Don’t look at Campbell’s unbeaten record and think that it has come easy.
Relief pitcher Ian Kahaloa worked out of trouble in the seventh and the Sabers beat Waipahu 5-2 to clinch the OIA Red West at Campbell on Friday.
The Sabers ran their record to 10-0 and pitched their ninth straight game without giving up more than two runs. Waipahu (6-4) brought the potential tying run to the plate in the bottom of the seventh, but Kahaloa, who allowed the first three Marauders he faced to reach base, got Shilo Baniaga to strike out on a pitch off the plate with runners on first and second to end the tense inning.
"I wouldn’t say we haven’t had adversity," Campbell coach Rory Pico said. "Even though our record is unblemished at this point, we have played some tough games. Our goal is not to be undefeated, our goal is to play good baseball and progress in every game."
Pico let Kahaloa start the seventh because he needed some work, taking the ball away from starter Zachary Kapihe.
All Kapihe did was shut Waipahu out for six innings, allowing three hits while walking only two batters. He struggled in the first inning but left the bases loaded and put down Waipahu’s next 12 batters before Dylan Sugimoto singled to lead off the sixth.
"The first inning my adrenaline was rushing," Kapihe said. "I knew somehow I had to get back in my mode and make my defense work and make my pitches."
Kapihe threw 83 pitches, 57 of them for strikes, and started 15 of the 22 batters he faced with strikes. Waipahu threatened him in the sixth when Patrick Villanueva blistered a line drive that went directly to Campbell shortstop Jobe Ibana, who caught it and threw to second for the inning-ending double play.
"They are not No. 1 in the state for nothing," Waipahu coach Jared Abreu said. "Credit to Campbell because they put the ball in play and their pitcher stayed ahead in the count and kept us off balance."
The Sabers started it off with a run in the first inning on a single by Dorrien Hermosura and added three more in the second.
Kainoa Ganancial reached on an error to lead it off and Jake Mendoza followed with a single and No. 9 hitter Zachary Recolan walked on four pitches. Ibana then drove in two runs with a single to left and Dewayne Sprinkel plated another on a groundout to short.
Campbell made it 5-0 in the sixth on a double and a single.
Waipahu rallied for a run on a throwing error in the top of the seventh and scored another on a fielder’s choice.
"We brought in a pitcher who needed work," Pico said. "Obviously he needs work; he had a hard time throwing strikes but that is why you play the games, to see if he can execute what we have been working on in practice. He is a hard worker, he will be OK."
Campbell plays Aiea on Wednesday and closes the regular season on April 22 at Leilehua. Waipahu visits Kapolei on Wednesday and closes at Leilehua on Friday. Waipahu, which is second in the standings a half-game ahead of Mililani and leads the race for the second bye in the playoffs, lost shortstop Justin Padilla to a hamstring injury on a play at first on Friday.
at Campbell
| Waipahu (6-4) |
000 000 2 2 4 2 |
| Campbell (10-0) |
130 001 x 5 6 1 |
Justin Keaka and Patrick Villanueva, Greyson Fuentes (4). Zachary Kapihe, Ian Kahaloa (7) and Tryzen Patricio.
W–Kapihe. L–Keaka.
Leading hitters–Waip: Dylan Sugimoto 2-3, BB. Camp: Jake Mendoza 2-3, SB, R.
Mililani 2, Kapolei 1
Ty Desa and Jarrin Morikawa each scored a run to helps the Trojans edge the Hurricanes.
At Mililani
| Kapolei (3-7) |
100 |
000 |
0 |
— |
1 |
6 |
2 |
| Mililani (6-5) |
001 |
100 |
X |
— |
2 |
8 |
1 |
Aizon Kahana and Tyler Hao. Cole Nakachi, Koa Eastlack (7) and Sean Sonognini.
W–Nakachi. L–Kahana. S–Eastlack.
Leading hitters–Kap: Jordan Macias 2-3, 2b. Mil: Trevor Inouye 2-3, 3b; Sonognini 2-2; Ty Desa 3b, run.
ILH DIVISION II
Maryknoll 13, Pac-Five West 1, 5 inn.
Kahi Hirano tripled to right field to drive in two runs in the fifth inning and Landon Higa scattered three hits to lead the Spartans.
At Hans L’Orange Park
| Mryk (11-2) |
514 |
03 |
— |
13 |
9 |
3 |
| P5W (3-10) |
100 |
00 |
— |
1 |
4 |
4 |
Landon Higa, Chase Uyema (5) and Neal Nakasone. Jeremy Abela-Nakashima, Aaron Leong (4) and Casey Nakamura, Ricky Costa(3)
W–Higa. L–Nakashima.
Leading hitters–Mryk: Kahi Hirano 3b, 3 runs, 2 RBIs; Jedd Andrade 2-4; Justin Ushio 2-3, 3b; Jason Nakamura 3b; Nakasone 2b. P5W: Costa 2b; Cyan Garma 2-2.
Also
BIIF
Kamehameha-Hawaii 10,Ka’u 0
MIL
No. 4 Baldwin 9, No. 10 Maui 6
Lahinaluna 12, King Kekaulike 5
OIA RED WEST SOFTBALL
No. 5 Mililani 8, Leilehua 2
Karly Macadangdang doubled and homered to help the Trojans beat the Mules. Sage Akina-Sanborn hit a solo home run in the loss.
At Mililani
| Leilehua (5-6) |
000 |
110 |
0 |
— |
2 |
5 |
4 |
| Mililani (8-2) |
410 |
012 |
X |
— |
8 |
11 |
0 |
Taezha-Ann Cordero and Ashley Salausa. Aubree Kim and Markie Okamoto.
W–Kim. L–Cordero.
Leading hitters–Lei: Chenoa Au 2b, run; Salausa 2b, RBI; Sage Akina-Sanborn HR, RBI. Mil: Jade Yadao-Valdez 2-4, 2b, 2 runs; Karly Macadangdang 2-4, 2b, HR, 3 RBIs, 2 runs; Tori-Ann Baysa 2b, run; Justine Fabella 2-3, RBI.
Also
MIL
Molokai 7, Lanai 6
