Wago, Yamashiro lead way as MPI beats Punahou

After watching an upset, Mid-Pacific made sure it wouldn’t be involved in another.

The top-ranked Owls arrived at Hans L’Orange Field tied with Kamehameha for first place in the ILH and were on hand for the end of Maryknoll’s 3-0 upset of the Warriors in the opening game of Friday’s doubleheader.

They ended the night alone atop the league’s Division I standings after pulling away from No. 8 Punahou in a 10-3 victory.

Chase Wago and Ryne Yamashiro, the third and fourth hitters in the Mid-Pacific order, went a combined 6-for-7 and drove in five runs between them and Cameron Wong drove in two more runs in the fifth spot.

“We did as much as we could to keep them in the game,” MPI coach Dunn Muramaru said after the Owls overcame four errors in the win. “It wasn’t one of those better games, but we hit the ball and that cancels everything out.”

MPI left-hander Alexander Oley struck out three, walked three, gave up seven hits and left seven Punahou runners on base to keep the Owls (9-3) ahead throughout his six innings on the mound.

Along the way, the Owls managed to fend off Buffanblu rallies and put the game out of reach with a five-run seventh inning.

“He just battled through,” Muramaru said. “He didn’t have his best stuff, but he just battled. That’s the kind of kid he his. … We made a couple errors behind him but still didn’t give up many runs.”

Mid-Pacific jumped ahead in the top of the first when Wago drilled a double down the right-field line. He advanced on Yamashiro’s single and scored on Wong’s sacrifice fly to center.

After Punahou (6-6) cut into the lead with Easton Takamoto’s RBI triple in the bottom of the first, MPI answered in the third when Yamashiro singled in courtesy runner Jarrod Infante.

Punahou strung together three singles in the bottom of the fourth and closed to within a run when Asa Kurasaki’s sharp grounder caromed off of Oley’s glove and trickled into shallow right field, allowing Andrew Matsueda to score from second.

MPI loaded the bases in the top of the fifth on three singles, two after the Owls couldn’t get bunts down, and extended the lead to 5-2 on Wago’s RBI groundout and Yamashiro’s sacrifice fly to right field.

Punahou loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the inning but couldn’t cut into the MPI lead and the Owls pulled away with their outburst in the seventh. After a one-out walk, the Owls strung together five consecutive singles to put the game out of reach.

“I think it was just staying with it,” Oley said. “We got some runs in the beginning, they got some runs and it was a matter of keep putting pressure on the other team because Punahou is a good team. They’re really strong offensively and defensively, so it’s it’s just a matter of our guys keep pushing through and keep battling.”

Both teams have quick turnarounds this morning. Mid-Pacific hosts Maryknoll and Punahou plays at ‘Iolani at 10 a.m.

“We got Maryknoll tomorrow and that’s scary,” Muramaru said. “We just gotta go home and sleep and get ready to play tomorrow morning.”

ILH DIVISION I BASEBALL

No. 1 Mid-Pacific 10, No. 8 Punahou 3

Alexander Oley, Carter Rustad (7), Daniel Nishihara (7), Chase Wago (7) and Kyle Layugan. Noah Goss, Riley Guieb (6), William Bisho (7), David Zane (7) and Logan Williams.

W–Oley. L–Goss.

Leading hitters–MPI: Chase Wago, 3-4, 2B, 2 RBIs; Ryne Yamashiro, 3-3, 3 RBIs; Cameron Wong, 2 RBIs; Layugan, RBI; Trevin Tengan. RBI. Punahou: Easton Takamoto, 3B, RBI; Asa Kurasaki, RBI; Noah Loughlin, RBI.

Maryknoll 3, No. 3 Kamehameha 0

Matt Dunaway and Chayson Dularte. Chase Miyasato, Kaliko Banquel (5), Ricky Costa (6), Lii Pontes (6) and Revan Wong. W–Dunaway. L–Banquel.

Leading hitters–Maryknoll: Cade Ohata, 3B; Jarin Kobashigawa, RBI; Dreydon Yamauchi, RBI; Kyle Abe, RBI.

ilh division Ii baseball

St. Francis 4, Pac-Five 1

Ian Phillips pitched a complete game and struck out five as the Saints beat the Wolfpack.

Ian Phillips and Jared Yara. Brandon Miyasato, Makoa Paresa (3) and Jared Miyasato.

W–Phillips. L–Miyasato.

Leading hitters–StF: Kaimanuwai Akana 2B, run, RBI; Shawn Ellis 3B.

oia division I west baseball

No. 2 Pearl City 9, Aiea 5

Christian Onomura drove in three runs as the Chargers remained unbeaten in league play with the win over Na Alii.

Carson Okada, Kulia Neal (7) and Kaleb Nishijo. Jarred Uyeda, Kobe Kato (5) and Jake Nakamoto.

W–Okada. L–Uyeda.

Leading hitters–PC: Matt Yokota 2-3, 2B, 2 runs; Christian Onomura 2-4, 3B, 2 runs, 3 RBI; Matt Aribal 1-3, run, 2 RBI. Aiea: Kato 2-4, HR, 2 runs, 2 RBI; Uyeda 2 2B, run, 2 RBI.

oia division II baseball

Radford 13, Kahuku 0, 5 inn.

Carter Ogino and Quintin Iriarte combined on a no-hitter as the Rams defeated the Red Raiders.

Andrew Kohlert, Elvis Vakapuna (3) and Moewaa Gracochea. Carter Ogino, Quintin Iriarte (4) and Dominic Albalos.

W–Ogino. L–Kohlert.

Leading hitters–Rad: Albalos 2-2, 2B, 3 RBI; Richard Akana 2-2, run, RBI; Iriarte 2B, run; Tjader De Alba 3B, run, 2 RBI; Jason Ryan Southard 3B, 2 runs, 3 RBI.

MIL BASEBALL

No. 10 Maui 7, King Kekaulike 1

Kamehameha-Maui 8, Lahainaluna 2