OIA Baseball
Sixth-ranked Sabers fend off Mules, 7-5


  



Fri, Mar 10, 2017 @ [ 3:00 pm ]


FINAL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Campbell 2 120002751
Leilehua 0 0 10103594

W: Jamin Kalaola    L: Jansen Dangaran    SV: Ayzek Silva

LEI: Christian Ontai 3-3 2 runs rbi; Raven Demmert 3.0 IP 0 ER 3 K
CAMP: Justin Fernandez 2-2 run 2 rbi; Jamin Kalaola 3.0 IP 1 ER 2 K


WAHIAWA — Justin Fernandez's two-out, two-run single in the top of the first inning gave visiting Campbell an early lead that it did not surrender in a 7-5 win over Leilehua at Fred Wright Park Friday afternoon.

The Sabers (4-0) had just five hits, but capitalized on four errors by the Mules (1-3) to remain unbeaten and atop the Oahu Interscholastic Association's Division I West standings.

Campbell, the No. 6 team in the ScoringLive/Hawaiian Electric Power Rankings, scored in each of the first three innings to take a 5-0 lead before withstanding a late rally by Leilehua.

"We didn't really see the ball well the last game and today, too, same thing," Sabers coach Rory Pico said. "We didn't get very many good swings, but we were able to capitalize on their mistakes — errors, balls in the dirt — and we were able to find ways to score runs and I know we're not always going to hit the ball — I'd like to see us get better at bats — but we found a way to score seven (runs)."

Fernandez, a senior third baseman, was the only Campbell player to pair hits. He looped an 0-2 pitch into short rightfield to plate Ikaika Ganancial and Markus Ramos in the first inning for the game's first runs.

"We had some people clutch-up here and there, but it's all about clutching-up at the right time," said Fernanez, who fouled off an 0-2 pitch before fighting off an inside fastball from Leilehua starting pitcher Jensen Dangaran that dropped in between Mules' second baseman Kysen Okamura and right fielder Zavyn Agbulos.

"I was trying to drive in a run on that but it just turned out that way and it was a ball in play,"  said Fernandez, who is batting .500 on the season. "It felt good to come through and to win this one. It was just a grinder."

Shane Shimizu's one-out RBI single scored Kekahi Reiny-Aloy in the bottom of the second and the Sabers added two more runs in the third on a two-out rally.

Fernandez singled on a comebacker to Dangaran and moved over to second on a wild pitch. Dangaran then hit Jamin Kalaola to put two runners aboard, both of whom came home on back-to-back Leilehua errors.

The Mules committed three errors in the inning.

"Early in the game we had a lot of defensive mistakes that we, as coaches, are accountable for," Leilehua coach Lane Watanuki said. "A lot of mistakes that could have been prevented. I think, if we execute, different game."

Dangaran helped his own cause when he singled back up the middle to score Ontai to cut the deficit to 5-1.

Leilehua scratched across another run in the bottom of the fifth, when Ontai led off the inning with a single before eventually scoring on a balk call against Sabers' reliever Dylan Florentin.

The Mules used three pitchers in the top of the seventh, when Campbell plated a pair of insurance runs to extend its lead to 7-2.

However, Leilehua sent nine batters to the plate in the bottom of the inning. It scored three runs in the frame, but left the bases loaded to end the game.

Ayzek Silva, who recorded the final six outs, hit two batsmen and walked three others to pick up the save.

"We've been using him in that role, so to me, the more you get tested and the more action you get in that role, the more confidence you can build," Pico said of Silva, a lefty sophomore. "Today he didn't have a great outing. He had trouble locating, but he was able to pull it out and make enough pitches at the end to get the win."

The Mules sent nine batters to the plate in the bottom of the seventh and got the tying run to second base, but ultimately were unable to overcome their early miscues — which were not limited to the defensive side of the ball. They also saw two base runners caught stealing and another picked off.

"We had some base-running mistakes that could have been avoided," Watanuki said. "The thing is we practice that all the time and we just didn't execute, so we cannot say ‘what if that, or what if that?' We've got to go to work tomorrow and we've got to just practice and we've got to get better. We hit the ball. The thing is, defensively if we clean up our act and do what we have to do, we'll be OK."

Nicholas Sampson also drove a in run for the Sabers, who saw their seven runs scored by seven different players.

In his second start of the season, Kalaola allowed one run and scattered seven hits in three innings before giving way to Florentin, who gave up a run in his two innings of work.

Dangaran took the loss for the Mules. He went four innings and allowed four hits. Three of the five runs he allowed were unearned. Raven Demmert threw three scoreless innings of relief.

Ontai batted 3 for 3 with an RBI, two runs scored and two walks from his leadoff spot and second batter Jerin Poopaa was 2 for 5 with a double in the loss.

"Leilehua competed all the way," Pico said. "Their pitchers compete, their batters compete and we always play up for each other, so we knew it was going to be a competitive matchup."

Both teams next play Monday. Leilehua will visit Mililani (1-3), while Campbell will play host to Waipahu (2-2). Both games start at 3 p.m.



Reach Kalani Takase at [email protected].




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