They sing pretty well, those St. Francis Saints.
With a jovial pregame menu of “Sweet Caroline” and “Centerfield,” they might have provided some competition at the Kamehameha Songfest down the road a mile or so. Instead, the Saints played ball, got 10 strikeouts from ace Jared Yara and outlasted Damien 5-1 on Friday night.
Yara was highly effective on a windy, cool night at Ala Wai Field, using his fastball and slider much of the time, spotting his curveball.
“I developed a changeup this year, but I didn’t use it tonight,” the 6-foot senior said after St. Francis improved to 9-0 in Interscholastic League of Honolulu Division II play.
It was a pivotal game, more so for the Monarchs, who dropped to 5-4. St. Francis is 3-0 against Damien this spring, with just two more meetings ahead, including one on Monday.
“Coach wanted to make sure we won at least three out of five,” Yara said.
“It was his turn to pitch,” St. Francis coach Kip Akana said.
It wasn’t simple for the Saints despite Yara’s five-inning excellence. He allowed just one run and walked only three, and second baseman Zach Alcos took the mound after Yara hurled 101 pitches. Alcos fired two scoreless innings in relief.
Yara had not pitched in St. Francis’ 12-4 and 5-4 wins over Damien. He benefited from an early lead. In the top of the second inning, Yara led off at the plate and walked, and came home to score on a two-out double to right by James Yamasaki. After Reece Kadota walked, Chase Akana singled to left, bringing Yamasaki in for a 2-0 lead.
Damien answered with a run in the bottom of the frame. Akila Arecchi walked with one out and scored on a triple to right by Kana Schuman. Yara got help a moment later when Kayson Kajiwara’s sinking line drive to right was muffed by the right fielder, Yamasaki, who then rifled a one-hop strike to home plate, where catcher Makana Poole tagged out Schuman.
In the top of the third, Poole’s high infield pop was misplayed by the catcher, Schuman, and he reached base. Yara then drilled a triple to left, plating Poole for a 3-1 Saints lead.
Yara gave up a double to Jordan Donahue in the bottom of the third, but struck out the side.
In the fourth, the Saints stranded runners at second and third — they left 10 runners on base total — but added a run in the fifth inning. Infield errors allowed St. Francis’ first two batters to reach base, and after Damien starting pitcher Javin Cortez walked Yara to load the bases, he walked Shawn Ellis, forcing J.P. Tilley home from third. That gave St. Francis a 4-1 lead.
The Saints tacked on an insurance run in the sixth when the Monarchs issued four walks between Cortez and reliever Kajiwara. Ellis’ walk forced in Bubba Akana from third for a 5-1 lead.
It was a steady effort by a steady senior ace.
“Damien’s hitters got a lot better since last year,” Yara said. “You have to be careful with the first five hitters. They’re huge hitters and they can pull the ball.”
PREP SCOREBOARD
ILH DIVISION II BASEBALL
St. Francis 5, Damien 1
At Ala Wai Field
>> St. Francis (9-0) 021 011 0 — 5 4 2
>> Damien (5-4) 010 000 0 — 1 7 5
Jared Yara, Zach Alcos (6) and Makana Poole. Javin Cortez, Kayson Kajiwara (6) and Kana Schuman. W— Yara. L— Cortez.
Leading hitters—STF: Poole 1-3, run, BB, SB; Yara 1-2, RBI, run, SB; James Yamasaki 1-2, double, RBI, run. DMS: Pomai Kim 3-4, 2b, 3b; Jordan Donahue 1-4, 2b; Schuman 1-3, 3b, RBI.
Pac-Five 20, Hanalani 5, 6 inn.
At Ala Wai Field
>> Pac-Five (4-5) 110 549 — 20 15 4
>> Hanalani (0-8) 100 121 — 5 6 5
Makoa Paresa, Trevor Kubo (5) and Jared Miyasato. Tyler Lee, Laramie DeSoto (4), Louie Holt (5), Max Ares (6) and Seth Williams. W—Paresa. L—Lee.
Leading hitters—P5: Kama Goss 3-4, RBI; Kealii Varvalho 2-4, 2 runs, 2 RBI; Trevor Tripoli 2-2, 4 runs, RBI. Han: Tyler Lee 2-3, run.
OIA EAST BASEBALL
No. 7 Kalani 6, Castle 1
At Kalani
>> Castle (2-5) 100 000 0 — 1 7 2
>> Kalani (6-1) 302 001 x — 6 10 0
Baron Arquero, Hunter Paredes (6) and Jabe Kahawaii. Jarod Kaneshiro, Ian Higa (4) and Bronson Matsumoto W— Kaneshiro L—Arquero
Leading hitters—Cas: Brylan Kaneshiro 2-3, run; Kahawaii 203. Kaln: Chad Kagawa 2-3 2 runs, 2 RBIs.
ILH SOFTBALL
Pac-Five 10, Mid-Pacific 0, 6 inn.
At Ala Wai Field
>> Mid-Pacific (0-4) 000 000 — 0 3 1
>> Pac-Five (1-4) 010 423 — 10 14 0
Megan Yoshioka and catcher not reported. Mikayla Fonoti, Ka‘a‘le‘a Hanawahine (5)and Lia Nakamoto. W—Yoshioka. L—Fonotoi.
Leading hitters—P5: Alisha Candelario 3-3, 2 runs, 2 RBIs; Camryn Okada 3-4, 2 runs, RBI; Kyla Zimmerman 3-3, 2 runs, 4 RBIs.
