Mana Lau Kong went 4-for-5 and Judah Ota homered as No. 5-ranked ‘Iolani overpowered Maryknoll, 22-8, on Tuesday afternoon at Ala Wai Community Park.
The win propels ‘Iolani to 8-3 in ILH play with three games remaining in the regular season. The Raiders meet Punahou on Thursday and front-runner Kamehameha on Saturday. Three contenders are chasing first-place Kamehameha with an automatic state-tournament berth for the regular-season leader. The Warriors (9-2) edged Pac-Five, 5-3, to remain atop the standings. Mid-Pacific got past Punahou 5-3. MPI is now 8-3 while Punahou slipped to 7-4.
“It feels good to get a big win. We’ve got a big game on Thursday,” said Lau Kong, a 6-foot-6 third baseman/outfielder. “I’ve been struggling the past few games, but I’m finally back to hitting the ball and seeing the ball good. It helps me feel better and boosts my confidence even more.”
‘Iolani began the season 5-1, then lost to Pac-Five and Mid-Pacific in a three-game span during near mid-season. The Raiders made plenty of contact at the plate against seven Maryknoll pitchers, but coach Kirt Miyahira sees room for improvement.
“They’re trying their best. We need to work on some things. We’re not going to carry over any of the 22 runs to Thursday’s game, and we also won’t have the errors carrying over.”
After years playing in the outfield, Lau Kong feels comfortable in the hot corner.
“I’ve been doing pretty well at third this year. I adapted to it pretty well. Over the summer, I’ve been working with Coach Kirt a lot, getting my reps in. I knew I would have to step up somewhere in the infield this year,” he said.
The Raiders finished with 20 hits and five errors. Maryknoll (3-8) had eight hits and six errors. Four Spartan errors helped stake ‘Iolani to an 8-0 lead in the top of the first inning.
Ota, a left-handed leadoff hitter, socked a 1-2 fastball from Maryknoll’s Jayden Fuchigami over the right-field fence 326 feet away. The next batter, Lau Kong, singled to center and was seemingly dead to rights on a pickoff play at first base, but Fuchigami’s errant throw allowed Lau Kong to advance to second base.
Cole Yonamine followed with a sacrifice bunt that was bobbled. The runners advanced on a wild pitch. Cole Ide walked to load the bases, and Treyden Chong Kee’s sacrifice fly brought Lau Kong home from third base.
Isaac Ahokovi then singled to score courtesy runner Ethan Akagi. After Makana Oniate walked, Oni Dawson followed with a two-run single to score Ide and Ahokovi, and Oniate scored on an outfield error
Dawson later scored on a wild pitch by Derrick Yamamoto for a 7-0 lead.
In his second plate appearance of the inning, Ota walked, then stole second base, advanced to third on a wild pitch. He came home on a throwing error for the Raiders’ eighth run.
In the top of the second inning, Chong Kee led off with a double and Ahokovi singled. Chong Kee came home on a sac fly by Oniate for a nine-run cushion.
Maryknoll scored three times in the bottom of the third inning off ‘Iolani starting pitcher Kasyn Amazaki. Alika Balberdi singled with one out and Aaron Fujino doubled to left, scoring Balberdi.
Allin Yap followed with a triple to left field, plating Fujino. After Luke Swartman reached base on an infield error with Yap scoring on the play.
The Spartans got no closer the rest of the way. ‘Iolani scored four runs in the top of the fourth frame against Jarren Yamashita. Ahokovi delivered a run-scoring, ground-rule double to right center, and Kainalu Kane socked a run-scoring triple to right. Ota followed suit with a triple of his own, scoring Kane easily. Ota later scored on a bases-loaded walk issued to Ide, and ‘Iolani led 13-3.
In the bottom of the fourth, Balberdi singled with two outs, Fuijno walked, and both runners scored when Yap’s deep fly ball to left was dropped. That cut the lead to 13-5.
The Raiders added nine runs in the top of the sixth against a depleted Maryknoll pitching staff.
It was a rough afternoon for a Spartans team that could be dangerous in the upcoming ILH playoffs. None of their top three pitchers took the mound on Tuesday.
Maryknoll will play Saint Louis on Friday at Patsy Mink Central Oahu Park.
“We have to flip the page and get back to work. We have to really control what we can control, staying disciplined to the process we preach at practice,” Spartans coach Alaka‘i Aglipay said. “We have to learn to have a short memory, finish the regular-season strong and gain momentum for the playoffs.”
At Ala Wai
‘Iolani (8-3) 810 409 — 22 20 5
Maryknoll (3-8) 003 203 — 8 8 6
Kasyn Amazaki, Brennan Kim (3) and Cole Yonamine, Isaac Ahokovi (6). Jayden Fuchigami, Derrick Yamamoto (1), Jarren Yamashita (4), Chase Hokama (5), Evan Tokumoto (6), Micah Matsuda (6), Jace Asato (6) and Kaui Kekauoha. W—Kim. L—Fuchigami.
Leading hitters—Iol: Judah Ota 2-4, HR, 2 RBIs, 4 runs, 2 walks, SB; Mana Lau Kong 4-5, 2 RBIs, 2 runs, walk; Cole Yonamine 2-4, double, run, walk, sac; Ahokovi 3-5, double, 2 RBIs, 3 runs, HP; Makana Oniate 2-2, RBI, 2 runs, 2 walks, SF; Oni Dawson 2-4, 2 RBIs, 2 runs, HP. MS: Allin Yap 2-4, triple, 2 RBIs; Aaron Fujino 1-3, double, 2 runs, walk; Alika Balberdi 2-2, 2 runs.
