Not even the cold winds of the valley could cool the hot bats of Moanalua.
Na Menehune got a home run from Cody Isa in the opening inning and went on to spank 13 base hits in all for an 11-6 win over Kaiser on Saturday afternoon.
The win lifted visiting Moanalua to 2-2 in Oahu Interscholastic Association East play. Kaiser dropped to 2-1 in league play.
“I’m kind of satisfied. We’ve been playing some not-so-good baseball, so it’s good to see them start off hot,” Moanalua coach Scott Yamada said.
The Cougars played solid defense, but were outslugged for the first time this season.
“Defensively, we didn’t really make an error. We just got outhit,” Kaiser coach Kila Kaaihue said. “They were disciplined and executed their game plan perfectly.”
Isa, a shortstop, finished the day 3-for-4 with a walk and two runs scored. From the start, winds coming in from the Koolaus were a major factor. The effect of gusts well over 25 mph at times was apparent on high fly balls that kept carrying. And carrying. And carrying.
That made it a rough start for Kaiser fireballer Tyler Dyball, who went 41⁄3 innings with nine strikeouts and four walks. Dyball, coming off a 14-strikeout shutout of Kalaheo, was charged with nine runs, permitting nine hits, but when the wind died down, he didn’t allow any extra-base hits.
Isa’s blast to dead center would’ve been deep in any park, but it carried out for the game’s first run against Dyball. With two outs, Bryson Sato (2-for-4) singled and Mathis Yamamoto (3-for-5) tripled to left, scoring Sato. Christian Capinia followed with a single to right, giving the visitors a three-run lead.
Kaiser’s second batter in the lineup, Christian Reasoner, took advantage of the wind tunnel, lofting a high home run to center in the bottom of the first.
The wind calmed down somewhat after the opening frame, but Moanalua’s patient approach kept paying dividends. Isa reached base on an infield single, Andrew Oasay walked, and with one out, Yamamoto singled to center, plating the two baserunners for a 5-0 Moanalua lead.
With two outs, Capinia came through with a single to left, bringing Yamamoto home from second base.
Moanalua starting pitcher Cade Fernandez ran into trouble in the bottom of the fourth after allowing a walk to Brock Perreira, a single to Dyball and a walk to Landon Shigeta. With the bases loaded, Austyn Kometani took the mound and hit Jesse Stroede on an 0-1 pitch, forcing Perreira home from third base. After Pono Lyman grounded into a forceout at home, Jace Okamoto socked a two-run single to left, scoring Shigeta and Stroede to bring Kaiser within 6-4.
Kometani, who ended up as the winning pitcher, then got Reasoner to fly out and Kennedy Chun to pop out, ending the inning.
Kaiser got no closer as clouds covered the field and the winds grew colder. By game’s end, it was 72 degrees with a biting wind chill.
Moanalua came up with three insurance runs in the top of the fifth and two more in the seventh. In the fifth, Capinia struck out, but reached base on a passed ball. After Trent Nakata’s sacrifice bunt, Drayden Von Oelhoffen walked and Capinia advanced to third base on a wild pitch. Tyler Nakata walked to load the bases.
Jarrett Nam entered the game in relief of Dyball. A wild pitch with Isa at the plate allowed Capinia to score, and Nam then walked Isa, Oasay and Sato, forcing in two more runs as Moanalua opened the lead to 9-4.
Kaiser freshman Branden Chun-Ming pitched the final two innings, allowing one hit in the sixth. Moanalua’s veterans got to the crafty right-hander in the top of the seventh with two outs. Oasay doubled, Sato doubled and Tachino singled to extend the lead to 11-4.
Kaiser plated two runs in the bottom of the seventh. Dyball’s single to left scored Antonio Omphroy from third base with one out. Capinia moved from center field to the mound and got Shigeta to ground out — scoring Perreira — and Strode to fly out for the final out.
Kaiser will host Castle on Wednesday. Moanalua will entertain Roosevelt, also on Wednesday.
