Crusaders’ Meilleur handcuffs ‘Iolani

Chase Meilleur threw a gem Friday night and his Saint Louis Crusaders moved to the top in Interscholastic League of Honolulu baseball.

Meilleur, a right-handed pitcher, held ‘Iolani to two infield hits in an 11-0 mercy-rule victory at Ala Wai Community Park. He had three strikeouts and only one walk.

Meanwhile, the Crusaders (3-1) teed off on Raiders starter Jordan Iwasaki. Taylor Meilleur went 3-for-4 with a double and a triple and three RBIs to lead the way. His two-run triple was the big hit in a four-run fourth inning that allowed Saint Louis to break open a 2-0 game for a 6-0 edge.

“Chase has been very consistent from our first scrimmage to our first preseason game to now,” Crusaders coach George Gusman said. “He throws lots of strikes, has command and has a fastball, breaking ball and a change, and if you can do that, you can be very good. Scoring four runs in that fourth inning eased things up.”

‘Iolani coach Kurt Miyahira knows Chase Meilleur was the difference.

“Chase was good today,” he said. “He was a buzzsaw. It’s on me. We’ve got to be better prepared. They kind of broke our will. The fourth inning, those four runs broke our spirit. I’ve got to prepare them better. When it was 6-0, we kind of quit. All we can do is bounce back.”

Other than those infield hits by Matt Campos and Matt Inaba, ‘Iolani (2-2) had nothing going on offense and never got a runner past first base.

The Crusaders took a 1-0 lead in the first on Taylor Meilleur’s RBI double. He scored a run in the third on Matt Wong’s infield hit to make it 2-0 before crushing that two-run triple to right field in the fourth inning that broke ‘Iolani’s back. Wong followed with another RBI infield hit as Saint Louis went up 6-0.

In the sixth, Saint Louis put it away with five runs, thanks to Brendan Uchima’s RBI double, a run-scoring single by Michael Murakami and a two-run base hit by Kahi Haina.

“We had some hits that found the holes and we’ll take them every time,” Gusman said.

No. 3 Saint Louis 11, No. 9 ‘Iolani 0, 6 inn.

Chase Meilleur and Taylor Meilleur. Jordan Iwasaki, Brandon Yanagi (5) and Brandon Yamane (6).

W–C. Meilleur. L–Iwasaki.

Leading hitters–StL: T. Meilleur 3-4, 2b, 3b, 3 RBIs; Brendan Uchima 2-4, 2b, RBI; Matt Wong 4-4, 2 RBIs; John Kea 2-3; Kahi Haina 2 RBIs.

No. 6 Punahou 15, Maryknoll 5, 6 inn.

The sixth-ranked Buffanblu overcame a two-run deficit to send the Spartans home in five innings at Ala Wai Field on Friday.

Punahou (2-1) trailed 5-3 in the bottom of the fourth inning, but unleashed seven runs to take an overwhelming lead. Maryknoll pitcher Ryan Stumbaugh walked the first two batters in the inning and Derrick Kurihara walked the next pair to score the Buffanblu’s fourth run. Punahou’s Jerick Nomura followed with a triple to left field that brought in three runs.

After another pitching change, the Spartans (0-3) finally closed out the inning, trailing 10-5.

The Buffanblu tacked on five more runs in the next two innings to enforce the mercy rule.

Punahou’s Noah Goss and Colin Freeman each recorded a triple and three runs in the win. Dreyden Yamauchi led Maryknoll with two doubles in the loss.

Ryan Stumbaugh, Derrick Kurihara (4), Dylan Takara (4) and catcher not reported. Kekoa Vieira, Geoffrey Moore (4) and catcher not reported.

W–Moore. L–Kurihara.

Leading hitters–Mryk: Dreyden Yamauchi 2-3, two 2bs; Jonah Chinen 3 RBIs; Chayson Dulatre 2b. Pun: Noah Goss 2-3, 3b, 3 runs; Codey Kitagawa 2b, 3 RBIs; Colin Freeman 3b, RBI, 3 runs; Jerick Nomura 3b, 3 RBIs, run; Easton Takamoto 3 runs; Noah Loughlin 2b, 2 RBIs; Logan Williams 2 RBIs.

OIA RED WEST BASEBALL

Campbell 7, Leilehua 0

Roy Clemons hit a triple with four RBIs to lead the Sabers over the Mules.

Campbell pitcher Nicholas Sampson earned the win in the shutout. Christian Ontai posted two doubles for Leilehua.

Nicholas Sampson, Chad Samante (7) and Bronson Burr. Na’i Cordero, Nainoa Paragoso (3), Dancin Ah Quin (4) and Jaryn Kanbara, Jason Hook (7).

W–Sampson. L–Cordero.

Leading hitters–Camp: Roy Clemons 2-3, 3b, 4 RBIs. Lei: Christian Ontai 2-3, two 2bs; Dancin Ah Quin 2-3.

No. 4 Maryknoll 10, Sacred Hearts 0, 5 inn.

Maia McNicoll pitched a no-hitter with eight strikeouts as the Spartans blanked the Lancers.

Bree Soma led Maryknoll’s offense with three hits and two RBIs.

Kaua Huihui-Awa and Divine Victorino. Maia McNicoll and Kasey Magdadaro, Kiana Arcayena (4).

W–McNicoll. L–Victorino.

Leading hitters–Mryk: Bree Soma 3-4, 2b, 2 RBIs; Kamalei Labasan 2 RBIs; Mylee Enos 2-3; Tamia Hirano 2-3, RBI; McNicoll 2-3, RBI.

No. 7 Kaiser 6, Roosevelt 5

The Cougars pulled out two runs in the top of the seventh inning to edge the Rough Riders. Kaiser’s Chelsea Soong had three hits.

Crystal Ching-Lake, Seli Alolelei (3) and Tiana Ching-Lake. Mari Foster and Haylie Uetake.

W–Alolelei. L–Foster.

Leading hitters–Kais: Elyse Tsutsui 2b, run; Chelsea Soong 3-4; Primrose Alolelei 2b, 2 RBIs. Roos: Maya Nakamura 2-3, 3b; Foster 3-4, HR, 5 RBIs; Kylie Kawamura 2 runs.