Mililani's Taylor Inouye picks off Kapolei's Shaden Ramelb at first base in an OIA Division I West Conference contest Monday afternoon. Michael Lasquero | SL

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KAPOLEI - Dionisio Tapat pitched 6 2/3 scoreless innings, but his performance came too late for Kapolei.

Mililani made a six-run first inning stand up to beat the host Hurricanes, 6-4, Monday in Oahu Interscholastic Association Division I Western Division baseball.

The Trojans (3-4) pulled into a tie for thrid with the Hurricanes (3-4), both a game back of second-place Waipahu (4-3), but four away from leader Campbell (7-0).

Mililani made quick work of Kapolei starting pitcher Drayden Kawewehi, who lasted a third of an inning, hurting himself with three walks and three doubles after facing seven batters. Tapat finished the game, keeping the Trojans in check the rest of the way, allowing two hits and two walks to help the Hurricanes scratch for runs to cut their deficit. But in the end, relief pitcher Cole Mayeshiro got the final two outs, stranding the tying run at second base to end the game.

Shane Griffin (2-0) benefitted from the early lead and concentrated on getting outs when Kapolei runners reached base. He gave up four runs (three earned), four hits, while walking two and striking out two.

"Shane's the guy who's going to go out there and go after guys," Mililani coach Mark Hirayama said. "He did a good job for us today."

The big lead allowed Griffin to stay within himself. When runners got on against him, he just concentrated on getting the next batter out.

"You just try to get ahead of the batters," the right-handed Griffin said. "You know you have a big lead, so you just have to let your teammates making plays for you. I was thinking don't be too fine when you pitch. Just let them hit the ball. I know my defense will make plays for me."

The Trojans were fortunate to cash in on the left-handed Kawewehi's control problems early because Tapat shut the door the rest of the game.

"The guy's been unreal for us this year," Kapolei coach Tom Ebanez said of Tapat, who plays multiple positions. "He pitched last season, but wanted a bigger role this season and hasn't disappointed at all. The guy has a lot of drive and determination."

This was Tapat's second pitching appearance this season. He also pitched 4 13 innings of relief in a loss to Aiea.

The Trojans batted around in the first. Noah Domogsac led off with a walk and stole second before Bryson Arakaki walked. Korrey Siracusa's double to left scored Domogsac and sent Arakaki to third. Taylor Inouye followed with a two-run double to left before Brycin Herrera fouled out to the catcher for the first out.

But Kawewehi's control issues continued as he walked Preston Morales to put runners at first and second to set up Austin Dela Cruz's two-run double to center to make it 5-0 and chase Kawewehi.

Tapat's first pitch was wild, allowing Dela Cruz to take third before Bryce Yonemori walked. Gavin Onizuka's sacrifice fly to center scored Dela Cruz to make it 6-0 before Domogsac grounded out to second to finally end the inning.

"Wasn't Drey's day to today," Ebanez said of Kawewehi (0-1). "He pitched well for us the last two outings."

The Trojans threatened in the second with second and third with one out, but Tapat got Herrera to foul out to the catcher again and retired Morales on a comebacker to end the threat.

The Hurricanes began to chip away from the second inning. Tapat led off with a walk and courtesy runner Adam Berg stole second and went to third on the wild pitch. Berg then scored when Bradyn Yoshida groudned out to third. Griffin got the next two batters on grounders to keep it 6-1.

The Hurricanes struck again in the fourth Joe Uesato led off with a single to right before Andrei Stoyanow reached on a fielding error by third baseman Onizuka on a run-and-hit play that sent Uesato to third. With runners at the corners, Tapat his a flare to center that center fielder Morales had to play on a hop, allowing Uesato to score, but Stoyanow, not sure if the fly would be caught, got a late start off of first and was forced at second. With Tapat at first on the fielcer's choice, Yoshida singled to right to put runners at first and second, but Cobey Fujii grounded to second for the inning-ending double play.

Trailing 6-2, Kapolei added ar un in the sixth. Isaac Badua led off with a single, stole second and took third when Uesato grounded out to first. After Stoyanow was hit by a pitch from Griffin, Tapat's sacrifice fly to center scored Badua to pull Kapolei to 6-3 before Yoshida grounded out to end the inning.

With their last chance to catch the Trojans in the bottom of the seventh, Fujii was hit by a pitch to start the frame before pinch hitter Corey Slade walked. Griffin, though, struck out pinch hitter Kamea Wong on three pitches, but hit No. 9 hitter Shaden Ramelb to laod the bases with one out.

Hirayma pulled Griffin for Mayeshiro, who to Badua on an RBI ground out to second and retired Uesato on a fly to right to end the game.

As for the Trojans, despite getting a jump early on offense, they could not maintain it against Tapat.

"He did a good job, came in and went after us," Hirayama said. "We didn't make the adjustment. It's been what we've been doing all year, not making adjustments. We're learning. We're getting better."

The Trojans host Aiea and the Hurricanes travel to Pearl City on Wednesday.