Kaiser's Kelan Yoshioka makes contact with a pitch for a line drive to the gap in left field, and rounded the bases for an inside-the-park grand slam against Aiea. Greg Yamamoto | SL

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Kaiser starter Michael Austin went the distance to earn the victory against Aiea. Greg Yamamoto | SL

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Aiea catcher Jaryn Nakamoto makes a diving catch in foul territory for an out against Kaiser. Greg Yamamoto | SL

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Kaiser's Jake Torigoe connected with this pitch for a walk-off grand slam in the fifth inning against Aiea. Greg Yamamoto | SL

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Kaiser took care business on their home field in a with an offensive explosion, advancing to the quarterfinals of the OIA Red playoffs with a 14-2 rout of Aiea in a game shortened to five innings due to the mercy rule.

Senior Jake Torigoe went yard twice in a nine-run fifth inning for the home team, lauching a two-run home run as well as a walk-off grand slam, both clearing the fence in right.

"We kept it going (after a long break following the regular season) and more so now the kids are confident." said Kaiser head coach Mark Rassmussen.

The Cougars' 14 runs came on 12 hits, six of them for extra bases, marking just the third time this season Kaiser had broken the double digit barrier in runs, and the first against a Division I opponent.

Kelan Yoshioka led off the game with a blooper near the left field line which fell in for a base hit just out the reach of a diving Trevor Ling for a double, then moved over to third on a sacrifice bunt by Jordan Simao. Yoshioka then scored on a sacrifice fly by Makana Lyman to put the Cougars on the board.

The game remained a one-run contest through three complete, though Aiea did threaten in the top of the third, as Jared Alcantra led off the inning with a single then advanced into scoring position on a passed ball.

But Kaiser starter Michael Austin helped his own cause, making a diving catch of popped up bunt attempt near the third base line by Dylan Madamba, and rifled a throw to second to double off Alcantra who had broke for third to complete a huge double play. Austin then got Dylan Nakamoto to line out to right to retire the side.

After striking out the pitcher Austin to start the fourth inning, Madamba found himself in a jam, as Aaron Oda's seeing-eye single was followed by a walk and then a hit batsmen to load the bases for the always dangerous Yoshioka.

And right on cue, the junior delivered, roping an 0-1 pitch into the gap in left center, where it rolled all the way to the softball fence allowing Yoshioka to motor all the way around the basepaths for an inside-the-park grand slam home run that broke the game open for the Cougars.

"I tried to just go hit line drives," said Yoshioka of his fourth inning home run. "Our field is a little different, so if you just hit a line drive it can go that way. I wasn't trying to hit hard, just wanted to get the base hit."

Austin pitched another fairly tidy inning in the fourth, surrendering a double to Patrick Villanueva, but got Ling to pop out to second to get out of the fourth scoreless as well.

Austin's work through four complete was not what one would consider dominant, but certainly efficient, allowing just 2 hits and a walk while inducing seven fly ball outs and four infield putouts, the majority of which were aimed right at Cougar defenders.

"I trust them a lot," said Austin of Kaiser's defense. "I just try to throw strikes, and they make the plays for me."

Austin led off the fifth getting two straight pop fly outs, but ran into a bit of trouble after hitting a batter and walking the next. And Nakamoto, Na Alii's leadoff hitter, made him pay, lacing a shot to center field to score Alcantra and moving Fermahin over to third. Pajimola followed with a single to nearly the same spot in center to score Fermahin.

Takasawa drew a walk to load the bases, sending Villanueva to the plate with a chance to break it open, but Austin was able to induce the line out to shortstop to end the threat.

Austin Yoshino came on in relief of starter Madamba but his stay on the mound was short lived, as a leadoff double over the center fielder's head by Lyman was immediately followed up by Jake Torigoe's drive over the fence in right center for a two-run home run that stretched the margin back to five.

"I knew he (the pitcher) wasn't going to come inside, so I was just thinking just drive one up the middle, but the first pitch just bounced off really nice." said Jake Torigoe of his first homer that easily cleared the fence just a few feet to the right of straight away center.

Kaiser, now leading 10-2, batted all the around in the fifth, giving Jake Torigoe a second appearance in the inning. And the senior was handed yet another a golden scoring opprtunity, as he stepped up to the plate with the bags full of Cougars, two outs, and just two runs separating the home team from a mercy rule victory.

"I was really just looking for a base, to score those two runs (to invoke the mercy rule) but then it was just as good. Two strikes, looking fastball first and adjusting, and it just came in." said Torigoe of his second bomb over the fence in right, this one a walk-off grand slam.

Jake Torigoe and Yoshioka combined to drive in 11 of the 12 runs scored by Kaiser, and catcher Makana Lyman added a 2-for-3 day at the plate, including a double and a triple.

Up next for Kaiser is a quarterfinal rematch with the West's top-seed, Campbell, who the Cougars upset just one year ago, 6-1, a victory that ultimately knocked the Sabers out of state tournament play..

"We got to play very good tomorrow because Campbell's going to be solid." said Rassmussen. "Probably the team that makes the least mistakes will end up winning."

First pitch is set for Thursday at 3:30 p.m.

Aiea ends its season at 5-8.