Kailua edges Moanalua, 6-5, in bottom of eighth inning


Kailua's Kory Sasaoka celebrates a key base hit in the 8th inning against Moanalua. Brien Ing | SL
KAILUA -- Reig Alo-Chang scored on an infield error with one out in the bottom of the eighth inning yesterday as Kailua edged Moanalua, 6-5, in an O'ahu Interscholastic Association baseball showdown.

The Surfriders improved to 9-0-1 in league play and moved into sole possession of first place in the OIA's Red Conference Eastern Division. Na Menehune fell to 8-1-1.

It was the second straight eight-inning game between the rival powerhouses, after Wednesday's game ended in a 6-6 tie due to darkness.

It started to get a little dark yesterday as well, but Alo-Chang got things going with a single to left field to open the bottom of the eighth inning. After one out, he advanced to second when Kory Sasaoka reached on a throwing error after laying down a sacrifice bunt, then took third on a balk.

Ryan McMonigle then hit a chopper to short, but the throw home to catch a sliding Alo-Chang was late and wide after a bobble on the transfer.

"It was a tough play, but I think if the transfer was clean (Alo-Chang) would have been out," Moanalua coach Scott Yamada said.

Just as in Wednesday's game, the teams showed how little separation there is between them.

Na Menehune took a 1-0 lead in the first inning after Ross Hasegawa singled with one out, advanced to third on Tim Arakawa's double and scored on Bronson Shim's groundout. They made it 3-0 in the third following an RBI triple by Arakawa and Shim's run-scoring double.

But Kailua tied it in the bottom of the third after four straight walks, Kila Zuttermeister's RBI single and a passed ball. The Surfriders then took a 4-3 lead in the fourth as Kea Vierra doubled with one out, advanced to third on Sasaoka's groundout and scored on McMonigle's single to left.

Kailua made it 5-3 in the fifth after courtesy runner Kaliko Kaimana took third on a passed ball following Alika Ramseyer-Ho's double and scored on Zuttermeister's single to left.

Moanalua then tied it in the sixth after Shim's run-scoring double to left-center and James Higa's sacrifice fly.

Zuttermeister and McMonigle each went 2 for 4 to lead the Surfriders offense. Arakawa went 4 for 4, Shim went 2 for 4 with three RBIs and Hasegawa went 2 for 3 for Na Menehune.