The Waianae baseball team wanted to be in the OIA Red for the past two years, but had to settle for beating the OIA White black and blue.

Kekoa Kaluhiokalani Jr. allowed only one hit in his three innings on the mound and the Seariders won a battle of the OIA White’s final two unbeatens with a 17-2 win at Waialua on Wednesday.

"We have a lot of returnees," Waianae coach Kekoa Kaluhiokalani said. "We were counting on being in the Red this year. Unfortunately we had to stay down for two years. But so far it’s a great start and the good thing is that we are getting a chance to play everybody and reward guys with playing time because they deserve it."

Waianae improved to 3-0 and has outscored its opponents 58-3, with every game ending before the seventh inning via the mercy rule. The Seariders made no secret of the fact that it wanted to be in the Red last year, and all it did then was cruise through the OIA White championship without giving up a run in that tournament. Waianae went on to finish third in the Division II state tournament.

As the class of the league, sometimes it takes the Seariders a little time to get going. Waialua (2-1) dug deep into its rotation and gave sophomore Logan Onizuka his first start, and the slow-throwing lefty set down Waianae’s powerful lineup in order in the first inning on only 10 pitches. 

"My pitching coach calls him ‘the nemesis,’" Waialua coach Terry Onizuka said. "When he is on his form and his mechanics are correct, his ball moves. It doesn’t have velocity, but it moves. We are just trying to get him to be more confident with every batter."

Waianae took a more disciplined approach in the second inning and exploded for eight runs on four hits, including doubles by Tavita Lalau and Darion Domingo. Onizuka walked two batters and hit three more in the inning, a drastic change from his effort in the first inning.

"It’s hard; you can get yourself out a lot of the times," Kaluhiokalani Sr. said. "I think we weren’t very disciplined in the beginning, but we put up eight after that and some guys had some good at-bats and that is good to see."

Waianae loaded the bases against Onizuka again in the third, but Caelan Alejandro took the ball and stranded them by striking Kaluhiokalani Jr. out swinging. Waianae made the reliever pay for that, though, putting up eight more runs on three hits and four Waialua errors in the fourth. From there it was just a countdown until the end of the fifth inning, when the mercy rule would kick in, but the Bulldogs did rally with two runs in the bottom of the fifth.

Kaluhiokalani Jr., one of the best pitchers in the state regardless of division, pitched only three innings, striking out four batters but walking three.

The Seariders could have moved up to the Red this year, but no other West team opted to give up its spot. Waianae will be able to move up next year and force the OIA Red West’s worst team down after this year. 

Kekoa Kaluhiokalani, Niko Kala-Mahiai (4), Ioane Kaluhiokalani (5) and Darion Domingo. Logan Onizuka, Caelan Alejandro (3), Mila Lele (5) and Kebi Dellatan. W-Kaluhiokalani. L-Onizuka

Leading hitters–Wain: Chaestin Nash-Santiago 2-3, 3 RBIs; Darion Domingo 2-4, 2b, 3b, 4 RBI; Cameron Cardus 1-2, 3B, 4 RBI. Wail: Joshua Muniz 1-2, 2B. 

Nanakuli 12, Kaimuki 2, 6 Inn.

Ronson Vea had three hits and got the win on the mound as the Golden Hawks mercy-ruled the visiting Bulldogs.

J. Herrera, T. Fujita (5) and K. Hedgar. Ronson Vea, Brayden Ramaila (2), Josh Lincoln (4) and Kahekili Barrozzo. 

W–Vea. L–Herrera.

Leading hitters–Kaim: Herrera 2-3. Nana: Vea 3-3, 3b, 3 runs; Lincoln 3-5, RBI; Ramaila 2-4, RBI. 

Radford 11, Kahuku 1, 5 inn.

Marc Tejada pitched a two-hitter and struck out 11 batters to lead the Rams over the Red Raiders. Dominic Albalos batted 3-for-3 in the win.

John Paul Heuphlind and William Au.Marc Tejada and Dominic Albalos, Dylan Cox (5).

W–Tejada. L–Heuphlind.

Leading hitters–Rad: Ethan Harns 2-3; Albalos 3-3; Jacob Nishitomi 3b.

Farrington 16, Mckinley 10

Kody Leiu batted 4-for-5 and Jacob Baguio scored five runs as the Governors beat the Tigers. Kona Bagood-Makanui had four RBIs in the loss.

StanleyMisioka, Paul Maoamba (4), Jace Baguio (5), Jacob Baguio (6), Joseph De Sagun (6) and Austin Riley-Echiberi. Landon Rita, Noah Diaz (3), Brendan Moy (4) and Chevas Pacheco.

W–Misioka. L–Rita.

Leading hitters–Farr: Kody Leiu 4-5; Jace Baguio 2-5. McK: Kennedy Togafau 2-4; Kona Bagood-Makanui 4 RBIs.

OIA RED EAST

Moanalua 4, Kalaheo 3

Kenji Yamaguchi’s RBI single up the middle broke a three-all tie in the seventh as Na Menehune defeated the Mustangs.

Nick Manago and Brayton Sakai. Cameron Jeter and Kaliu Lapera.

W–Manago. L–Jeter.

Leading hitters–Moan: Casey Isa 3b; Mark Kuga 2b. Kalh: Chase Focht 2b, 2 RBIs; Thomas Capllonch 2b. 

Roosevelt 6, Castle 2

Kainalu Pitoy drove in four runs and Riki Kobayashi struck out six batters to lead the Rough Riders over the Knights. Dustin Tsukano and Keola Tamanaha each had two hits in the win.

OIA RED WEST

No. 3 Campbell 4, Leilehua 0

Dorrien Hermosura and Ian Kahaloa combined on a four-hit shutout to lead the Sabers over the Mules. Tryzen Patricio doubled and drove in a run for Campbell.

Micah Takeshige, Wayne Abear (5) and Jarred Chai. Dorrien Hermosura, Ian Kahaloa (7) and Tryzen Patricio.

W–Hermosura. L–Takeshige.

Leading hitters–Lei:  Nainoa Paragoso 2-4; Jordan Kameda 2b. Cam: Patricio 2-2, 2b, RBI.

Aiea 6, No. 10 Mililani 1

Jansen Kudaishi pitched a four-hitter to lead Na Alii over the Trojans. Toby Chang had two hits and a RBI for Aiea. 

W–Jansen Kudaishi. L–Koa Eastlack.

Leading hitters–Aiea:  Jayvin Alcantra 2-2; Hunter Yara 2-4; Toby Chang 2-4, RBI. 

Pearl City 3, Kapolei 2

Dean Kaneshiro and Tanner Tokunaga combined on a four-hitter to lead the Chargers over the Hurricanes. Aizon Kahana hit a solo home run for Kapolei.

Dean Kaneshiro, Tanner Tokunaga (7) and Shaye Higa. Aizon Kahana and Kyler Hao.

W–Tokunaga. L–Kahana.

Leading hitters–PC:  Jason Komoda 2-3; Tyler Kushima RBI; Trenton Darley RBI. Kapo: Kahana HR, RBI; Jordan Macias 2-3; Ekolu Young RBI. 

Also

BIIF

Hawaii Prep 4, Keaau 3

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