Kailua's Dalton Kalama connected with this pitch for the game-winning hit against Mililani. Greg Yamamoto | SL

Purchase image 1 of 4

Mililani's Micah Yogi rounds third on his way for home plate against Kailua. Greg Yamamoto | SL

Purchase image 2 of 4

Mililani's Cole Nakachi throws a pitch to the plate against Kailua. Greg Yamamoto | SL

Purchase image 3 of 4

Kailua's Peter Kanoho celebrates after coming home with the winning run against Mililani. Greg Yamamoto | SL

Purchase image 4 of 4

WAIPAHU – Dalton Kalama punched Kailua’s ticket into the Oahu Interscholastic Association Red Division championship game with his walk-off double to defeat Mililani, 4-3, at Hans L’Orange Park Friday afternoon.

The Surfriders, ranked sixth in the ScoringLive/OC16 Baseball Power Rankings, rallied from a 3-1 deficit to improve to their record to 11-3 on the year. They will move on to face the winner between Roosevelt and Campbell.

“It was a tough game. Both teams fought back and both teams held the lead. Just a well played game by both teams,” said Kailua coach Corey Ishigo.

Kailua, the Red East’s top-seeded team, plated single runs each in the final three innings en route to the win. Noah Auld’s solo home run tied the game in the bottom of the sixth and Kalama’s sharp hit to right field brought in the game-winning run.

“I think we were more focused on our at bats and hitting some good ones,” Ishigo said on his team’s rally.

Helping to ensure the Surfrider comeback was freshman left-handed pitcher Joey Cantillo who came in of relief of starter Matthew Hanano. Cantillo struck out three and walked one to pick up his third win of the season. He also faced 12 batters in four innings and never gave up a single hit.

“I know my teammates got my back, it’s a team effort. As long as I do my part we’ll win,” said Cantillo.

On the other side of the spectrum was Trojan ace Cole Nakachi (5-2) who pitched a complete game with six strikeouts and three walks in a losing effort. It is also worth noting that Nakachi was dealing with some eye issues during the game. 

“He had an eye infection and kind of an abrasion on his eye so he couldn’t wear his contacts,” explained Mililani coach Mark Hirayama. “He battled today (and) kept us in the ball game.” 

Nakachi controlled the game well enough to win the game, and probably would have if it weren’t for Kailua’s Peter Kanoho. The Surfriders’ leadoff hitter was picked up all of Nakachi’s three walks to record only one at bat in the contest. It eventually came back to haunt the Trojans as Kanoho recorded three runs – and most importantly, the game-winner.

“We didn’t do a very good job at getting the lead off guy out. We walked him three times and those were all scores other than the homerun. In a big ball game like this, you can’t give anything for free,” said Hirayama.

“I’ll take whatever it takes to get to the next guy. Just get on base, and hopefully score,” added Kanoho. 

Kanoho scored the first run of the game on an error in the bottom of the first to give Kailua the first lead. Four-hole hitter Lawson Faria’s shot to third ricocheted off of Trevor Inouye’s arm and Kanoho was able to come home to put Kailua up 1-0.

“Peter has been that way for us the whole year,” said Ishigo. “If he gets on usually we score some runs. That’s a big help if he can get on base for us.”

However, Kailua returned the favor with two errors of its own to score the Trojans’ first run in the third inning. The Surfriders would have come out of the inning unscathed if it weren’t for an errant throw to first from shortstop Dustin Imanaka. The throw forced Awa Byers off the bag and allowed Inouye to reach first safely.  Inouye would later scored on Kanoho’s error in centerfield to tie the game up. 

Mililani took the lead later in the inning on Adam Connell’s double to deep left field that brought home courtesy runner Blaine De Mello to make it 2-1. The Trojans would push their lead to two in the fourth with Deven Awai’s double down the right foul line, which drove in Justice Nakagawa who got on base with a triple.

Cantillo came in following the Awai’s hit and the rest was history as Mililani was held scoreless the rest of the way through.

“I just wanted to throw strikes – and I knew if I threw strikes my defense would be behind me and that our offense would eventually come through,” said Cantillo. 

The loss dropped the Trojans’ record to 8-6. Although its pursuit of a second OIA championship was halted, Mililani will be one of the six OIA teams to represent the league in the 12-team state tournament.

The Surfriders will be seeking its 12th OIA title in school history with a win tomorrow. Should Kailua win, it will be the sixth title the Surfriders have achieved under Ishigo.

“This game is just to get us to the championship game. We’ll just have to take it one by one and hope and pray that we’ll get the title tomorrow,” said Kanoho.