Reece Okura pitched for 8 innings allowing only 7 hits and struck out 8 in a shut-out against Kailua. Okura also batted the final hit at the bottom of the 8th to bring home teammate Dustin Tsukano for the winning run. Sean Nakamura | SL

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Roosevelt celebrates as they exit the dugout after Reece Okura's game-winning hit to bring Dustin Tsukano for the winning run. Sean Nakamura | SL

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Jonah Sasahara catches the ball at second while he looks to tag Kailua's Dustin Imanaka out in the first. Sean Nakamura | SL

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Royce Komesu pitched the entire game only allowing 7 hits and struck out 4 in a match against Roosevelt. Sean Nakamura | SL

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Reece Okura reacts as teammate Dustin Tsukano heads home for the winning run. Sean Nakamura | SL

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MAKIKI - In a battle for first place, Roosevelt's Reece Okura pitched a gem and had the winning hit as the Rough Riders (4-1) handed the Kailua Surfriders (4-1) their first loss of the season at Stevenson Middle School field, 1-0.

The senior Okura threw 95 pitches in a complete game shutout holding the big Surfriders bats to just seven hits.

"It's the third time he's beaten us in two years.  We haven't found an answer for him yet.  He throws a lot of strikes and he doesn't walk too many," commented Kailua head coach Corey Ishigo.

"He had command of his strike zone, kept the ball down most of the time, except for the last inning when he was getting tired, and the defense supported him.  That helped a lot they couldn't get extra runners on and he didn't have to throw extra pitches," added Roosevelt head coach Les Loo.

A pitcher's duel was on display as both Okura and Kailua starter Royce Komesu seemed to feed off of each other with every scoreless inning.

Kailua was able to get shortstop Dustin Imanaka to third base, but could not capitalize in the top of the first.

Roosevelt got courtesy runner Christopher Haida to second base but could not bring him in to score in the bottom of the second.  
In the third frame, Roosevelt's Okura threw an eight-pitch 3-up-3-down inning only to bested by Komesu's four-pitch inning in the bottom half.

Then in the sixth inning, Okura gave up a two-out walk to Kailua's Shayne Cazinha, who found his way into scoring position at third off a Brandon Lono pinch hit single into left followed by a wild pitch.  But once again, Okura escaped with the shutout intact.

In the sixth the Rough Riders got into a first and third situation with two outs before Komesu took care of his counterpart Okura with a fly out to center.

Okura and Komesu both took care of their seventh inning of work and treated the crowd to extra innings of high school baseball.
Kailua threatened in the eighth when Imanaka bunted himself on with a hit, then stole second with only one out and waited to be brought in by his teammates.  However, a fly ball to center and a hot shot to second ended the threat for the Surfers, and set the stage for the Riders in the last of the eighth.

Leadoff hitter Dustin Tsukano hit a grounder that found its way into centerfield followed by Kainalu Pitoy's ground ball single into right field.  Senior first basemen Keola Tamanaha laid down a sacrifice bunt to move both runners into scoring position at second and third.

Senior Mika Caris reentered the game and was intentionally walked to load the bases  for Okura.

With the infield on the grass, Okura stepped to the plate still looking for his first hit, and on the 1-0 delivery, Okura hit a screamer that glanced off of the Kailua's shortstop glove and into left field for a walk-off single.

"It was a fastball inside and I just hit hard.  It feels pretty good I wouldn't have been able to do this without my teammates.  We all stuck together, fought to the end and we all came prepared today," remarked winning pitcher Okura after the game.

 "I didn't tell them anything different.  Royce was outstanding.  It was a game of breaks and our ground balls went through in that last inning that's the difference," said Loo about the final inning.

Kailua's first loss dropped them into a tie with Roosevelt for first place in the East.  The two will meet again in April.

"It's a big win for us, but we can't stay on this game we have to move on.  We have a long season to go and we have to take care of business one game at a time," commented Loo.