Mililani's Ryan Kono touches home plate to score the winning run against Campbell. Steve Erler | Special to SL

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Mililani's CJ Ibara makes a throw to first base against Campbell. Steve Erler | Special to SL

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MILILANI - Sean Sonognini's run-scoring single with no out in the bottom of the eighth inning gave No. 2 Mililani a thrilling, 2-1, win against No.1 Campbell Saturday at the Trojans' field.

The Trojans (7-0) moved into sole possession of first place in the Oahu Interscholastic Association Western Division in handing the Sabers (6-1) their first loss of the season.

"It's a good win for us," Mililani coach Mark Hirayama said. "We've been playing a lot of close games, which I think has helped. Ian (Kahaloa, Campbell ace starting pitcher) is a quality guy and you're not going to get much from him. We just told the guys to keep battling, get good at-bats and hopefully we get some balls fall our way."

The teams meet again April 18 for the regular-season finale. That would be either four or five days before the OIA tournament, so the coaches might need to determine whether they may go with their aces if the game as a bearing on seeding. The top two teams from each division draws first-round byes. While it was a big win for the Trojans, both coaches are not putting too much emphasis on it.

"It's game No. 7," Campbell coach Rory Pico said. "The first goal is getting into the playoffs; I think one more win will guarantee us in. The second goal is the bye. First or second, it doesn't really matter. You're looking for that bye. We play them the last game. Hopefully, we can make that game matter."

"Every win is important," Hirayama said. "On any given day, anyone can beat anybody. We can't look past our next opponent. We have to compete every game because they're going to be shooting for us because of where we are now."

The Sabers and Kahaloa took a 1-0 lead into the bottom of the seventh before the Trojans tied it on a throwing error. After Campbell went down in order in the top of the eighth, Kila Kapihe took over for Kahaloa to start the bottom of the eighth.

Kono led off with a ground single to left and took second on a wild pitch. Kaimana Souza-Paaluhi was intentionally walked with first base open. A wild pitch on an 0-2 count moved the runners to third and second. Against a drawn-in infield, Sonognini's line single to right scored Kono with the winning run.

"It's like a dream come true, almost" Sonognini said with a laugh, realizing his cliche overstatement. "It's not like (this was) states, but it feels good."

Sonognini, who was 2 for 4, had his other single off Kahaloa. Souza-Paaluhi was the only Trojan with two hits against Kahaloa, batting 2 for 3, including a booming double to right-center with one out in the second.

Keolu Ramos, who pitched out of a bases-loaded jam in the top of the seventh, picked up the win in relief with his two scoreless innings.

"Their pitchers were tough," Campbell coach Rory Pico said. "They throw their breaking pitches for strikes. Anytime you can do that, you'll find success. We didn't execute when we had to; that's the name of the game. They came up clutch when they had to."

It was a game of firsts for Kahaloa, the state's top prospect. He allowed his first run (albeit unearned) of the season, gave up a season-high five hits, walked one (his third of the season in 37 innings, including preseason) and struck out a season-high 14. He also threw a season-high 102 pitches. He did not figure in the decision. He is still 6-0 overall and 2-0 in the OIA. He has yet to allow an earned run this season. He topped out at 93 mph by one scout's radar reading.

"He was all right," Pico said. "He had problems with footing because of the weather. But both teams play on the same mound. They did a good job of making sure (the field) was safe and playable."

Between innings, Mililani fixed the muddied pitcher's mound that was dampened by the steady drizzle.

Trojans' starter Micah Chinen pitched five innings, allowing a run and three hits with three strikeouts. Robert Baker went one-plus inning, allowing three hits with no walks before giving way to Ramos, who pitched the Trojans out of the seventh-inning jam.

"Micah is not an overpowering guy," Hirayama said. "He's not going to turn heads on the radar gun, but he comes out, throws strikes and is going to battle. That's all we can ask. We try to put a good defense behind him and let them put the ball in play."

Kahaloa, who had half of the Sabers' hits with his 3-for-4 performance at the plate, figured in Campbell's only run of the game. He led off the fourth with a single and was lifted for courtesy runner Kainoa Ganancial. After taking second on Blayze Arcano-Llacuna's sacrifice, Keola Himan reached on a bunt single in front of the plate to put runners at the corners. After Himan stole second, Ganancial scored on Tryzen Patricio's squeeze before Kapihe flied out to right to end the inning.

More telling than the loss is an injury to Campbell catcher Patricio, who said he injured his right (throwing) shoulder in last Saturday's game at Pearl City. There were signs throughout the game when his return throws to Kahaloa fell short.

"Toward the fifth, sixth inning, you could see him really laboring (to throw)," Pico said. "For precaution, for the boy, we took him out."

Patricio was replaced at catcher in the bottom of the seventh with right fielder Arcano-Llacuna, who also serves as backup catcher. It turned out to be a factor when the Trojans tied the game in the seventh.

Justice Nakagawa was clipped by Kahaloa's first pitch for a hit batsman. After taking second on Kainoa Wilson's sacrifice, Nakagawa took third on pinch hitter Koa Eastlack's single to center. With pinch hitter Blaine DeMello up, Morikawa, who re-entered as a pinch runner for Eastlack, stole second, but Arcana threw to third hoping to back-side Nakagawa, but his throw sailed into left field, allowing Nakagawa to score the tying run. Eastlack, who stayed at second on the error, went to third later on a passed ball before Kahaloa struck out Adam Connell, but the damage was done.

it wasn't Campbell's day from the start. It had runners at first and second in the first inning against Chinen, but Himan grounded to third for a force to end the inning.

In the top of the second, Arcano a single to third. The next batter, Patricio, bunted the first pitch foul. Hirayama came out to appeal that Arcano had batted out of turn. The umpire checked his lineup card and concurred, calling Arcano out. The lineup card had Arcano batting in front of Himan. Because Himan made an out the previous inning, there was no need to appeal.

Pico said he did turn in the wrong lineup, but he questioned the umpire that the appeal should be nullified because a pitch had already been thrown to the next batter. National Federation rules state that appeals for the runner who reached safely after batting out of order must be made before the pitch is made to the ensuing batter. However, OIA baseball coordinator Glenn Nitta, who also concurred with the rule of when an appeal can be made, said a protest had to be lodged at the time Pico questioned the call. Nitta said a protest cannot be filed after the game.

"That was one of the things that I mentioned" about the timing of the appeal said Pico, who added he was not certain of the rule.

Though Campbell lost the runner, it is debatable whether it might have made a difference had the appeal been denied. Mililani's pitching was keeping up with Kahaloa, except for the strikeouts. The only Saber who was consistent at the plate was Kahaloa, who had half of Campbell's six hits.

Sonognini said the coaches were throwing hard at batting practice and from close range to best simulate Kahaloa's 90-plus mph fastball on Friday.

"They're a tough team," Kahaloa said of the Trojans. "Their whole lineup is disciplined."

Kahaloa faced the Trojans in preseason when he allowed two hits and struck out three in four scoreless innings. Of the seven teams Kahaloa has faced this season, Mililani is the only one to record multiple hits.