Doi helps MPI eke by Kamehameha

Grant Doi scattered seven hits and went the distance as No. 2-ranked Mid-Pacific rallied past No. 4 Kamehameha 2-1 at Les Murakami Stadium to seize the first-place lead in the ILH baseball standings. 

Mid-Pacific improved to 6-1 and took one key step closer to a possible regular-season first-place finish and automatic state-tournament berth. MPI will face ‘Iolani on Saturday at Les Murakami Stadium (4:30 p.m.). Kamehameha will play Saint Louis in a 2 p.m. matchup. 

"We’ve got to keep it going. You never know in the ILH," said designated hitter Chase Wago, who drove in the go-ahead run in the sixth inning. "The ILH is at another level." 

Doi struck out five and walked just one. After allowing a run in the first inning, the 6-foot senior was in control. Kamehameha (5-2) had a runner in scoring position in the third, fourth and sixth innings, but Doi bore down each time. 

"Pregame in the pen, I felt good. All my pitches were working. I was hitting spots," said Doi, who relied on his fastball and slider. "I was a little nervous in the first inning. I had to relax and let my defense work."   

Doi, younger brother of UH player Marcus Doi, outlasted Kamehameha’s Ladd Ah Choy, who went five innings. He had a 1-0 lead, but MPI came up with two runs in the top of the sixth. 

Jacob Maekawa led off with an infield single, then was nearly picked off first base during the ensuing at-bat by Warriors catcher Kekai Rios. Ah Choy then hit Alex Oley. Noah Shackles laid down a sacrifice bunt, but first baseman Brandon Henderson went after the lead runner, Maekawa. The throw was a split-second late, however, and MPI had the bases loaded with no outs. 

Codie Paiva took over for Ah Choy on the mound. He got the Owls to hit two ground balls, but each play brought in a run. 

Tyler Yamaguchi went after Paiva’s first pitch for a fielder’s choice, scoring Maekawa to tie it at 1. 

Wago then hit a grounder up the middle that was snagged by shortstop Kody Cacal for what seemed to be a routine 6-4-3 double play. Instead, Wago, a left-handed hitter with speed, beat the throw to first and Oley scored the go-ahead run. 

"The ball bounced off the mound to the left," Wago said. "He had to adjust and I had to try and get there." 

Doi remained steadfast. Paiva singled with one out in the bottom of the sixth, but was stranded. In the seventh, Lawson Faria got a one-out single. With two outs, Kahoea Akau slammed a hard grounder down the left-field line, but it was ruled a foul ball. Two pitches later, Doi struck Akau out to end the game. 

Ah Choy gave up two runs on five hits with two strikeouts and no walks in a worthy performance. 

"It hurts. We did everything we had to do, but a few plays determined the outcome," Ah Choy said. 

Kamehameha took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first, but the damage could’ve been more. Akau, the leadoff man, lined a shot down the right-field line and had a sure double, but was tagged out at third base when he overslid the bag. Matthew Yokota walked and scored on a double to right by Rios. 

MPI third baseman Trevin Tengan came up with a key play on a grounder by Paiva for the second out, 

"Trevin made that sliding stop and that saved us a run," Doi said. 

The facility was inundated by the scent of burnt foliage and the sound of HFD’s helicopter, which continually made the rounds from Kanewai Community Park to dump water on a nearby brush fire on Waahila Ridge. 

Grant Doi and Noah Shackles. Ladd Ah Choy, Codie Paiva (6) and Kekai Rios. W–Doi. L–Ah Choy. 

Leading hitters–MPI: Jacob Maekawa 2-3, run; Chase Wago 2-3, RBI. KS: Kody Cacal 2-3, double. 

Punahou 6, No. 9 ‘Iolani 2 

Michael Viola overcame a wobbly start to record a complete-game win over the Raiders. 

After permitting two runs in the first inning, Viola retired 14 of the next 17 ‘Iolani batters. He finished with four strikeouts and three walks. 

‘Iolani had a runner in scoring position just once, in the sixth inning, after scoring twice in the first frame. Pikai Winchester 

(2-for-3) drove in a run with a single, bringing leadoff man and starting pitcher Austin Jim On home. 

The Raiders scored a second run when Viola hit Devin Ide with the bases loaded. 

Two ‘Iolani errors contributed to Punahou’s four-run third inning. Easton Takamoto’s sacrifice fly scored Kai Terada-Herzer, and Noah Goss’ single brought Jantzen Tamanaha home to tie it at 2. 

A fielding error at second by Landen Moran on a ground ball by Matthew Nakamoto allowed Goss and Allan Dong to score, and the Buffanblu had a 4-2 lead. 

Takamoto’s sacrifice bunt scored Andrew Matsueda in the bottom of the fourth. Dong singled to center, bringing home Terada-Herzer, who had walked earlier, and Punahou led 6-2. 

Austin Jim On, Kaimana Bartolome (3), Corey Nakakura (4) and Joshua Inaba. 

Michael Viola and Matthew Nakamoto. 

W–Viola. L–Jim On. 

Leading hitters–‘Iolani: Pikai Winchester 2-4, RBI, run. Punahou: Noah Goss 

2-3, walk, run; Easton Takamoto 0-1, SF, 2 RBI. 

ILH DIVISION II

PAC-Five17, Hanalani 1 (6 INN.)

Dayne Ramos allowed one run in five innings with 11 strikeouts as the Wolf Pack beat the Royals.

Dayne Ramos, Brandon Miysato (6) and (catcher not reported). Chad Wakabayashi, Kevin Matsuoka (5), Cyan Garma (6) and (catcher not reported). W–Ramos. L–Wakabayashi.

Leading hitters–Pac-Five: Owen Saito 3-5, 3b, 3 runs, 4 RBIs; Micah Lum 2-4, 2 RBIs; Casey Wond 3-3, 2b; Brett Watanabe 3b, 3 RBIs; Sonoda 2-5, 2 RBIs; Christian Jones 2b, 2 RBIs; Justin Ogasawara 2-2, 2 runs; Matt Matsuda 2-3; Marques Asato 2 runs. Hanalani: Ryen Romero 2-3. 

St. Francis 10, Damien 8

Phillips, Kinoshita (6), Alcos (7) and Torres. Grayson Bueno, NA and Shiloh Kaeo. W–Phillips. S–Alcos. 

Leading hitters–St. Francis: Fernandez 2-4, 2b, 2 runs; Tsuruda-Gaspar 2 RBIs; Torres 4-4; Kupau 2b; Phillips 3-3, 2 RBIs; Yara 2b, 2 RBIs; Alcos 2-2, 2b, 2 runs. Damien: Bueno 2-4; Kaeo 2-3, 2 runs, 2 RBIs; Cabbab 3b, 2 RBIs; Chayne Wayton 3b.

OIA RED EAST BASEBALL

Roosevelt 6, Moanalua 5

Aaron Emoto pitched a complete game and drove in three runs as the Rough Riders held off Na Menehune.

Aaron Emoto and Jonah Sasahara. Randy Tabura, Brandon Ikehara (3), Dez Oki-Takahashi (5), Andrew Oasay (7) and Kekaulike Kalua. W–Emoto. L–Tabura. 

Leading hitters–Roosevelt: Sasahara 2 runs; Keonimana Kahooilihala 3-4, 2b; Aaron Emoto 2-3, 2 2bs, 3 RBIs; Shayne Cazinha 2-3. Moanalua: Ryne Oshiro 2-4; Adam Tanoue 2b.

MIL  

Baldwin 8, Kamehameha-Maui 0