There’s basically one difference this season for Kamehameha pitcher Hunter Breault and his longtime batterymate, catcher Dylan Salcedo.
Salcedo, who has caught Breault’s pitches since seventh grade — 2012 — has a new, thicker glove this season. He also has a thumb guard. The changes were necessary because Breault grew an inch, added another level of strength and roughly 7 mph to his fastball. That was evident on Tuesday afternoon, when Breault struck out eight, walked just one and permitted just two hits in five scoreless innings as the Warriors overwhelmed the Buffanblu 11-1 in six innings at Patsy T. Mink Central Oahu Regional Park.
It makes the extra gear worthwhile for Salcedo.
“He’ll get me lunch,” the catcher said.
The loss was Punahou’s first after three wins. Kamehameha improved to 2-1.
“You tip your cap to Hunter. He did a good job with command of three pitches,” Punahou coach Keenan Sue said. “We had baserunning errors and defensive errors. We didn’t have it today and against Hunter — two runs is all he needs.”
Breault threw just 67 pitches. A year ago, his fastball was in the mid-80s, normally 85 mph. After an offseason of constant workouts, a strict low-fat diet and lots of work in the weight room, Breault — who grew at least an inch — is at another level. On Tuesday, one scout recorded that heater between 89 and 92 mph during the first inning. His backdoor fastball and sharp slider were tough enough for Punahou, but Breault’s changeup was on point from the start. It almost wasn’t fair.
“My (pitching) coach saw my changeup doing well in the pen, so he called it a lot,” Breault said of Jayson Kramer, the former Hawaii hurler.
The Warriors reached Punahou’s starting pitcher, Slater Pang, for two runs in the bottom of the first inning. Kawai Takemura led off with a single to left and scored on Logan Salcedo’s double to left. With one out, Salcedo stole third base and then came home on Kalamaku Kuewa’s single to left.
Kuewa had a big day at the plate, going 3-for-4 with two doubles, two RBIs and two runs scored.
The Buffanblu replaced Pang with last season’s ace reliever, Riley Guieb, after Pang walked Breault to lead off the bottom of the second frame.
Kamehameha scored off Guieb with two outs in the third. Kuewa blasted a deep fly ball to left that appeared to land beyond the left-field fence, but after a conference, the umpires ruled it was a ground-rule double. Dylan Salcedo followed with a single, scoring Kuewa for a 3-0 Kamehameha lead.
Breault was on a roll at this point. After permitting a double to Jake Tsukada in the top of the first — he was tagged out at second base on a fielder’s choice grounder back to the mound — Breault retired 11 batters in a row, striking out two in the second, two in the third and two more in the fourth.
Punahou put two runners on base in the top of the fifth as Breault went to a three-ball count for the first time. Jerick Nomura walked with one out and Noah Loughlin singled with two outs. A pitch in the dirt was scooped up by the catcher, Salcedo, who rifled a throw to second to nail Nomura off the bag for the third out.
Kamehameha then pushed five runs across the plate in the bottom of the fifth.
ILH Division I Baseball |
Kamehameha 11, |
Punahou 1 |
|
At CORP |
Punahou (3-1) |
000 |
001 |
— |
1 |
5 |
0 |
Kamehameha (2-1) |
201 |
053 |
— |
11 |
10 |
2 |
Slater Pang, Riley Guieb (2), Duke Clemens (5), Chris Amemiya (6), Beau Whittaker (6) and Matther Nakamoto. Hunter Breault, Kamaha‘o Arita (6) and Dylan Salcedo. |
W—Breault. L—Pang. |
Leading hitters—Punahou: Jake Tsukada 2-3, double; Andrew Matsueda 0-2, SF, RBI. Kamehameha: Kawai Takemura 2-3, BB, 2 runs; Logan Salcedo 1-2, 2 BB, double, 3 runs, RBI; Nakea Hanohano 2-4, double, 2 runs, RBI; Kalamaku Kuewa 3-4, 2 doubles, 2 RBI, 2 runs; Dylan Salcedo 1-2, BB, RBI; Breault 1-2, RBI, BB. |
|
Saint Louis 3, ‘Iolani 0 |
|
at ‘Iolani |
Saint Louis (3-1) |
011 |
000 |
1 |
— |
3 |
9 |
0 |
‘Iolani (1-2) |
000 |
000 |
0 |
— |
0 |
5 |
1 |
Dawson Yamaguchi and Kaiolohia Perreira-Alquiza. Trevor Ichimura, Jordan Iwasaki (6) and Keene Tanaka. |
W — Yamaguchi. L — Ichimura. |
Leading hitters—Saint Louis: Daniel Stephens 2-3, run, RBI; Dylan Pagente 3-3, run. ‘Iolani: Matt Inaba 2-2. |
OIA EAst Division I |
Castle 9, Kalaheo 1 |
|
at Castle |
Kalaheo (1-1) |
000 |
100 |
0 |
— |
1 |
5 |
3 |
Castle (2-2) |
601 |
101 |
X |
— |
9 |
10 |
2 |
Michelle Sasaki and Elyse McCabe. Mele Turner and Shayla Young. |
W—Turner. L—Sasaki |
Leading Hitters—Castle: Kailee Ishii 3-4, 2B, 2 runs; Shea Keaunui 2-3, run, RBI; Kacie Lam 2-3, run, 3 RBI. Kalaheo: Shaley Salis 2-3, 3B. |
|
No. 5 Kailua 12, Farrington 1
|
|
|
|
at Kailua |
Farrington (0-2) |
100 |
000 |
— |
1 |
3 |
2 |
Kailua (2-0) |
500 |
322 |
— |
12 |
15 |
0 |
Krislon Philpot-Rosa, Kelia Miller (6) and Kaycie Okada. Dyani Cummings-Lani and Denise Nagayama. |
W—Cummings-Lani. L—Philpot-Rosa. |
Leading Hitters—Kailua: Desiree Chang 2-3, 3 runs; Harley Texeira 2-4, run, 3 RBI; Cummings-Lani 3-3, 2 runs; Kassy Kealoha-Machado 2-3, run, RBI. |
OIA West DIvision I |
No. 3 Pearl City 5, |
No. 9 Leilehua 4, 9 inn. |
at Pearl City |
Leilehua (1-2) |
003 |
100 |
000 |
— |
4 |
9 |
2 |
Pearl City (2-0) |
000 |
040 |
001 |
— |
5 |
12 |
1 |
Kaena Nistal, Kamryn Kamakaiwi (5), Nistal (9) and Staisa Micky. Tianna Kaaialii and Hailey-Alexis Yamaguchi. |
W—Kaaialii. L —Nistal. |
Leading Hitters—Leilehua: Kamakaiwi 2-4, Ashley Salausa 3-4, run, 2B, HR, 2 RBI. Pearl City: Kylie Tasaki 2-5, run, SB; Cheyne Obara 2-4, RBI; Bryanna Passi 2-4. |
|
No. 7 Mililani 7, |
Waianae 0 |
|
at Mililani |
Waianae (0-2) |
000 |
000 |
0 |
— |
0 |
1 |
3 |
Mililani (2-0) |
101 |
203 |
x |
— |
7 |
10 |
0 |
Kayla Hensley and Tyra Pai. Misha Carreira, Jaslyn Dumlao (7) and Katie Carlos. |
W — Carreira. L — Hensley. |
Leading Hitters—Mililani: Tarah Aniya 2-3, 2 runs, RBI; Merilis Rivera 2-3, run, 4 RBI, HR; Jerae Keliikoa 2-2. |
|
Kapolei 7, |
No. 10 Nanakuli 6 |
|
at Nanakuli |
Kapolei (1-1) |
000 |
101 |
5 |
— |
7 |
10 |
3 |
Nanakuli (0-3) |
002 |
003 |
1 |
— |
6 |
4 |
1 |
Chasity McKean, Tatum Guzman (6) and Lili Kaimi. Cranci Kamaka, Cheyenne Lute (7) and Kaila Burnett. |
W—Guzman. L—Kamaka. |
Leading Hitters—Kapolei: McKean 2-4, 3 runs, 2 RBI, HR; Ciena Kauhi 3-4, run, RBI. Nanakuli: Kanalei McCoy 2-4, run, 2 RBI. |
|
OIA Division II |
Waipahu 16, Waialua 6 |
|
at Waipahu |
Waialua (0-2) |
420 |
000 |
— |
6 |
5 |
7 |
Waipahu (1-2) |
217 |
15X |
— |
16 |
14 |
1 |
Honey Jose-Woods, Nova Rivera (4) and Leaa Puleiala. S. Veu and C. Colobini. |
W — Veu. L — Jose-Woods |
Leading Hitters—Waialua: Andrea Dicion 2-2, RBI, 2 runs. Waipahu: O. Fuiava 4-4, 3B, RBI, 4 runs; Colobini 3-3, 2B, 3B, 4 RBI, 3 runs; J. Paredes 2-4, 2 runs; S. Kapesi 2-4, 2 RBI, run; C. Reyes 3-4, 2B, 3B, RBI, run. |
|
Radford 20, Kahuku 0 |
|
at Radford |
Kahuku (0-1) |
000 |
00 |
— |
0 |
3 |
0 |
Radford (1-1) |
614 |
9x |
— |
20 |
17 |
0 |
Kouipo Aumua and Jolyn Uli. Abigail Wilson, Alden Steyart and Honor Siu-Auelua. |
W — Wilson. L — Aumua. |
Leading Hitters — Radford: Selina Tavarez 2-2, 2 RBI; Baileigh Susak 2-2, RBI; Wilson 2-3, 2 RBI; Ciera Farias 3-3, 2 RBI. |