahou: Sarah Sumida 2-2, 2 runs, 4 RBIs; Jolie Fujita 2-2, 2 RBIs; Elyse Nakamoto 2-2; Taylor Shishido 2 RBIs; Krystin Wong 2-4, 2b, 2 runs, 2 RBIs; Kawailanaauliamaiku Mielke 2-3, 2 runs; Nishizawa 3b. Sacred Hearts: C. Rosado 2-3; M. Kaluau 2-3; N. Chang 2 RBIs.

St. Francis 13, ‘Iolani 5

Sammie Ofoia hit 3-for-3 with a triple and home run to lead the Saints over the Raiders. 

Alyssa Espiritu, Kennedi Lopes (5) and Cassie Ho. Shaye Simms, Sammie Ofoia (3) and Taiana Creekmur.

W–Ofoia. L–Espiritu.

Leading hitters–Iol: Leila Anoina 3-4, RBI, 2 runs; Macy Uyehara 2-4, 2b, 2 RBIs, run; Espiritu 2-5, 2b, 2 RBIs. StF: Creekmur 3-4, 2b, 3 RBIs; Ofoia 3-3, 3b, HR, 4 RBIs, 3 runs; Tiare Guerrero 3b; Simms 3-3, RBI, 2 runs.

OIA RED EAST SOFTBALL

KAISER 6, ROOSEVELT 1

Crystal Ching-Lake pitched a two-hitter and Kayla Russell drove in two runs as the Cougars beat the Rough Riders.

Crystal Ching-Lake and Tiana Ching-Lake. Mari Foster and Destiny Hulani. W–C. Ching-Lake. L–Foster.

Leading hitters–Kaiser: Kayla Russell 2-3, 2 RBIs; Tiana Ching-Lake 2-3; Rainelle Matsuoka 2-4.

KAILUA 11, KAIMUKI 6

Delcie Williams hit for the cycle, scored three runs and drove in four as the Surfriders beat the Bulldogs.

Dacyleen Amond and Brandi Pfeiffer-Kekoa. Dyani Cummings-Lani and Harley Texeira. W–Cummings-Lani. L–Amond.

Leading hitter–Kaimuki: Kuuipo Sefo 2-4; Kaela Nera 2-4. Kailua: Akamulei Makua 3b; Desiree Chang 2b; Moani Kupahu 2-4, 2 2 2bs; Cummings-Lani 2-4, 2 runs; Tiani Lastimosa 2-4, 3b, 3 runs; Delcie Williams 4-4, 2b, 3b, HR, 3 runs, 4 RBIs.

Castle 14, McKinley 3

Statistics not reported

OIA WHITE SOFTBALL

Radford 11, Anuenue 1, 5 inn.

Siera Farias pitched a two-hitter with seven strikeouts as the Rams beat Na Koa.

N. Pene and K. Silva. Siera Farias and Iliana Lee. W–Farias. L–Pene.

Leading hitters–Radford: Cameron Lopez 2 RBIs; Farias 2b; Baileigh Susak 2 RBIs.

No. 10 Nanakuli 20, Kahuku 1 (5 inn.)

The Golden Hawks racked up 11 runs in the first inning to defeat the Red Raiders. 

Chalyssa Belford and Kaila Burnett. Tita Aumua, Aimee Sorensen (3) and Napua Galletes-Fernandez.

W–Belford. L–Aumua.

Leading hitters–Nan: Precious Meyers 4-5, 3b, HR; Ashley Van Gieson 4-4; Daria Kawaahau 3-3, 2b. Kah: Kamele Latu 3b.