Momoe's 3 RBI propel Campbell over Pearl City


'EWA BEACH - Sau Momoe drove in three runs and Po'okela Ka'alekahi tossed seven-hit complete game to lead Campbell over Pearl City, 4-2, Saturday at the Sabers' field.

With Wednesday's 2-1 win against the Chargers, the Sabers (5-3) pulled to a game back of the O'ahu Interscholastic Association Red West leaders Pearl City and Mililani, both 6-2.

"Confidence-wise, I think it was kind of huge for us," Campbell coach Rory Pico said of the sweep of Pearl City. "Coming into this series, we were at .500; we just came off two pretty bad losses (to Kapolei). But the boys worked hard during the bye week."

The Chargers saw their 1-0 first-inning lead disappear in the bottom of the second on Momoe's booming two-run home run to left. He also had an RBI single in the third.

"Sau's been clutch for us this year," Pico said. "He's a strong kids, so even when he's not in rhythm, he has strong enough hands that when he gets a hold of the ball, the ball just jumps. That ball that he hit, he squared up on that ball real well."

"I just got barrel on it," Momoe said. "That was it."

Ka'alekahi maintained his composure despite four errors behind him, pitching out of jams most of the day. He allowed seven hits, but walked none, while striking out five.

"We kicked the ball around a little bit today, but Po'o did a good job today, keeping us right there. We make an error, he picks us up, gets a ground ball (out). Po'o did an excellent job picking us up today."

Ka'alekahi gave up the runs after allowing lead-off doubles in the first and fifth innings. The first scored on a two-out wild pitch and the other on a one-out RBI single by Tyler Tokunaga.

Ka'alekahi stranded seven runners in the game. The only inning the Chargers didn't leave a runner on was when an inning-ending double play erased one of four runners to reach on an error.

"I had to buckle down," Ka'alekahi said. "The motivation in me doesn't want to be beat."

But more than anything, it was Ka'alekahi's first win as a starting pitcher.

"I had never won a game (before yesterday)," Ka'alekahi said. "They're a good team, too. They had me off-balanced."

Pearl City's Chevas Numata gave up four runs and seven hits with nine strikeouts in six innings.

The Chargers took a 1-0 lead in the first. Kai Kealoha led off with a double and went to third on ground out. After Troy Barbosa-Scanlan srruck out, Kealoha scored on a wild pitch.

But the Sabers came back with a three-run second. Kaeo Kapana led off with a single and after a steal of second, Momoe crushed a high fastball over the left-field fence to give the Sabers a 2-1 lead.

Jaris Flora singled and an out later, took second when Paul Arakaki grounded out to short. After taking third on a passed ball, Flora scored on an infield single by Donato Gallano to make it 3-1.

The Sabers cushioned their lead in the third. Ka'alekahi led off with a single and an out later, took third on Kapana's double to left. Momoe's ground single to right made it 4-1.

The Chargers got on back in the fifth. Tanner Tokunaga led off with a double, went to third on Kealoha's sacrifice and scored on brother Tyler Tokunaga's single to cut the deficit in half.

Pearl City threatened in the seventh when Kealoha doubled with one out and stole third with two outs. But Ka'alekahi struck out Barbosa-Scanlan to end the game.

The loss tightened the Western Division race, but the Chargers are still in a good position to claim the title and the division's top seed for the OIA tournament. They close with 'Aiea, while Campbell and Mililani play each other with each needing a sweep.

"It's kind of important," Pearl City coach Mitch Yamato said of earing the top seed, which comes with a first-round bye in the tournament, "especially when you're short-handed with (a pitching) staff."




Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at [email protected].