Mid-Pacific earns state berth

The Saint Louis Crusaders needed a big hand from their frenemies, the Kamehameha Warriors, on Thursday afternoon.

The Warriors could not oblige, not against the crafty offerings of Mid-Pacific pitcher Alex Oley. The senior southpaw fired a four-hitter as No. 1 Mid-Pacific overwhelmed No. 6 Kamehameha 9-1 on an overcast afternoon at Goeas Field.

Oley also cranked a three-run homer in the fourth inning to stake his team to a 7-0 lead. With the victory, coach Dunn Muramaru’s Owls (12-3) sealed the regular-season title and an automatic state-tournament berth.

“It’s definitely relieving that we have our ticket to Maui,” said leadoff hitter Jacob Maekawa, who was 2-for-2 with two runs scored and an RBI. “The ILH is crazy and tough. No one on our team is trying to do too much, but when Alex hit that homer, it didn’t shock me. He’s a beast.”

With the win, MPI ended the long-shot hopes of a regular-season title for Saint Louis, which was 9-4 entering Thursday’s competition. The Owls will also be the top seed in the upcoming ILH playoffs.

“We knew Saint Louis wasn’t going to lose already,” Muramaru said. “We’ve got a lot of veteran people and it makes a big difference. The big part is the kids who don’t play. They work hard. It’s easy to have a bad attitude, but I don’t see it. I really appreciate them.”

Kamehameha was in an unusual predicament at the start of Thursday’s game. Coach Tommy Perkins was downtown serving jury duty. He made it to the game in the fourth inning with his team already down.

“Mid-Pacific started (the regular season) slow and got better every week. We did the opposite,” Perkins said.

Kamehameha used three pitchers, but none were able to slow the hitting assault of Mid-Pacific. The Owls already had a 4-0 lead entering the fourth inning, when Oley belted a 1-2 pitch from Aina Racoma over the left-field fence 325 feet away for a three-run home run.

The New Mexico State-bound outfielder/pitcher struck out three and walked none in what may have been his finest pitching performance of the season.

“It’s an important win. We clinched a state berth,” Oley said. “This is where it really starts, really. All the preparation comes into play. We want that (state-tourney) first-round bye.”

Oley was especially effective changing speeds and keeping the Warriors off-balance.

“Kamehameha can really crush the ball. I was trying to mix speeds and throw strikes,” he said.

Mid-Pacific loaded the bases against Kamehameha starter Hunter Breault in the top of the first inning. Ryne Yamashiro’s bloop single over first base brought Maekawa home for a 1-0 lead. Breault then threw a wild pitch, permitting Oley to score from third, and it was 2-0.

Zachary Gushiken led off the second with a single to right and later scored on a single to right by Maekawa for a three-run Owls cushion.

In the third, Cameron Wong singled and stole second base, and Trevin Tengan doubled to right with two outs to bring Wong home for a 4-0 lead.

The Warriors got their lone run in the bottom of the third. Nick Penzetta doubled to right with two outs and scored on pinch hitter Hunter Fujitani’s single to right.

Hunter Hill led off the fourth for Mid-Pacific with a grounder to short that was ruled catcher’s interference. After Racoma hit Maekawa on the shoulder, he had Oley down 0-2 in the count. Oley drew a ball, then walloped the next pitch over the left-field fence for a 7-1 lead.

Ricky Costa was a bright spot for Kamehameha. He took over on the mound in the fifth inning and threw two scoreless innings, using just 17 pitches. In the top of the seventh, however, MPI pinch hitter Michael China stroked a double to center, scoring pinch runner Jacob Yoshino and Tengan for a 9-1 lead.

Oley was in command, retiring the side in the bottom of the seventh 1-2-3. He retired 12 of the last 13 batters. The celebration later, he said, would be under control.

“Our team is chilling. We can’t get too out of hand,” he said.

ILH DIVISION I BASEBALL

No. 1 Mid-Pacific 9, No. 6 Kamehameha 1

Alex Oley and Kyle Layugan. Hunter Breault, Aina Racoma (4), Ricky Costa (5) and Revan Wong, Dylan Salcedo (4).

W– Oley. L– Breault.

Leading hitters–MPI: Jacob Maekawa 2-2, 2 runs, RBI, HBP, sac; Oley HR, 3 RBIs, 2 runs. KSK: Hunter Fujitani 1-2, RBI; Nick Penzetta 1-2, 2B, run.

No. 3 Saint Louis 10, No. 9 Punahou 6

An RBI triple by Saint Louis’ Keith Torres capped a six-run third inning, helping the Crusaders overcome a six-run deficit to beat the Buffanblu.

Torres finished 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI. Hunter Guarco also went 2-for-4 for Saint Louis.

Dawson Yamaguchi, Jordan Rapoza (7) and Taylor Melleiur. Kekoa Vierra, David Zane (3), Ethan Nakaoka (4) and no catcher reported.

W– Yamaguchi. L– Zane.

Leading hitters–StL: Keith Torres 2-4, run, RBI, 3B; Hunter Guarco 2-3, 2 runs, 2 RBI. Pun: Cole Cabrera 2-4, run; Kai Terada-Herzer 2-4, run, 2 RBI; Asa Kurasaki 2-3, 2B.

‘Iolani 8, Maryknoll 5

‘Iolani’s Kaimana Bartolome went 2-for-3 at the plate with three runs batted in, leading the Raiders over the Spartans.

Bartolome also earned the win for ‘Iolani.

Kaimana Bartolome, Ezra Heleski (4), Shaydon Kubo (7) and Devin Ide, Reid Yamashiroya (6). Derrick Kurihara, Payton Grant (2), Brenden Nugent (4) and Chayson Dulatre.

W– Bartolome. L– Grant. S-Kubo

Leading hitters–Iol: Bartolome 2-3, 3 RBI, 2B. Mryk: Jarin Kobashigawa 2-4, run, 2 RBI, 2B; Kaliko Thomas 2-4, 2 RBI, 2 2B.

OIA Division I East Softball

No. 4 Kaiser 11, No. 8 Roosevelt 7

Seli Aholelei and Marissa Oda hit back-to-back home runs in a six-run fourth inning, as the Cougars defeated the Rough Riders.

Mari Foster and Haylie Uetake. Seli Aholelei and Tiana Ching-Lake.

W– Aholelei. L– Foster.

Leading hitters–Roos: Foster 2-4, 4 RBI, 2B; Uetake 2-4, run. Kais: Elyse Tsutsui 3-5, 2 runs, 2 RBI; Chelsea Soong 2 runs, 2 RBI; S. Aholelei 2 runs, 3 RBI, HR; Marissa Oda 3-4, run, RBI, HR; T. Ching-Lake 2-3, 2 RBI, 2B; Kayla Russell 2-4, run; Tahani Kahawai-Robertson 2-3, 2 runs, 2B.

Kailua 13, Kaimuki 3, 5 inn.

The Surfriders got off to a quick start, leading 11-2 after three innings in a run-rule win over the Bulldogs.

Delcie Williams had five RBIs for Kailua.

Lei Lani Mauricio and Lexus Mahiai. Dyani Cummings-Lani and Harley Texeira.

W– Cummings-Lani. L– Mauriciol.

Leading hitters–Kail: Robi Lono 3 runs; Jennika Odo 3 RBI; Delcie Williams run, 5 RBI

Castle 14, McKinley 2, 5 inn.

The Knights scored 11 runs in the first two innings, cruising to an easy win over the Tigers.

Rayla Keanu was 3-for-4 with three RBIs and a home run for Castle.

Kacie Lam and Kaylee Isau. Anela Costorio-Meyer and Agasana Viengmany.

W– Lam. L– Costorio-Meyer.

Leading hitters–Cast: Rayla Keanu 3-4, 3 runs, 3 RBI, HR.

OIA Division I West Softball

No. 1 Campbell 24, Waipahu 1, 5 inn.

The top-ranked Sabers scored early and often in an easy win over the Marauders.

Chardonnay Pantastico and Kiani Telles each went 2-for-3 with two RBIs for Campbell.

Makayla Whitley and Ulalia Soa. Elisa Favela, Danielle Cervantes (4) and Alecia Kupihea, Jocelyn Alo (4).

W– Favela. L– Whitley.

Leading hitters–Camp: Chardonnay Pantastico 2-3, 3 runs, 2 RBI, 2B; Kiani Telles 2-3, 2 runs, 2 RBI, 2B, 3B.

No. 5 Kapolei 4, Pearl City 1

A four-run second inning proved to be enough support for Kapolei pitcher Sadie Kapaku-You, as the Hurricanes defeated the Chargers.

PB Kaaialii and Hailey-Ann Yamaguchi. Sadie Kapaku-You and Lili Kaimi.

W– Kapaku-You. L– Kaaialii.

Leading hitters–PC: Taylor Shigeta 2-3, run. Kap: Kaimi 2-3, run, 2 RBI.

Leilehua 7, Waianae 6

Chelsea Lobitos, Chasity Stalcup, and Staisa Micky each hit home runs in the first inning, and the Mules beat the Seariders.

Rhandie Santiago and Charley Pittman. Chasity Stalcup, Kaena Nistal (5) and Staisa Micky.

W– Stalcup. L– Santiago.

Leading hitters–Wain: Pittman 3-4, run, 3 RBI. Leil: Brandi Leong 2-4, run; Chelsea Lobitos 2-4, run, 2 RBI, HR; Alo Salausa 3-3, run, RBI.

OIA DIVISION II SOFTBALL

Kalani 11, Aiea 5

The Falcons jumped out to an early 6-0 lead in a win over Na Alii.

Cherine Horita earned the win for Kalani, tallying 11 strikeouts, and finished 4-for-4 with two runs and three RBIs from the plate.

Cherise Horita and Kylie Pagun. Chantelle Shimabukuro, Mikelle Gonzalez (6) and Gonzalez, Testimoni Tavale (6).

W– Horita. L– Shimabukuro.

Leading hitters–Kaln: Jacianne Furuya 4-5, 3 runs; Horita 4-4, 2 runs, 3 RBI, 4 2B. Aiea: Shimabukuro 2-4, 2B; Taira Shibata 2-4, run, RBI, 3B; Gonzalez 3-3, 2 runs, 2B; Trinity Atuatasi 2-4, 2B, 3 RBI.

No. 10 Nanakuli 14, Farrington 9

The Golden Hawks scored six runs in the sixth inning to rally against the Governors.

Ray Meyers-Kahalehoe was 3-for-5 for Nanakuli.

Chalyssa Belford and Karmen Aiwohi. Kaipo Castillo, Krislon Philpot-Rosa (7) and Kaycie Okada.

W– Belford. L– Castillo.

Leading hitters–Nan: Kaila Burnett 2-4, 3 runs, RBI; Belford 3-4, 2 runs, 2 RBI; Ray Meyers-Kahalehoe 3-5, 2 runs, 3 RBI; Alohi Hauhio 2-3, run, 2 hits. Farr: Philpot-Rosa 2-3, 2 runs; Okada 2-4, 3 RBI.

Radford 27, Kahuku 16, 6 inn.

The Rams beat the Red Raiders in a high-scoring affair to score a victory on Radford’s senior night.

Baileigh Susak went 5-for-5 with two home runs and 11 RBIs for Radford.

K. Dempsey and H. Siu-Ayelua. A. Sorenson, K. Aumua (3) and J. Uli.

W– Dempsey. L– Sorenson.

Leading hitters–Kah: Ab. Sorensen 3-4, 2 RBI, S. Alo 2-4, R. Ramseyer 2-4, N. Galletes 2-4, 2B. K. Muck 2 RBI Rad: Ciera Farias 4-6, 2 RBI; Baileigh Susak 5-5, 2 HR, 11 RBI; Punipauo Seei 2-2, RBI.