Pearl City isn’t about to panic.

Tanner Tokunaga hit a double and two triples and drove in five runs as the Chargers beat Leilehua 13-3 in six innings on Friday at Pearl City.

The Chargers (2-2) climbed back to .500 with the win after disappointing losses to Campbell and Mililani. But there were no worries on Pearl City’s side of the field. The club started just as slow last year but battled back to make its seventh straight state tournament appearance.

"We didn’t want to be 1-3," Pearl City coach Mitchell Yamato said. "We had a team meeting and discussed some issues we had to deal with and the team pulled through. That is the good thing. These kids have been here before, but 2-2 is much better."

The Mules (1-2) tested the Chargers from the first batter, with Leilehua’s Nainoa Paragoso being plunked on an 0-2 pitch, stealing second and scoring on a single to center by Jonah Pass. But there was no need to worry, Tokunaga had not grabbed his bat yet.

Tokunaga led off the first with a triple to the gap in left field. He scored along with Matt Tsutomi, who got hit with a pitch and stole second, on a single to left by Tyler Kushima. Leilehua tied it in the top of the second, but Pearl City took the lead when Tokunaga tripled to left field once again.

"I was just looking for pitches I could drive," Tokunaga said. "(The losses to Mililani and Campbell) made us work harder in batting practice and take better cuts."

Tokunaga came up again in the third and plated a run on a long sacrifice fly to center field. He doubled in two more runs in the fifth and was intentionally walked in the sixth with runners on the corners and two outs.

Leilehua reliever Prestyn Timas then walked Colby Hirano on six pitches to end the game via the mercy rule. Pearl City’s Dane Kaneshiro struck out the side in the top of the sixth to set up the knockout blow.

Every Pearl City starter reached base and Nick Au scored three runs.

The Mules had a golden opportunity with the bases loaded and no outs in the fourth, but Chargers pitcher Sanyo Lo induced short fly balls by Leilehua’s 2-3-4 hitters to strand all of them. The Mules left seven runners on base in the first four innings.

Pearl City had more reason to worry than simple wins and losses. Leilehua’s Jared Academia ran into Pearl City’s Tsutomi at first base on an infield single in the fifth inning and Pearl City’s No. 3 hitter had to leave the game with an injured wrist. Yamato is hoping for the best, but fears the wrist might be broken.

"He was moving it around; hopefully it is just a bad sprain," Yamato said. "Like I told the kids, you feel bad for him, but we have to carry on for him and get the ‘W’ and we can worry about him after the game."

The Chargers visit Kapolei on Wednesday and Waipahu three days after that. Things don’t get any easier for the Mules, who travel to Campbell on Wednesday and host Mililani on Saturday.

Jared Academia, Wayne Abear (3), Shayce Cordeiro (5), Prestyn Timas (6) and Jarred Chai. Trestan Nakamura, Sanyo Lo (4), Dane Kaneshiro (6) and Shaye Higa. W-Nakamura. L-Academia.
Leading hitters–Leil: Jordan Kameda 0-1, 2 BBs, 2 Rs. PC: Tanner Tokunaga 3-3, 2 3Bs, 5 RBIs; Tyler Kushima 2-3, 2 RBIs; Shaye Higa 2-3.

Reece Okura and catcher not reported. Matthew Beall, Micah Wong (2), Dallas Asuncion (3) and catcher not reported.

W—Asuncion. L—Okura.

Leading hitters—Roos: Dustin Tsukano 2-4, run. Kal: Reyn Shitanishi 2-3; Brandon Roberts 2b, run; Payton Awaya HR, 3 RBIs, run.