Aiea players celebrate after winning the school's first ever OIA Division II title with a 6-5 win over Kapolei. Steve Erler | Special to SL

Purchase image 1 of 1

WAIPIO— Aiea (12-0 overall) held off a feisty Kapolei squad, 6-5 to win their first-ever Oahu Interscholastic Association Division II title. This is their 10th overall OIA title, their first since 2006. Both teams clinched spots in the 2015 Wally Yonamine Foundation Division II State Baseball Championships starting on May 7.

"It's a great feeling to win because it's been a while since we won something like this," said Kobe Kato, the coach's son.

Aiea completed the season sweep of the Hurricanes (9-3 overall). They won both previous meetings 6-4 on Mar. 20 and 3-2 on Apr. 8.

"Difficulty is an understatement. It was hard, we're fortunate and the game could've gone either way. My hat goes off to them, they are a quality baseball team. You can see how they were down a lot, but still came back and I envy teams that can do that. I told my guys in the dugout, ‘It's not over'," said Aiea coach Ryan Kato, on Kapolei.

Aiea led 6-0 throughout the first four innings, but the Hurricanes stormed back in the sixth and seventh innings to score five unanswered runs. Kobe Kato came in for relief and held on for the save.

Kapolei's Robert Oliveros hit a double to center field and Jansen Kudaishi came in to pitch for Uyeda. He beaned Mykah Kuratani and Kamea Wong came in as a courtesy runner. Joe Uesato hit a triple to score Oliveros and Wong. Kobe Kato came in to relieve Kudaishi and Uesato scored another run after Kato was called for a balk. Kato regained his composure and struck out Wong and managed to force Ekolu Young to pop out to third to end the game.

"I had to focus on what I had to do on the mound and throw strikes. After the balk, my teammates told me not to worry and focus on the next pitch," said Kobe Kato, on the seventh inning.

"We talk about the resiliency of this team and the ability to take some punches and get knocked around, but steady the ship," said Ryan Kato.

The Na Alii got off to a fast start as Nakamoto led off with a single and later Oliveros walked Shannon Fermahin. Nakamoto and Fermahin scored off Logan Ho's RBI double to take an early 2-0 lead.

"We wanted to play our game, we play a small game—get some hits, get some runs and steal bases," said Jaryn Nakamoto, who went 3-for-4 and scored two runs.

Aiea added two more runs in the bottom of the second. Chaz Quebral-Acosta got on after a bunt single and Nakamoto brought him in with a triple to right field. Kobe Kato stole two bases and scored off of Shannon Fermahin's single.

"Those are the types of things we focus on in practice. We have to play with the team we got and when we start playing as a team eventually the hits will start falling in and increases the momentum," said Ryan Kato.

Aiea opened up the bats early to crank out 10 hits in the first four innings. Nakamoto singled to right field and Kato immediately brought him home with a home run deep to right center to make it, 6-0.

Uyeda pitched six innings and held the Hurricanes to three hits and struck out five.

"I wanted let my defense work and make sure I throw strikes and keep going. They got my back and made sure they did their thing," said Uyeda. "It gave me confidence knowing we had the lead and it was a good feeling."

The Hurricanes found some life late and added two runs in the top of the sixth. Tyler Hao got on base on an error from the third baseman. Ekolu Young singled and Tristen Manoha's single RBI brought in Hao. Young scored off of a failed pick off attempt at second.

In the bottom of the sixth, Nakamoto popped out to Jordan Macias and Kobe Kato flied out to left field for the second out. Uyeda hit a triple to right field, however, the Kapolei defense held on to force Fermahin to fly out to right field to give them an extra inning.

"This was similar to the other TV game where they rallied at the end and we knew how to react so we took it one step at a time and one pitch at a time," said Nakamoto.

Oliveros led the Hurricanes batting 1-for-2, scored a run and a double.