This time, Rayson Romero had his coach’s blessing, and boy, did he make the most of it.
The junior leadoff hitter socked a three-run double in a five-run third inning to help No. 5 Saint Louis overtake ‘Iolani en route to an 8-3 baseball win on Monday.
Saint Louis improved to 4-3 in ILH play, while ‘Iolani slipped to 2-6.
“I feel relieved. It’s a big win for us. (‘Iolani pitcher Jordan) Yamamoto wasn’t at his best today, but sometimes that’s what you’ve got to do, battle through it,” Saint Louis coach George Gusman said.
It was a cool, overcast afternoon at Ala Wai Community Park when Romero, hitless in his first two at-bats, got the OK from Gusman to swing away at the first pitch with the bases loaded in the third.
“Coach gave me that green light and it was right over the plate,” Romero said. “It felt really good off the bat. The game was really close and I’m glad I could help our team.”
His blast to deep left field brought home Kawai Mook-Garcia, Ryder Kuhns and D.J. Dureg. It was a different scenario compared to Saturday, when he hacked away at the first pitch of the game at Mid-Pacific. That game turned into a rainout, but Gusman talked with his junior shortstop later about pitch selection.
“He’s experienced enough,” Gusman said about Monday’s bases-loaded opportunity.
In the third, the Crusaders benefited from a hit batter and three walks issued by Raiders starter Caleb Duhay. By the time the junior was relieved by Javin Nohara — the three walks came with two outs — he surrendered all seven runs on six hits and four walks.
“Coming in, we were really concerned that they would pitch Duhay,” Gusman said. “He can be really, really good. When they took the lead, fortunately, we had the big inning.”
Duhay’s counterpart, Yamamoto, gutted out of some roller-coaster stretches. He went six innings, allowing three runs on five hits. He fanned four and walked three before yielding to Zeke Wallace before the top of the seventh.
Saint Louis catcher Iolana Akau continued to show progress since returning from a preseason hand injury. He was hit by pitch in his first two plate appearances, then hit a double to left and finished 1-for-3.
“The two rainout games (last week) are good for me because I got to rest my thumb,” the UH signee said. “My thumb is about 90 percent. I feel good right now.”
The Crusaders took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first on run-scoring singles by Kaimi Umebayashi and Jacob Gribbin.
‘Iolani scored twice in the third on Tanner Nishioka’s double to left, plating Max Look and Austin Darmawan for a 3-2 lead. That edge was short-lived, however.
At Ala Wai
‘Iolani (2-6) 012 000 0 — 3 5 2
Saint Louis (4-3) 205 010 x — 8 9 0
Caleb Duhay, Javin Nohara (3), Bronson Ichimura (5) and J.R. Matsuura. Jordan Yamamoto, Zeke Wallace (7) and Iolana Akau. W—Yamamoto. L—Duhay.
Leading hitters—‘Iolani: Tanner Nishioka 1-2, double, 2 RBIs. Saint Louis: Rayson Romero 2-4, double, 3 RBIs; Kawai Mook-Garcia 2-3, run.
OIA RED WEST
Waipahu 3, Kapolei 2
Dylan Sugimoto struck out nine en route to a two-hitter, leading the Marauders past the Hurricanes.
At Kapolei
Waipahu (5-3) 001 020 0 — 3 4 4
Kapolei (0-9) 000 200 0 — 2 2 1
Dylan Sugimoto and Graysen Fuentes. Chase Domogsac, Robert Oliveiros (5) and Mykah Kuratani, Khaysen Espaniola (5).
W—Sugimoto. L—Domogsac.
Leading hitters—Waip: Joshua Maglangit 2-4, 2b, 2 runs; Jordan Mendiola 2 RBIs. Kapo: Aivon Kahana 2b.
OIA RED EAST
Moanalua 14, Kalaheo 3,
5 inn.
Na Menehune scored nine runs in the bottom of the third inning and cruised to the win in a game shortened by the 10-run rule.
At Moanalua
Kalaheo (0-7) 021 00 — 3 5 8
Moanalua (6-3) 019 4X — 14 13 2
Jordyn Soares, William Ellis (3), Chase Focht (3), Bryan Silva (4) and Brandon Burton. Nicholas Manago, Brandon Mow (5) and Elijah Monis.
W—Manago. L—Soares.
Leading hitters—Kalh: Silva 3-3, run; Jaimes Gereh RBI. Moan: Kristian Yap 2-3, run, 2 RBIs; Mark Kuga 2 runs; RBI; Tyler Fujimoto 2-2, 2b, run, RBI; Justin Patterson 3-3, 2 runs, 2 RBIs; Micah Nicely 1-2, 2b, run, 2 RBIs; Brayton Sakai 1-1, 2b, run; Chance Kinoshita 1-1, 2b, 2 RBIs.
OIA blue
Waianae 12, Radford 9
Kekoa Kaluhiokalani Jr. drove a triple to right-center field to bring in two runs in the second inning as the Seariders outhit the Rams.
At Radford
Waianae (8-0) 170 110 2 — 12 10 4
Radford (6-2) 006 030 0 — 9 2 7
Sheaven Delima-Ferreira, Jerzy Ramento-Acosta (3), Brandon Cambra (4), Kekoa Kaluhiokalani Jr. (6) and Wayne Silva. Caleb Myers, Derek Rodrigues (4) and Michael Vitto.
W—Cambra. L—Myers.
Leading hitters—Wain: Cambra 3 runs, 2 RBIs; K. Kaluhiokalani Jr. 3-4, 3b, 3 RBIs; Tavita Lalau 3-5, 3 RBIs; Silva HR. Rad: Marc Tejada 2-4.
Waialua 7, Kahuku 1
After Hunter Quillinderino led off the game with a triple, the Bulldogs’ Shannon Fisher-Larue doubled to right-center field to drive him in during a five-run inning.
At Kahuku
Waialua (4-2) 500 000 2 — 7 11 NA
Kahuku (3-4) 100 000 0 — 1 3 4
Taleon Lele, Shannon Fisher-Larue (5) and Kebi Dellatan. John Paul Heuchling and PJ Liua.
W—Lele. L—Heuchling.
Leading hitters—Wail: Hunter Quillinderino 3-4, 3b. Fisher-Larue 2b, RBI. Kah: Liua 1-3.
