You better bring your best game if you want to beat the new top baseball team in the state.
Ian Kahaloa pitched six strong innings, three batters had three hits each and Campbell beat Waipahu 8-1 on Monday in Waipahu.
The Sabers ascended to the top of the Star-Advertiser’s baseball poll before the clash between the two top teams in the OIA Red West, and they didn’t disappoint.
Waipahu ace Dylan Sugimoto was out of rotation and played center field instead of taking the hill. He expects to pitch on Wednesday, when the Marauders host Mililani. Campbell, which is clear of the rest of its league by two games in the loss column, visits Pearl City the same day. Waipahu stayed in seventh in the latest poll.
“It was a big game,” Campbell catcher Tryzen Patricio said. “We were ready for (Sugimoto), but after the rain (outs) we knew he wasn’t going to pitch against us, so we prepared for the other guy. We just have to work hard and get ready for the next game.”
Kahaloa struggled to locate his pitches early but settled down to strike out five batters and not allow a walk. He faced only 23 batters in his six innings and got 11 batters out in a row at one point. The only run he gave up came in the third on a leadoff double by Rustin Ho and a single to right by Sugimoto. Patricio said Kahaloa had his regular stuff, but his breaking pitches improved as the game went on.
“They put some swings on him toward the middle of his outing, but he settled down and started to locate,” Campbell coach Rory Pico said. “I am glad he made the adjustment. I thought his performance was OK today.”
The way the Sabers pounded the ball, Kahaloa didn’t have to be spectacular. Campbell put up four runs in the second inning, when Waipahu starter Oakland Scanlan lost the control he used to get the Sabers out in order in the first.
Dorrien Hermosura led off the second with a triple to left field, and after Zachary Kapihe flew out, Patricio drove him home with a single to left. Blayze Arcano followed with a walk and Jake Mendoza reached on an error that scored a run. But Scanlan still almost worked his way out of it by getting Eli Kahaawi to fly out to center for the second out.
Scanlan then walked the next three batters to bring in two runs and Jordan Ballesteros took the ball and got Hermosura to fly to left to leave the bases loaded.
Campbell scored two more runs in the third and two in the sixth before emptying the bench. Hermosura went 3-for-4 with two triples, while Patricio and Arcano each had three hits. Wayne Bucao was the only other Saber to have a safety, but every batter in the lineup reached base at least once.
“They are a great-coached team, with great pitching,” Waipahu coach Jared Abreu said. “They are tough to beat when they hit the ball like they are this year.”
At Waipahu
Campbell (7-0) 042 002 0 — 8 10 0
Waipahu (4-2) 001 000 0 — 1 5 2
Ian Kahaloa, Kainoa Ganancial (7) and Tryzen Patricio. Oakland Scanlan, Jordan Ballesteros (3), Jaron Sugimoto (7) and Patrick Villanueva. W-Kahaloa. L-Scanlan.
Leading hitters—Camp: Dorrien Hermosura 3-4, 2 3Bs, RBI; Tryzen Patricio 3-4, 2 RBI; Blayze Arcano 3-3, BB, RBI. Waip: none.
OIA RED EAST
Kailua 10, Castle 0, 5 inn.
Dalton Kalama’s solo shot to right-center highlighted a four-run third inning and Joey Cantillo tossed a complete game one-hitter as the Surfriders blanked the Knights in five innings.
At Kailua
Castle (1-6) 000 00 — 0 1 2
Kailua (6-1) 214 03 — 10 11 0
Sawyer, Kim (5) and Madrona. Joey Cantillo and Dalton Kalama.
W—Cantillo. L—Sawyer.
Leading hitters—Cast: none. Kail: Brendan Odo 2-2; Noah Auld 2b; Jameson White 3-3, 3b; Dalton Kalama 3-3, 2b, HR.
Saturday
Kalani 16, Moanalua 8
MIL
Baldwin 12, Lahainaluna 1
Kamehameha-Maui 3, King Kekaulike 2 (9)
OIA RED WEST SOFTBALL
Kapolei 3, Mililani 1
Kamryn Kanae went
2-for-3 with a double as the Hurricanes rode a three-run third inning to the win over the Trojans.
At Kapolei
Mililani (5-1) 000 001 0 — 1 6 1
Kapolei (2-4) 003 000 X — 3 11 0
Tristan Cozo and Markie Okamoto. Laugatausala Pedebone and Alecia Kupihea.
W—Pedebone. L—Cozo.
Leading hitters—Mil: Maya Yoshiura 1-2; Tori Baysa 1-1, 2b; Brooke Yasuda 1-2, run. Kapo: Stacia-Al Mahoe 2-3, run; Shaycelynn Ho‘ohuli 1-2, run; Kamryn Kanae 2-3, 2b, RBI; Pedebone 2-3; Makana Meyers 1-2, run.
Waianae 3, Campbell 2
Nui Sevia hit a solo home run in the sixth inning and scored the winning run on an error in the top of the eighth to lead the Seariders over the Sabers.
At Campbell
Waianae (5-2) 010 001 01 — 3 7 1
Campbell (4-3) 100 100 00 — 2 5 1
C. Kamaka and B. Wagner. Elyse Favela and Kiana Ulufale.
W—Kamaka. L—Favela.
Leading hitters—Wain: M. Chong 4-4, run; N. Sevia 3-4, 2b HR, 2 runs, 3 RBIs. Camp: C. Curran 2-4; K. Kahana 2b; E. Favela 2-4, 3b.
ILH SOFTBALL
Saturday
Mid-Pacific 16, St. Francis 5
At St. Francis
MPI (6-3) 175 03 — 16 13 1
STF (0-8) 400 10 — 5 7 3
Akimseu, Morita (4) and Oda. Guerrero, Vili (3), Simms (4) and Creekmur.
W—Akimseu. L—Guerreru.
Leading hitters—MPI: Kumabe HR, 3 runs, 3 RBIs; Oda 2-4, 2b, 2 RBIs; Lopez 3b, 2 runs, RBI; Garcia-Perreira 2b; Matoi 2-3, HR, 3 runs, 6 RBI; Onishi 2-3, 2b, HR; Nakamoto 2 runs. StF: Sant 2-3, 2 runs.
