To hear Joey Cantillo put it, a one-hit performance over six scoreless innings had its share of struggles.

The 6-foot-3, 200-pound southpaw overcame early location challenges as Kailua routed Kaiser 10-1 on a hot Wednesday afternoon at the Cougars’ field. Cantillo, who is just a junior, struck out 10 and walked none in a masterful performance by general standards.

“In the pen, the normal stuff, the fastball and curveball (were working), but today I struggled getting the curveball over for a strike, so I was throwing a lot of fastballs. And also a knuckle-slurve,” said Cantillo, whose no-hit bid was broken up in the fifth inning. “I just trust in my abilities and trust in my team.”

Kailua improved to 3-3 in the OIA East while Kaiser dropped to 2-4.

“Joey pitched well. You always expect Kailua to play well,” Kaiser coach Ryan Umemoto said.

The Surfriders scored eight runs in the top of the second inning against Kaiser ace Kamalu Simeona. While Simeona, like Cantillo, didn’t get early, borderline low pitches called for strikes, Kailua took advantage. The visitors sent 12 batters to the plate in the second.

Cantillo led off with a walk, Keiki Kanahele-Santos singled and Joseph Byers walked to load the bases. Noah Ah Yat then belted a triple to deep left field to give the coach Corey Ishigo’s team a 3-0 lead.

After Destin Imanaka drew a one-out walk, Brendan Odo sent a triple to center, scoring Ah Yat and Imanaka to make it 5-0.

Dalton Kalama followed with a single to left, scoring Imanaka for a six-run cushion. Lawson Faria, the clean-up hitter, then clubbed a triple to center, bringing Kalama home. Cantillo, batting for the second time in the inning, sent a double to right, scoring Faria easily for an 8-0 lead.

Simeona settled down and started hitting his spots with a fastball and breaking pitch. He finished with six strikeouts (and four walks), including four K’s in a row during the fourth and fifth innings.

“He missed a couple up and (Kailua) swung the bat well,” Umemoto said. “For the most part, it was a clean game for us. Their pitcher pitched well.”

Kaiser couldn’t provide much help at the plate for Simeona. In the bottom of the second, it took an error by Imanaka, the shortstop, and a three-base throwing error by the catcher, Daniel Thomas, on a swinging third strike by Emmett Covello, for the home team to register its first and only run.

Cantillo found his groove and retired the next nine Cougars in a row. Kaiser picked up its only hit with two outs in the bottom of the fifth, an infield single by Kainoa Craig. He advanced to second on a wild pitch, but Cantillo struck out Jace Okamoto to end the inning.

Kaiser fell to fifth place in the division with the loss, still in position to qualify for the playoffs.

“Usually, if they work hard, things will take care of themselves,” Umemoto said.

Kailua has traditionally been a team that peaks later in the season.

“I think we haven’t even played our best baseball yet,” said Cantillo, who is 2 inches taller and 20 pounds heavier than he was as a sophomore. “We have a whole half-season of baseball left.”

OIA DIVISION I WEST BASEBALL

No. 6 Mililani 7, Campbell 2

Koa Eastlack, Justin Ogasawara (5), Keolu Ramos (7) and Hunter Kirihara. Jamin Kalaola, Dylan Florentin (1), Dustin Abellanida (7) and Bronson Burr.

W–Eastlack. L–Kalaola.

Leading hitters–Mil: Aris Nakagawa 2 RBI, SB; Ramos 2-3, RBI, 2 runs; Ryan Kono 2-3, 3B, 3 RBI. Camp: Jordan Macias 3-4, 2B, 2 RBI; Roy Clemons 2B; Kainoa Ganancial 3B, SB.

No. 2 Pearl City 2, Waianae 1

Trenton Darley pitched 22/3 innings, allowing just one hit and striking out four as the Chargers edged the Seariders.

Tavita Lalau and Ejay Kuakini. Sam Prentice, Trenton Darley (5) and Kaleb Nishijo.

W–Darley. L–Lalau.

Leading hitters–Wain: Kuakini RBI. PC: Matt Yokota RBI.

Waipahu 3, Leilehua 2

A seventh-inning error allowed Cole Phillips to score the winning run as the Marauders beat the Mules.

Dancin Ah-quin, Nai Cordero (7) and Jaryn Kanbara. Kobie Russell and Cole Phillips.

W–Russell. L–Cordero.

Leading hitters–Lei: Christian Ontai 2-3; Nolan Tumacder 2-3, run; Jaxon Hotta 2-3; Jansen Dangaran 2B, run, RBI. Waip: Khaine Viliamu 2B, run, RBI.

OIA DIVISION I EAST BASEBALl

Kailua 10, Kaiser 1

Joey Cantillo, Dalton Kalama (7) and Daniel Thomas. Kamalu Simeona, Antonio Omphroy (7) and Emmett Covello.

W–Cantillo. L–Simeona.

Leading hitters–Kail: Destin Imanaka 1-3, 2 runs; Brendan Odo 3B, 3 RBI, run; Kalama 2-3, 2B, run, 2 RBI; Lawson Faria 3B, RBI, run; Cantillo 2B, RBI, run; Keiki Kanahele-Santos 2-4, run; Noah Ah Yat 2-3, 3B, 2 runs, 3 RBI.

No. 5 Kalani 3, Castle 1

Connor Zalewski drove in two runs as the Falcons remained unbeaten in league play with their victory over the Knights.

Duke Fujii, Micah Kawano (7) and Bronson Matsumoto. Jordan Harvest, Inoa Robello (7) and Jabe Kahawaii.

W–Fujii. L–Harvest.

Leading hitters–Kaln: Connor Zalewski 2-3, 2 RBI. Cast: Keoki Gaspar-Takahashi 2B, RBI.

Moanalua 6, Roosevelt 3

Na Menehune built a 5-0 lead after three innings and held on to top the Rough Riders.

Jerrod Soriano led Moanalua, going 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBIs.

Five players had one hit each for Roosevelt, with Blaise Leong driving in the only run out of the group.

Randy Tabura, Skyler Yamamoto (5) and Kekaulike Kalua. Matt Schewe, Shayne Cazinha (5) and Jared Tamashiro.

W–Tabura. L–Schewe.

Leading hitters–Moan: Jerrod Soriano 2-3, 2 runs, 2 RBI; Mark Kitano-Maguire 2-4, 2 RBI. Roos: Blaise Leong 1-3, RBI. Shayne Cazinha 1-2, run.

OIA DIVISION II BASEBALL

Kapolei 13, McKinley 0, 5 inn.

The Hurricanes took advantage of six errors to rout the Tigers and stay undefeated in OIA play.

Ty-Noah Williams and DJ Tapat combined to limit McKinley to one hit.

Cameron Fernandez, Elijah Vincent (2), Koolau Anderson (3) and Royden Espiritu. Ty-Noah Williams, DJ Tapat (4) and Mykah Kuratani.

W–Williams. L–Fernandez.

Leading hitters–McK: Kuratani 2-3, run, 2 RBI; Andrei Stoyanow, 2-2, run, RBI. Kapo: Kuratani 2-3, run, 2 RBI; Andrei Stoyanow, 2-2, run, RBI.

Radford 2, Kalaheo 1

Carter Ogino’s two-out RBI single in the bottom of the sixth broke a 1-all tie as the Rams defeated the Mustangs.

Kaliu Lapela, Tennison Cantrell (5) and Curtis Chung Jr. Tjader De Alba and Dominic Albalos.

W–De Alba. L–Cantrell.

Leading hitters–Kalh: Abel Kanehe 2-3. Rad: Quintin Iriarte 2-3.

ILH DIVISION II BASEBALl

Pac-Five 2, Hanalani 1

The Wolfpack scored on a wild pitch and a fielder’s choice to defeat the Royals.

Pac-Five’s Lee Tanaka pitched a complete-game four-hitter and struck out seven in the win.

Lee Tanaka and Jared Miyasato. Tyler Lee, Aidan Koanui (3) and Reyn Romero.

W–Tanaka. L–Lee.

Leading hitters–Hana: Romero RBI.

St. Francis 11, Damien 2

The Saints scored nine runs in the first three innings and routed the Monarchs.

Jared Yara earned the win for St. Francis, striking out four and allowing two runs over five innings pitched.

Damien catcher Milton Gainey drove in both runs for the team.

Jared Yara, Steven Perry (6) and Jacob Poole. Javin Cortez, Dylan Tapat (2), Kai Cazinha (3), Chanson Aki (4), Kaysen Kajiwara (4), Kaimana Cameron (6) and Milton Gainey.

W–Yara. L–Cortez.

Leading hitters–StF: Poole 2-3, 2 RBI, run; John Paul Tilley 2-2. DMS: Gainey 1-1, 2 RBI.