Moanalua celebrates seniors with sweep

If Alan Cabanting insists that there was just a little something caught in his eye, so be it.

But for a few post-match moments as Na Menehune of Moanalua began to celebrate their outgoing graduates-to-be on senior night, the tough-nosed coach wiped both eyes with his shirt sleeves. After a 25-12, 25-13 sweep of Kalaheo, Moanalua has nothing but momentum moving forward as the Oahu Interscholastic Association boys volleyball regular season came to a close. Na Menehune crossed the Pacific to finish as one of the top teams in the Best of the West tourney in California. They’ve left their mark in the top local tournaments. They’ve given fans a season to remember, with a new chapter soon to begin.

“It’s always great to see our fans,” Moanalua outside hitter Austin Matautia said as he was layered with at least 40 lei, including a collection of Nutella jars. “This is the most we’ve had at a game, and they gave us a lot of energy.”

No. 2-ranked Moanalua (11-0) will have a bye in the first round of the Division I playoffs. One more win will send Na Menehune into the state tournament.

Matautia was in total command, putting his multiple skills to use before a crowd of about 500 fans, plus a statewide TV audience. The 6-foot-4 senior pounded 13 kills and had four of his team’s seven aces. The UH-bound outside hitter finished with a .522 hitting percentage against one of the tallest, if not the tallest, blocks in the OIA.

“They set the middle quite a bit and were successful,” Kalaheo coach Sivan Leoni said. “It was tough for us. This is the first match where someone’s run the middle like that on us.”

A stellar passing game helped setters Zackary Miyamoto (nine assists) and Zachary Kagehiro (14 assists) distribute the ball with precision. Middles Justen Fong (four kills) and Caleb Casinas (three kills) were efficient, and Christian Dela Cruz added three kills. Moanalua hit .377 for the match.

Kainoa Peterson led Kalaheo (6-5) with five kills and an assist. Danny Beaton added three kills and Spencer VanDerKamp had a team-high nine assists.

“We made it to the playoffs in our last match,” Leoni said. “This one didn’t matter a lot. We’ve absolutely gotten better from game to game.”

Moanalua opened the match with a 10-2 run, but Kalaheo pulled within 13-9. From there Na Menehune went on a 12-3 run behind a kill by Casinas and four aces by Matautia, including two that were untouched.

Seyj Engleman’s block on Peterson ended game one.

The second set started much closer. Peterson’s back-row kill put the visitors ahead 6-5. From there, the home team dominated. Fong’s kill over the middle opened the lead to 13-9, and after Matautia hustled from the left side to the right on an impressive step-out play for a kill, they led 21-11. That capped a 17-5 run. Matautia left the match with his team ahead 23-12.

“He’s an awesome player,” said Leoni, a former UH standout in praising Matautia. “It’s nice that he has variety and doesn’t do only one thing. He can pass well and has an extremely consistent serve.”

OIA DIVISION II SOFTBALL

Kalani 13, Aiea 4

Cherise Horita batted 3-for-4 with two home runs and four RBIs and pitched a three-hitter with 11 strikeouts in the Falcons’ victory over Na Alii.

Toni-Lynn Ibara also homered twice for Kalani and infox0ALogan Luke added three hits.

Chantelle Shimabukuro, Mikelle Gonzalez (5) and Gonzalez, NA (6). Cherise Horita and Kylie Pagud.

W–Horita. L–Shimabukuro.

Leading hitters–Aiea: Shimabkuro 2-4.

Kaln: Jacianne Furuya 2-3, 3 runs; Horita 3-4, 2 HR, 3 runs, 4 RBIs; Toni-Lynn Ibara 2-4, 2 HR, 2 runs; Pagud 2-3, 2b; Logan Luke 3-4, 2 runs; Stephanie Chung 2-3; April Kochi 3 runs.

ILH DIVISION II BASEBALL

Hanalani 7, Damien 6

Seth Williams drove in pinch runner Naoto Kubota with the game-winning run with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning in the Royals’ victory over the Monarchs.

The previous batter, Max Ares, drove in the tying run with an infield single.

Milton Gainey, Javin Cortez (5) and Kana Schuman. Cyan Garma, Aidan Koanui (6) and Reyn Romero.

W–Koanui. L–Cortez.

Leading hitters–DMS: Grayson Bueno 2b; Kaimana Cameron 3b; Gainey 2-2, 2b; Kaysen Kajiwara 2-2. Hana: Matt Tsutsui 3b; Chad Wakabayashi 3-3; Seth Williams 3-4, 2 RBIs.

Pac-Five 7, St. Francis 3

Lee Tanaka pitched a six-hitter with eight strikeouts and Brandon Miyasato drove in three runs as the Wolfpack defeated the Saints.

Brett Watanabe and Richard Higa each added two RBIs for Pac-Five.

Lee Tanaka and Jared Miyasato. Zach Alcos, Jared Yara (5) and Yara, Jacob Poole (5).

W–Tanaka. L–Alcos.

Leading hitters–P5: Shandon Lagua 2-3; Brandon Miyasato 2 runs, 3 RBIs; Brett Watanabe 2-3, 2 RBIs; Richard Higa 2-3, 2b, 2 RBIs; Makoa Paresa 2b. StF–Poole 2 runs; Yara 2-4, 2 RBIs; Shawn Ellis 2-4.

MIL BASEBALL

Baldwin 1, Maui High 0

Kamehameha-Maui 10, King Kekaulike 2