Zachary Kapihe found a new way to close out a baseball game on Wednesday.

Kapihe, who was Campbell’s closer last year but was promoted to opening-day starter this season, lofted a sacrifice fly to left-center field with the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the seventh to push the Sabers past Mililani 5-4 at Campbell.

"He did his job," Campbell coach Rory Pico said. "He battled and did what he had to do."

Kapihe started the game on the mound and held Mililani, last year’s state runner-up, to one run on three hits through the first 20 outs, but couldn’t get the final one. Pico said he was on a pitch count and he considered lifting him for the final inning, but decided to let him try to finish the job. 

Kapihe hit Justice Nakagawa with his second pitch of the seventh inning. He settled down to get two outs before yielding a run-scoring single to Kainoa Wilson on his 86th pitch. Dirk Patrick Himan came in to close the door, but the Trojans torched him with successive singles by Kaimana Souza-Paaluhi, Micah Yogi and Ty Desa to tie the score at 4 all. Himan struck out designated hitter Sean Sonognini with runners on second and third to finally get the Sabers into the dugout. 

"I was bummed, but I’m not selfish," Kapihe said. "I have trust in the person who relieved me, so it’s all right. I did what I can. Mililani was the team we most wanted to beat. I really didn’t want to start the season with a loss."

The Trojans called on Trevor Inouye to take the mound for starting pitcher Cole Nakachi, and he struck out Dewayne Sprinkel to start the inning, but Himan doubled to center field. The Trojans walk Dorrien Hermosura intentionally, but Blayze Arcano-Llacuna singled to right field for his third hit, loading the bases. 

After taking the first pitch for a ball, Kapihe smacked Inouye’s next pitch to deep center field. Wilson ran it down but had no chance of preventing Himan from waltzing in with the winning run. 

Mililani opens with a tough road loss, but the Trojans, who have seven new starters, got on the bus in a good mood. They struggled to begin last season before rallying late.

"I think the rally was good," Mililani coach Mark Hirayama said. "We were kind of down most of the game, just going through the motions, and hopefully it showed them we can compete with anyone if we put our minds to it and compete from the first pitch to the last."

Mililani will try to get its first OIA West win on Saturday when it hosts Waipahu, while Campbell hosts Pearl City. The Sabers ruled the regular season last year.

"It’s the wild West or the wild, wild West or whatever you guys call it," Pico said. "With all of these quality teams, every game is going to be like this, down to the last out."

Cole Nakachi, Trevor Inouye (7) and Dallas Chung. Zachary Kapihe, Dirk Patrick Himan (7) and Tryzen Patricio. W–Himan. L–Inouye.

Leading hitters–Mil: Ty Desa 2-3, BB. Camp: Himan 2-4, 2 2Bs, 2 runs; Blayze Arcano-Llacuna 3-4, 2B, run.

Waipahu 2, Leilehua 0

Justin Keaka and Dylan Sugimoto combined on a four-hit shutout to help the Marauders beat the Mules. Keaka gave up three hits and struck out four over six innings. 

Dylan Sugimoto pitched the seventh inning and earned the save.  

W–Justin Keaka. L–M. Takashige. S–Dylan Sugimoto.

Leading hitters–Lei: Nainoa Paragoso 2-4. Waip: Justin Padilla 2-2. 

OIA RED EAST

Kailua 6, Castle 3

Brendan Odo drove in the go-ahead run in the top of the sixth to lead the Surfriders over the Knights. With two outs, Odo’s two-run double broke a 3-3 tie. Dalton Kalama had three hits in the win. Alakai Kim had two hits and a double for Castle. 

Royce Komesu, Dustin Imanaka (5) and Dalton Kalama. Alakai Kim, Matthew Anderson-Lee (3), Stephen Lee (7) and Jordan Harvest, Dane Kamalu (2). 

W–Komesu. L–Anderson-Le

Leading hitters–Kail: Kalama 3-4, RBI, double; Peter Kanoho 2-4; Brendan Odo 2-2, 2 RBIs, double. Cas: Bobby Aiwohi 2-3; Kim 2-4, RBI, double.

Roosevelt 5, Kalaheo 3, 10 innings

Keola Tamanaha’s RBI double down the right-field line in the top half of the 10th inning broke a 3-all tie as the Rough Riders defeated the Mustangs. 

Reece Okura, Micah Caris (9) and Aaron Emoto. Iokepa Lapera, Kaliu Lapera (10) and Kaliu Lapera and Brandon Burton (10).

W–Caris. L–I. Lapera.

Leading hitters–Roos: Kainalu Pitoy 2-5 2b, 3b; Keola Tamanaha 2-4 2b, RBI. Kalh: Tommy Capillonch 2-4; I. Lapera 1-4 3b.

Moanalua 3,Kalani 0

Kristian Yap drove in two runs in the top of the seventh to helpNa Menehune beat the Falcons. Moanalua’s Nicholas Enrico drove in the first run of the seventh to give Moanalua the lead. Tyler Fujimoto gave up just two hits and struck out six in the complete-game win. 

W–Tyler Fujimoto. L–Reece Kakugawa.

Leading hitters–Moa: Casey Isa 2 hits; Kristian Yap 2 RBIs. 

ILH

No. 1 Mid-Pacific 4, No. 2 ‘Iolani 0

Chase Wago and Noah Sills combined on a four-hit shutout to lead the Owls over the Raiders. Bryce Nagata, Cal Muramaru and Jarrett Lum each drove in runs for Mid-Pacific.

Bronson Ichimura, Reid Kimura (6) and Joshua Inaba. Chase Wago, Noah Sills (6) and Noah Shackles. 

W–Wago. L–Ichimura.

No. 3 Saint Louis 6, Pac-Five 3

Rayson Romero went 3-for-4 and drove in two runs to help the Crusaders beat the Wolfpack.

Pono Anderson pitched a complete game and struck out four in the win. Ryllen Abeshima had two doubles in the loss.  

W–Pono Anderson. L–Caleb Miyasato.

Leading hitters–StL: Rayson Romero 3-4, 2 RBIs; Jordan Yamamoto 2-2. Pac: Ryllen Abeshima 2-3, 2 doubles, RBI; Owen Saito 2-3, double, RBI.

Tuesday

No. 1 Mid-Pacific 6, Pac-Five 3 

Connor Zalewski, Shusei Yokoi (7), Seth Kinel (7) and Noah Shackles. Bailey Lee, Shaun Mahiko (6) and Ryllen Abeshima. 

W–Zalewski. L–Lee.

Leading hitters–MPI: Bryce Nagata double; CameronIgarashi triple. 

ILH SOFTBALL

No. 1 Kamehameha 3, Maryknoll 2

Rachel Ogasawara drove in the game-winning run in the bottom of the seventh to lift the Warriors past the Spartans.

Pinch hitter Mahina Sauer’s RBI double tied the game at 2 in the seventh. After a walk loaded the bases, Ogasawara singled up the middle to score Kailee Sanchez and end the game.

Shearyna Labasan and Casey Magdadaro. Kamalani Dung and RachelOgasawara. 

W–Dung. L–Labasan.

Leading hitters–MS: Bree Ryan home run, Mailee Enos home run. KS: Katelyn Mahelona double, RBI; Mahina Sauer double, RBI.

No. 6 Punahou 17, Pac-Five 2, 5 innings

Krystin Wong homered twice, including a grand slam, and drove in seven runs to lead the Buffanblu over the Wolfpack.

Heaven Wong batted 3-for-3 with a triple and three RBIs in the win. 

Kalia Kahoano and Kylie Russell. Nicole Nishizawa and Sara Buck.

W–Nishizawa. L–Kahoano

Leading hitters–Pac: Peterson double, RBI. Pun: Heaven Wong 3-3 triple, 3 RBIs; Krystin Wong 3-4 2 home runs, 7 RBIs; Buck 3-4 double; Nishizawa 2-4 double; Jessica Shimoda 2-4 double; Pua Fujinaga 2-4.

No. 7 ‘Iolani 11, Sacred Hearts 1, 5 innings

Macy Uehara and Cassie Ho each had two hits to the lead the Raiders over the Lancers.

W–Taylor Garcia-Perreira. L–Kaua Huihui-Awa.

Leading hitters–Iol: Macy Uehara 2-2, RBI; Cassie Ho 2-3, double, 2 RBIs. SHA: Alexia Nono 2-3.

Mid-Pacific 5, St. Francis 2

Nicole Lopez and Lindsey Matoi each had two hits to lead the Owls past the Saints.

Shaye Simms had two doubles and Taiana Creekmur homered in the loss.

Shaye Simms and Taiana Creekmur. Kaili Akimesu and Taylor Ann Oda. 

W–Akimesu. L–Simms.

Leading hitters–StF: Simms 2-3, 2 doubles; Creekmur home run, 2 RBIs. MPI: Nicole Lopez 2-3; Lindsey Matoi 2-3.