Kamehameha's Nick Penzetta finished the afternoon 2-for-3 at the plate with a run scored in a win over Saint Louis. Greg Yamamoto | SL

Purchase image 1 of 1

HAWAII KAI — Late-game execution proved to be the difference in Kamehameha's 3-1 win over Saint Louis Tuesday afternoon.

Nick Penzetta batted 2 for 3 and scored the tying run to help the Warriors rally past the Crusaders in both teams' Interscholastic League of Honolulu season-opener at Goeas Field.

Although both teams totaled six hits, Saint Louis committed two more errors than Kamehameha — four total — that helped aid the Warriors' victory.

A missed inning-ending double-play allowed the go-ahead run to score and an off-balanced throw to first by reliever Dawson Yamaguchi gave Kamehameha another score for good measure.

"We took advantage of opportunities today," said Kamehameha coach Tom Perkins. "It was a tough game and we both had runners on scoring position. The right thing had to happen at the right time and we were fortunate enough to make those things happen today."

Chase Miyasato came in relief of Lii Pontes in the top of the sixth inning to pick up the win. Pontes scattered six hits across five and one-third inning, giving up one unearned run.

"They're a hard team to contain because they're quick and agile," Perkins said on the Crusaders. "Fortunately our pitching did it for us. They allowed us to execute our offense and our defense."

Keith Torres reached on an error by third baseman Ricky Costa and Brendan Uchima drove him with a line drive to centerfield to give Saint Louis a 1-0 lead in the third inning. Uchima led the Crusaders in the contest going 3 for 4 at the plate.

The Crusaders got out of a bind in the bottom of the third thanks to first basemen Aaron Renaud. Kamehameha loaded the bases on back-to-back hits and a Saint Louis error with no outs to begin the frame. On the Warriors' next at bat, Renaud caught a line drive towards him and beat the runner at first for a double play. 

It wasn't until the the bottom of the fifth when Kamehameha picked up some steam. Penzetta started the frame with a double to the left gap and advanced to third when the Warriors went back to the top of the lineup. Three-hole Micah Chee brought Penzetta home with a double of his own to tie the game at 1-1 heading into the top of the sixth.

"Our coach always tells us to keep our head high and keep battling through," said Penzetta. "Once we got our first run it basically picked up from there."

Miyasato took over for Pontes with one out and walked his first batter before a double play closed out the top half of the penultimate inning.

Junior pitcher Chase Meilleiur walked the first two batters he faced on nine pitches before giving way to Yamaguchi in the bottom of the sixth.

"He's been so good (in the preseason) that he hasn't really thrown that many pitches," Saint Louis coach George Gusman said on Meilleiur. "I thought that was enough for opening day. I thought he pitched his heart out and deserved better."

After the pitching change Saint Louis let Makoa Mau reach first on a fielder's choice for the first out of the inning, leaving runners at the corners. 

On the Warriors' next at bat, a ground ball to short stop resulted in a miss-tag at second and a bad throw to first. This allowed courtesy runner Jesse Awa to come in for the go-ahead run while leaving runners at second and first with two outs remaining.

"If we turn that double play we're still playing. That was a key right there," said Gusman. 

Penzetta put down a bunt on the next at bat that should have put him out, but Yamaguchi scooped it up and tried to throw it to first off of his back foot in one single motion. The bad throw saw Mau come in from second for the final score of the day.

The Warriors travel to Mid-Pacific on Friday while the Crusaders will look to get back on track against the newly promoted Maryknoll, who won the previous three Division II state titles.