Pearl City holds on to upset No. 9 Campbell

Pearl City second baseman Ethan Higashionna (center) celebrates after catcher Zechariah Takahashi caught Campbell's Julius Guanio stealing to end the fourth inning. Michael Lasquero | SL

WAIPIO — Down goes the top team in the OIA.

Pearl City sent 10 batters to the plate and scored four runs in the top of the fourth inning to come away with a 6-4 win over previously-unbeaten Campbell in an OIA West Division I baseball game at Patsy T. Mink/Central Oahu Regional Park Saturday night.

The Chargers (3-6) snapped a two-game losing streak to upend the ninth-ranked Sabers (8-1) in the nightcap of a televised doubleheader.

Pearl City capitalized on four Campbell errors to back a solid five-inning outing from starting pitcher Eli Oshiro, who scattered five walks and one strikeout in his first game back since injuring his rib against Leilehua on March 22.

The Chargers made their fair share of errors as well with three of their own, but they made enough plays across the board to hold on for the win.

"Eli pitched one helluva of a game coming back. Defensively we made couple errors, but overall I'm kind of happy with how we played," said Pearl City coach Gary Miyama.

Kenta Kawasaki drove in a pair of runs and Eddie Ogasawara scored twice to lead the Chargers offensively.

Campbell took the early lead in the bottom of the second when Julius Guanio drew a bases-loaded walk to score Ridge Choy with no outs. Slade Sarono flied out to right field on the next at bat, but a throwing error allowed Shaveh Sarono to score another run. The Chargers would turn a double play to end the threat.

Oshiro said the early deficit was a wake-up call for the Chargers.

"Those two runs, if anything, but us going more into the game and it brought up the energy in the dugout," said Oshiro.

The Chargers struck back in the fourth inning when they chased two different Campbell pitches off the mound. Ogasawara drew a walk and Drew Boyles was hit by a pitch to start the frame. A throwing error allowed Ogasawara to reach third to set up Kawasaki's RBI single to get Pearl City on the board.

Devin Fujino then laid down a sac bunt and reached on a throwing error to first, which allowed Boyles to score. Zechariah Takahashi followed this up with a sharp single near the left foul line to bring home Kawasaki to give the Chargers the lead and prompt a Campbell pitching change. Pearl City would score another unearned run off a throwing error after a bunt attempt before Carmello Fuller took the mound to get Campbell out of the inning.

"The breaks went our way for once, we got couple timely hits, which we never do," laughed Miyama.

Fujino and Caleb Felix each had a pitching appearance in the bottom of the sixth to spell Oshiro. Fujino got a strikeout and forced a fly out to right field for the first two outs, but gave up bases-loaded walk to make the score 4-3. Felix came in after the run scored and threw two strikes before getting the batter to fly out to center field.

Pearl City added two insurance runs in the top of the seventh. Kawasaki grounded into a fielder's choice to score Jayson Au Hoy and Ogasawara scored on the same play thanks to a throwing error to first. If Campbell had turned the double-play cleanly, the half-inning would have been over.

Jayden Mizuno came over from right field and got the final three outs for the Chargers to record the save. He beaned a batter with the bases loaded for the final run of the game, but he also recorded two strikeouts before Boyles had the unassisted out at third to end the game.

"The good thing about these kids is they haven't given up yet and that's really good," said Miyama. "If they gave up then we would be nowhere, but they fought and they came back and that's all I can ask of them."

Xavier Streadbeck took the loss for the Sabers. He was charged with four runs, two earned, on two hits with three walks and two strikeouts in three innings of work.

Both teams continue OIA West play Wednesday. Pearl City will host Kapolei, while Campbell will host Aiea. Both games are scheduled to start at 3 p.m.