Moanalua rallies by Kaiser in wild win


The Moanalua baseball team celebrates after scoring a run against Kaiser. Leighland Tagawa | SL

SALT LAKE — Andrew Oasay's bases-loaded hit batsman with two outs capped a four-run bottom of the seventh inning as Moanalua rallied by visiting Kaiser, 14-13, Wednesday, in a wild and crazy senior game at Moanalua.

The third-place Na Menehune (6-4) pulled a half-game in front of the fourth-place Cougars (5-4) in the Oahu Interscholastic Association Division I East.

"I'm just happy for the boys because they showed that they can be resilient enough to come back," Moanalua coach Scott Yamada said. "There were times when we do go down early and don't do what we're supposed to do. But today, they didn't want to give up. I guess this being senior day for them, they just fought back."

The three-hour affair saw the teams combine for 27 runs, 30 hits and 10 errors, seven by the winning team including two that accounted six unearned team runs in the top of the sixth that saw Moanalua squander a 10-6 lead.

But Kaiser's three pitchers — starter Pono Lyman, Branden Chun-Ming and Jarrett Nam — each allowed three walks and combined to allow 16 hits and 14 runs.

"Guys lose concentration, they lose focus," Kaiser coach Kila Kaaihue said. "We're still trying to teach them the game. They're not engaged when they should be engaged. They'll fight. They compete, but there's a time to be smart, time to execute. Just simple things. We just give away games."

Kaiser trailed 10-6 entering the top of the sixth, when it sent 10 batters to the plate in a six-run frame to take a 12-10 lead. They added insurance in the seventh to make it 13-10 entering the home seventh.

Na Menehune began their rally with a bang when Bryson Sato led off with a home run to right off Kaiser's third pitcher of the game in Chun-Ming. Mathis Yamamoto followed with a single to center to chase Chun-Ming for left-hander Nam, who walked pinch hitter Cole Souza to bring the winning run to the plate. McCade Ho grounded to third for a force at second to put runners at the corners with one out before Tyler Nakata walked to load the bases. Trent Nakata grounded to short for a force at second to plate another run to pull Moanalua to 13-12 with two out and runners at the corners again. Christian Capinia's flare single to center tied the game at 12 with courtesy runner Drayden Von Oelfhoffen stopped at second. Cody Isa walked to load the bases for Oasay, who fell behind 0-2 before getting clipped by Nam's pitch to end the game.

"I wanted to hit," said Oasay, who was 3 for 5 with two doubles and two RBIs. "But you have to take one for the team, so I stayed in and let it hit me."

Nam jumped ahead in the count 0-2.

"I was taking some hacks earlier," Oasay said of falling behind 0-2, "So I was thinking stay a little small, use my hands."

Kaiser chased Moanalua starting pitcher Austin Kometani with one out in the third when the Cougars sent nine batters up in a four-run third.

But Moanalua scored three in the bottom of the third when Tyler Nakata cleared the bases with a two-run single to center; the center fielder misplayed the ball to allow a runner to score from first.

Moanalua then took the lead when 12 batters went to bat in a six-run fourth. Mathis Yamamoto (3 for 5) had a two-run double, while Oasay, Ho, Tyler Nakata and Capinia had RBI singles to give Moanalua a 9-4 lead.

Kaiser chipped away with two runs in the fifth, while Moanalua got one back in the bottom of the inning to make it 10-6.

Kaiser then batted around in a six-run sixth. A three-run home run to right by Christian Reasoner (4 for 4, 5 RBIs) pulled Kaiser ahead 11-10. Later in the inning, Noah Matsumoto doubled home a run to make it 12-10.

"It was crazy, but we can come back," Oasay said.

Capinia picked up the win with two innings of relief; he was the fourth pitcher used by Moanalua. Nam was saddled with the loss.

Both teams return to action 3 p.m. Friday. Kaiser will host Roosevelt (2-7) and Moanalua will visit Castle (4-4). Earlier in the season, Roosevelt beat Kaiser, 4-2.



Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at [email protected].