Kailua’s AJ Nakashima waited all season for his first base hit.
He finally got it in the regular-season finale and it was a big one.
Nakashima blasted a three-run homer to right field in the second inning to lift No. 7 Kailua past visiting Moanalua 3-2 on Saturday on the final day of the Oahu Interscholastic Association East baseball season.
Surfriders coach Corey Ishigo was a bit choked up afterward while talking about Nakashima, who was 0-for-20 entering the game.
“We’ve been waiting all year for him to show up to the park,” said Ishigo as he fought back tears. “It’s pretty emotional for me because I’ve been waiting for it and I believed in him, I stuck with him and I didn’t start him a couple of games, but I had the confidence that he was going to show up sooner or later and I’m glad he showed up before playoffs.”
Nakashima, a junior, pulled a pitch over the right-field fence to put his team ahead 3-2.
“It was an inside fastball and I put a pretty good swing on it and I hit it hard,” he said.
Cody Isa’s two-run single to left field put Moanalua up 2-0 in the first inning.
The game ended in spectacular fashion courtesy of Kailua’s defense.
Na Menehune pinch hitter Bryson Sato drew a leadoff walk in the seventh. A pinch runner was balked to second. Surfrider center fielder Dakota Kadooka then made a nice sliding catch on Andrew Oasay’s shallow liner and threw to second to double up the runner.
“It is what it is,” Moanalua coach Scott Yamada said of the play.
The next batter lined the ball through the right side, but Matthew Kaleiohi charged in and fired a strike to first base for the rare 9-3 putout.
“We expect them to make plays like that,” Ishigo said. “Dakota has been doing that kind of stuff for us all year and so has Matt. It’s nothing shocking for us.”
Kailua (10-2) and Moanalua (7-5) both pitched by committee since the outcome had no effect on their seedings for the OIA Division I tournament, which starts Wednesday.
The Surfriders had already clinched the East’s No. 1 seed and first-round bye, while Na Menehune were locked into the No. 3 position.
Moanalua used a different pitcher in each inning.
“We were just trying to get them a little mound work,” Yamada said. “Today’s game had no bearing (on the league playoffs). We couldn’t move up or down and they couldn’t move up or down.”
There was some question as to whether Nakashima actually got an infield hit in the second game of the season against Roosevelt on Feb. 25.
Nakashima, who hit eighth Saturday, said his batting average was .050 (1-for-20) prior to Saturday’s game.
Ishigo said the play should have been ruled an error. Nakashima, who ends the season 1-for-23, agreed when told of his coach’s decision.
“Me and Coach Corey are pretty close. I come to his house sometimes,” Nakashima said. “I’m glad he stuck with me.”
OIA EAST BASEBALL
No. 7 Kailua 3, Moanalua 2
At Kailua
>> Moanalua (7-5) 200 000 0 — 2 4 1
>> Kailua (10-2) 030 000 x — 3 8 1
Christian Capinia, Nainoa Chun (2), Austyn Kometani (3), Randy Tabura (4), Tyler Nakata (5), Ryne Oshiro (6) and Andrew Oasay, Skyler Yamamoto (5). Stone Parker, Bryson Ballesteros (4), Dylan Kurahashi-Choy Foo (6) and Kalua Neves, Nicholas Faulkner (6). W—Parker. L—Chun. S—Kurahashi-Choy Foo.
Leading hitters—Moan: Cody Isa 2 RBIs; Kaz Tachino 3b. Kail: Matthew Kaleiohi 2-3, 2b; Joey Cantillo 2-3; Kurahashi-Choy Foo 2-3; AJ Nakashima HR, 3 RBIs.
No. 8 Kalani 2, Roosevelt 1
At Les Murakami Stadium
>> Roosevelt (6-5) 001 000 0 — 1 6 1
>> Kalani (8-3) 001 000 1 — 2 7 0
Hiram Kaikaina, Matthew Schewe (4), Hostas Pang (6) and Kekoa Lima, Jared Tamashiro (4). Devin Omura, Jarod Kaneshiro (2), Noah Ching (3), Edward Lee (3), Pablo Ruelas (5), Micah Kawano (6) and Bronson Matsumoto. W—Kawano. L—Pang.
Leading hitter—Roos: Lima 2-3.
Kaiser 12, Kalaheo 0, 6 inn.
At Kaiser
>> Kalaheo (1-11) 000 000 — 0 0 7
>> Kaiser (7-5) 303 213 — 12 12 1
Curtis Chung Jr., Evan Goad (6) and Noa Lapera. Steven Miyata, Cody Dela Cruz (6) and Kainoa Torres. W—Miyata. L—Chung Jr.
Leading hitters—Kais: Dela Cruz 2-4, HR, 4 RBIs; Kainoa Craig 2-4, 2 runs, 3 RBIs; Antonio Omphroy 2-3, 3b, 2 runs, 2 RBIs; Keoni Pangan 2-4, 3b, 2 runs.
