Pac-Five rides Tanaka's pitching in 4-1 win over Damien


Pac-Five starter Lee Tanaka went the distance, allowing just one unearned run on two hits while striking out 10 in a win over Damien. Michael Lasquero | SL

WAIPAHU — Lee Tanaka delivered a gem to power Pac-Five past Damien, 4-1 at Hans L'Orange Field Tuesday afternoon.

The senior pitcher fired a two-hitter with 10 strikeouts to help the Wolfpack improve to 4-5 in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu Division II standings.

Tanaka faced 26 batters and had a no-hitter through 17 outs to pick up his third win on the mound this year. The lone run that the Monarchs scored was on a fielding error that would have ended the game.

"He threw a helluva of a game," Damien coach Timo Donahue said on Tanaka. "His command was really good. He mixed it up and he had great control."

With Damien dropping to 4-6, the win gives Pac-Five a momentarily half-game lead for second place in the league.

"We've been losing a lot of games recently so getting a win on the board is really good and it helps the energy of the team," Tanaka said.

The Wolfpack jumped out to an early 2-0 lead after the first inning to back up Tanaka's pitching.

Tanaka batted second and got on base thanks to an error on the Monarchs' first baseman. Cleanup hitter Shandon Lagua dialed a hit through the middle of the infield and Jared Miyasato knocked in a 2 RBI single to shallow center field to plate Lagua and courtesy runner Kealii Carvalho.

"That was our goal," said Pac-Five coach Dennis Fukunaga. "We wanted to score in the first, whether it was one, two or four."

After Damien cleanup hitter Kaimana Cameron flew out to center field, Tanaka picked up steam and delivered four straight strikeouts that span the second and third innings.

Tanaka had another strikeout streak in the fifth to have his third perfect inning of the game.

"Today I just came and made sure I threw my strikes," said Tanaka.

Pac-Five added to its lead in the bottom of the fourth when leadoff hitter Zane Oshiro drove in Ryan Moritsugu on a double.

The Wolfpack got their final run of the game when Brandon Miyasato plated Lagua in the fifth inning. 



Reach Michael Lasquero at [email protected].