Aiea starting pitcher Bronson Nekemoto throws a pitch to plate against Leilehua in an OIA Division I West contest Saturday morning. Michael Lasquero | SL

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Bronson Nekemoto had a solid day on the mound in his first start in a "long time." Michael Lasquero | SL

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Aiea reliever Kobe Kato celebrates after recording the final out against Leilehua. Michael Lasquero | SL

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WAHIAWA — Behind six solid innings from starting pitcher Bronson Nekomoto and a spot-free defensive effort, Aiea got a much-needed 6-1 win over host Leilehua at Wahiawa Middle School Saturday morning.

Na Alii rallied from an early one-run deficit with six unanswered runs to snap a four-game losing streak and improve to 4-6 in the Oahu Interscholastic Association Division I West standings.

The Mules, who were held to just five hits, saw their three-game win streak end and fell to 4-6.

"It was huge for us psychologically because we had dropped some tight games and it was one pitch here, one pitch there — just one play made the difference in those losses — and we could have easily been on a six-game winning streak (but) we end up losing (four) straight, so for them to be able to fight through this, I think it's huge because they were getting down on themselves," Aiea coach Ryan Kato said.

Na Alii entered the day in last place in the seven-team OIA D1 West. The win pulled them into a three-way tie for fourth with two games remaining. Only the top six teams after the 12-game regular season qualify for the 12-team league tournament.

"This game was really important to us," said Nekomoto, who threw 42 of his 70 pitches for strikes. "In practice we set our goals, we strive for our goals and we worked hard to achieve them and honestly, I've just got to say that it was the team effort that won the game. I pitched a good game, but my stats only show two strikeouts so the rest was the team and solid defense got us the win. We just practiced and practiced and got better."

Nekomoto, a senior right-hander, scattered five hits and did not walk a batter. It was his longest outing of the season and his first start on the mound in a "long time."

"Probably since the first game of last year," said Nekomoto, who has been limited to relief duty while dealing with a back injury. "I kept working at it and they gave me a shot and I just tried to execute for the team."

Bronson Nekemoto had a solid day on the mound in his first start in a "long time." Michael Lasquero | SL    Purchase image

Kato's decision to give Nekomoto the ball Saturday was an easy one.

"Bronson has been one of the most consistent guys we've had," Kato said. "We don't throw him all that much, only because he's so critical for us on the field, so at this point with our backs against the wall, we're going to go with our best and he's the most consistent and we said, ‘Hey, let's find somebody else to pick up the slack on defense and let him do his thing,' and he did what he normally does."

After the Mules scored in the top of the first inning — on a one-out RBI-single by Jansen Dangaran to plate Christian Ontai — Nekomoto bucked down. He hit the next batter, Jerin Poopaa-Adaro, to put runners on the corners, but got Kaika Cordero to ground into an inning-ending double play.

Leilehua got the leadoff man aboard in the second inning when Nolan Tumacder singled to left. He moved over to second on a Jason Hook sacrifice bunt, but Nekomoto got Jaxon Hotta to strike out then got the third out on a Mason Reis fly out to right.

Nekomoto retired the side in order in the Leilehua third. He hit a batter and gave up a single to Tumacder with one out in the fourth, but stranded both runners to end the threat.

"He was really consistent. He just pounds the zone and he kept the ball down today," Kato said.

The only time that Nekomoto had three balls on a hitter came with two outs in the top of the fifth. His first three pitches of the at bat were balls to Kawai Phifer, but he came back with strike one before getting Phifer to line out to Kobe Kato, who made a diving grab deep in the hole at shortstop.

"He did really well. He threw first-pitch strikes, he got ahead and he got easy outs," Kobe Kato said of Nekomoto. "He missed the barrel of the bat so it made it easy for us. It was a good win all-around. Everyone executed, pitchers threw strikes, we didn't make many mistakes, so if we do that we feel pretty confident in ourselves."

Offensively, Aiea got its bats going the second time through the lineup.

Ty Matsunami led off the top of the third inning with a four-pitch walk. He went to third on a well-executed hit-and-run by Kobe Kato to put runners on the corners. Jake Nakamoto then singled to center to score Matsunami for the tying run. Three batters later, Kato scored on a Noa Ohara sacrifice fly before Chase Ling's bunt single scored Teron Kitashima, who was the courtesy runner for Nakamoto, the catcher.

"I think the thing I liked the most offensively was that we stuck to our game plan," Ryan Kato said. "We manufactured a bunch of runs, which to me, is a total team effort. We concentrate so much on that because I always tell the boys that it's very rare that we're going to have five, six hits in an inning. Most of the time we're going to have to score a run with maybe one or two hits and so that one hit has got to be when the guys are in the right positions and they did that today. They were able to get the guys in the right positions and get that one hit, so all the hard work that they've put in is starting to show."

Na Alii manufactured another run in the top of the fourth when Matsunami got on with a one-out single, took second on a wild pitch, moved to third on a bunt single, then scored on a Makana Fujiyama-Tauala sacrifice fly.

Matsunami was on the other end of the play in the top of the sixth, when his sac fly to deep center brought Casey Kitashima home from third.

Aiea closed out the scoring with Logan Ho's RBI-single to score Nakamoto in the top of the seventh. Nakamoto batted 3 for 4 in the win.

Dangaran allowed four runs on seven hits in four innings. He walked four and struck out one and was charged with the loss. Raven Demmert threw two innings and Kawai Phifer one in relief for the Mules. Each allowed a run.

Kobe Kato moved from shortstop to pitcher for the final three outs. The University of Arizona-signee struck out two in a perfect frame.

It was Aiea's second win over Leilehua this season.

Na Alii finish the regular season with home games against Waipahu Wednesday and Pearl City Friday.

The Mules conclude with road games at Campbell Wednesday and Kapolei Friday.