Within the tight quarters of Moanalua’s baseball field, Randy Tabura has found comfort.
The slender southpaw scattered five hits over five innings and his teammates demonstrated persistent patience as Moanalua surprised No. 5 Kailua 8-3 on Wednesday afternoon.
Though longtime coach Scott Yamada said his team has had its share of struggles, Moanalua is now 4-2 in the OIA East, tied for second place with Kailua behind Kalani.
Normally a relief pitcher, Tabura was spot-on in his first start, spotting his fastball at various speeds, striking out five Surfriders and walking none.
“We scouted their TV game against Kalani and that really helped. I was surprised at what I did, but having a great defense, that double play (in the fourth inning), I had super confidence. That set the tone.”
Four Kailua hurlers combined for seven bases on balls issued. Starter Stone Parker, who went four innings and allowed five runs, walked four. Reliever Bryson Ballesteros walked three and permitted three earned runs.
“We’re learning from our mistakes. We can’t win games if we don’t score runs and walk people,” Kailua coach Corey Ishigo said.
Ace pitcher Joey Cantillo took a rest after fanning 18 in his recent win over Kalani. He played first base and went 1-for-2, slugging a three-run homer in the sixth inning off Tabura, ending his bid for a shutout.
“They’re a good team and we knew that coming here. It comes down to learning from a loss. We’re not going to win ’em all,” Cantillo said.
Na Menehune reached Parker for two runs in the first and one run in the fourth.
In the first, Kamuela Labasan singled with one out and Tabura, batting third, walked on four pitches. Both baserunners advanced on a Parker wild pitch, and Andrew Oasay had a 3-0 count when Parker uncorked another wild pitch, allowing Labasan to score.
Cody Isa followed with an unusual 9-6 fielder’s choice, bringing courtesy runner Rylan Miguel home from third for a 2-0 Moanalua lead. Parker retired Tyler Trim on a groundout to end the inning and then retired six of the next seven batters he faced.
But just as Parker got his groove on, he allowed a single by Isa to lead off the bottom of the fourth frame. After a sacrifice bunt by Trim, Parker tossed a wild pitch, moving Isa to third base. Skyler Yamamoto walked and with Alex Heacox at the plate, Parker’s fourth wild pitch permitted Isa to score, opening the lead to 3-0.
Meanwhile, Tabura was sailing through, facing just two batters over the minimum through five innings.
“He got ahead and let his defense play defense,” Yamada said. “He was hitting his spots and he pitched to contact.”
Na Menehune pushed four runs across in the bottom of the fifth, taking advantage of relief pitchers Ballesteros and Ryan Inouye. Labasan and Tabura walked with one out, and after a passed ball on a high pitch, Ballesteros was done for the day.
With the count at 1-0 on Oasay, Inouye took over and intentionally walked him to load the bases. Isa then came through with a ground-rule double to deep center, 383 feet away. Labasan and the courtesy runner, Miguel, scored easily for a 5-0 Menehune lead.
Trim’s safety bunt brought courtesy runner Zak Tachino, in for Oasay, home from third base and the lead expanded to six runs. Yamamoto followed with a double to right, plating Isa for a 7-0 lead. Inouye got Heacox to fly out for the third out.
In the top of the sixth, Dakota Kadooka and Cody Riturban singled to left before Cantillo sent a bomb over the right-field fence. The distance down the foul line to the pole is just 286 feet, but Cantillo’s lefty shot cleared it significantly.
Moanalua added a run in the bottom of the sixth. Ryne Oshiro doubled to left with one out and two batters later, Tabura singled to right, scoring Oshiro for an 8-3 lead.
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PREP SCOREBOARD
OIA EAST BASEBALL
Moanalua 8, No. 5 Kailua 3
At Moanalua
>> Kailua (4-2) 000 003 0 — 3 6 0
>> Moanalua (4-2) 200 141 x — 8 6 0
Stone Parker, Bryson Ballesteros (5), Ryan Inouye (5), Shane Kalawaia (6) and Jaden Ah Yat. Randy Tabura, Skyler Yamamoto (6) and Andrew Oasay. W—Tabura. L—Parker.
Leading hitters—Kail: Joey Cantillo HR, 3 RBIs; Kalua Neves 2b; Dakota Kadooka 2-3. Moan: Ryne Oshiro 2b; Kamuela Labasan 2 runs; Cody Isa 2-3, 2b, 2 runs, 3 RBIs; Yamamoto 2b, 2 RBIs.
No. 7 Kalani 4, Roosevelt 2
At Roosevelt
>> Kalani (5-1) 000 012 1 — 4 4 1
>> Roosevelt (3-3) 001 100 0 — 2 5 1
Harrison Moy, Micah Kawano (3) and Bronson Matsumoto. Hostas Pang, Kekoa Lima (6) and Jared Tamashiro. W—Kawano. L—Pang.
Leading hitters—Kaln: Logan Cabbat 2b. Roos: Koby Brown 2-3.
Kaiser 6, Kalaheo 0
At Kalaheo
>> Kaiser (3-3) 310 100 1 — 6 10 2
>> Kalaheo (0-6) 000 000 0 — 0 1 1
Aidan Wroe, Jakey Nam (3), Cody Dela Cruz (5), Tyler Bender (6) and Kainoa Torres. Gabriel Guebara, Evan Goad (7) and Curtis Chung Jr. W—Guebara. L—Wroe.
Leading hitters—Kais: Lincoln Lima 2-2; Torres 2 RBIs; Keoni Pangan 2 RBIs; Landon Shigeta 2-2; Noah Matsumoto 2-4; Kainoa Craig 3b.
OIA WEST BASEBALL
No. 3 Campbell 9, Mililani 2
At Mililani
>> Campbell (6-0) 410 004 0 — 9 6 0
>> Mililani (2-4) 001 001 0 — 2 4 2
Jamin Kalaola, Dylan Florentin (3), Dayton Robinson (3), Darien Robinson (5), Logan Carvalho (7) and TJ Takahama, Devin Gallano (7). Preston Morales, Ryan Ancheta (1), Chris Aquino (6), Damien Lung (6), Micah Kaohu (7) and Thomas Nakatsukasa. W—Robinson. L—Morales.
Leading hitters—Camp: Ikaika Ganancial 2 runs; Justin Fernandez 3 runs; TJ Takahama 2 RBIs.
Pearl City 9, Aiea 4
At Pearl City
>> Aiea (3-3) 100 111 0 — 4 7 4
>> Pearl City (3-3) 300 042 x — 9 11 1
Colby Narciso, Kobe Kato (4) and Jake Nakamoto. Caled Young, Jansen Shigeta (5), Dillin Hasegawa (6) and Kaleb Nishijo. W—Shigeta. L—Kato.
Leading hitters—Aiea: Ty Matsunami 2-3, 3b. PC: Matt Aribal 2-4, 2 runs; Cade Halemanu 2-3, 3b, HR, 2 runs, 4 RBIs; Davin Kapuras 2-3, 2b, 2 runs, 2 RBIs; Christian Pacrem 2-3, 3b; Nishijo 2b.
Kapolei 6, Leilehua 4
At Central Oahu Regional Park
>> Kapolei (2-4) 004 100 1 — 6 10 0
>> Leilehua (1-5) 010 210 0 — 4 7 3
Zachary Collins, Bradyn Yoshida (7) and Landon Kuroda. Jansen Dangaran, Raven Demmert (3), Kawai Phifer (7) and Jaxson Hotta. W—Collins. L—Dangaran. S—Yoshida.
Leading hitters—Kap: Kyler Nakashima 2-4, 2b, 2 RBIs; D.J. Tapat 2-4. Lei: Christian Ontai 2-4, 3b.
OIA DIVISION II BASEBALL
Kaimuki 7, Kahuku 2
At Kahuku
>> Kaimuki (2-2) 112 300 0 — 7 5 3
>> Kahuku (1-3) 010 001 0 — 2 5 4
Raymundo Gomez Jr. and Kaulana Kaluna Jr. Moon Pilaca-Parkin, Elvis Vakapuna (4) and Keola Baily. W—Gomez Jr. L—Pilaca-Parkin.
Leading hitters—Kaim: Bailey Uehara 2 runs; Lucien Finley 2 RBIs; Jamon Young HR, 2 RBIs. Kah: Pilaca-Parkin 2-4, 2b; Baily 2-4.
Radford 8, Waialua 4
At Waialua
>> Radford (4-0) 111 130 1 — 8 11 0
>> Waialua (1-3) 000 000 4 — 4 4 5
Richard Akana, Jason Ryan Southard (7), Jack Dillon (7) and Cale Courtney. Zane Dobecki, Kyven Dicion (6) and Matthan Hatchie. W—Akana. L—Dobecki.
Leading hitters—Rad: Matthew Lukins 2-3; Michael Guana 3 runs; Robert Moffatt 2 runs; Courtney 2-4; Shane Vogt 2 runs; Isaac Grant 2 RBIs. Wail: Dicion 2-3.
Waianae 12, Nanakuli 2
At Nanakuli
>> Waianae (4-0) 001 024 5 — 12 14 1
>> Nanakuli (1-3) 100 001 0 — 2 10 7
Konan Keliikoa, Macaiya Borling (2), Braiden Ayala (7) and Kaleo Akiona. Nainoa Banks, Jericho Waa (6), Austin Souza (6), Lexsen Kunukau (7) and Chyson Hoopai. W—Borling. L—Banks.
Leading hitters—Wain: Matt Orian 3-5, 3 runs; Earl “EJ” Keamo-Young 3-4, 2b, 3 runs; Borling 2-3, 2 RBIs; Brayden Chong 2b, 2 runs, 2 RBIs; Rudyjay Keopuhiwa 3b, 2 RBIs; David Ugaitafa 3-5. Nan: Banks 3-4 2b, 3b; Souza 3-4; Clyde Enos 2-3; Hoopai 2-3.
Farrington 19, McKinley 2, 5 inn.
At McKinley
>> Farrington (3-1) 13(10) 41 — 19 12 0
>> McKinley (0-4) 20 0 00 — 2 1 3
Chasen Castilliano, Reese Shioji (5) and Treven Isobe, Caleb Sherman (5). Elijah Vincent, Koolau Anderson (3), Keanu Bolkeim(3), Noah “Kamalei” Omori(4) and Noah Diaz. W—Castilliano. L—Vicent.
Leading hitters—Farr: Cisqo Sagucio 2-3, 3 runs, 5 RBIs; Shioji 2-3, 2b, 3 RBIs; Castilliano 2-3, 3 RBIs; Dindo Venzon 2-3, 3 runs, 3 RBIs.
ILH DIVISION II BASEBALL
St. Francis 13, Hanalani 2, 5 inn.
At Central Oahu Regional Park
>> St. Francis (8-0) 230 53 — 13 11 1
>> Hanalani (0-8) 000 20 — 2 5 3
Kiyo Perry, Bubba Akana (4), Makana Poole (5) and Jared Yara, Chase Akana (2). Nick Reid and Seth Williams. W—Perry. L—Reid.
Leading hitters—StF: Poole 3-3 3b, 2 runs; J.P. Tilley 2-3, 3 runs; Zach Alcos HR, 3 RBIs.
Pac-Five 9, Damien 6
At Ala Wai Field
>> Pac-Five (3-5) 105 101 1 — 9 10 2
>> Damien (5-3) 200 022 0 — 6 10 4
Canaan Fernandez, Blaise Wada (7) and Jared Miyasato. Grayson Bueno, Justin Naleilua (3), Casey Natividad (4), Dylan Tapat (7), Javin Cortez (7) and Shilo Kaeo. W—Fernandez. L—Bueno. S—Wada.
Leading hitters—P5: Kama Goss 2-4, 3 runs; Miyasato 2-2, 2 RBIs; Scott Wong 2-4; Ritchie Higa 2b; Brandon Miyasato 2b; Kealii Carvalho HR, 2 RBIs. DMS: Paul Mazurashi 2-3; Pomai Kim 2-4, 2b, 2 RBIs; Kaeo 2-4, 2 2bs; Jayden Cabbab 2b.
ILH JV BASEBALL
>> ‘Iolani 6, Punahou 5
ILH SOFTBALL
St. Francis 13, No. 3 ‘Iolani 8
At Ala Wai Field
>> ‘Iolani (2-1-1) 113 300 0 — 8 10 5
>> St. Francis (3-2) 420 007 x — 13 8 2
Marcee Nakamura, Aleia Agbayani (3), Kennedi Lopes (6) and Kailyn Barrett. Kylie Mahelona, Sierrah Kupihea (5) and Kalyn Higa. W—Kupihea. L—Agbayani.
Leading hitters—Iol: Agbayani 3-3, HR, 4 RBIs; Leila Anoina 2-4, 2 runs; Lopes 2-4, 2 runs, 2 RBIs. StF: Joerdan Lovell 2-3, 3 runs; Skye Ah Yat 2-3; Jordyn Lono 2b, 2 runs, 4 RBIs; Sammie Ofoia HR, 4 RBIs.
No. 7 Maryknoll 11, Pac-Five 1, 5 inn.
At Sand Island Field
>> Pac-Five (0-4) 100 00 — 1 3 1
>> Maryknoll (3-1) 150 41 — 11 15 2
Kiara Peterson, Megan Yoshioka (2) and Hi‘ialo Apo. Maia McNicoll and Baylie Kahele. W—McNicoll. L—Peterson.
Leading hitters—Mryk: Logan Carlos 3-4, 2b, 3 RBIs; Kanoe Tanigawa 2-3, 2 2bs; McNicoll 3-3, 3b, 3 RBIs; Kamalei Labasan 2-3; Sydney Kamakaiwi 2-run homer.
NON-LEAGUE SOFTBALL
At Horizon Park, Ariz.
>> Punahou 10, Queen Creek (Ariz.) 1
>> Punahou 9, Desert Mtn. (Scottsdale, Ariz.) 1