Roosevelt's Noah Nakamura throws a pitch to plate against Kaiser Wednesday afternoon. Leighland Tagawa | SL

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MAKIKI — A three-run first inning proved to be the difference as Roosevelt beat Kaiser, 4-2, under overcast skies Wednesday at Stevenson Middle School field.

The Rough Riders (2-2) pulled into a tie for third with the Cougars (2-2) and Moanalua (2-2) in the Oahu Interscholastic Association Division I East standings.

Noah Nakamura pitched six strong innings for the Rough Riders, scattering four hits and two walks, to pick up the win. Freshman Zach Tanabe allowed a run, two hits and a walk in the seventh to notch the save.

After a rough first inning when the first five Roosevelt batters reached safely, Kaiser starting pitcher Aidan Wroe settled the game by not allowing a run in the next four innings. Chase Iwamuro's solo home run to right in the bottom of the sixth off Kaiser reliever Jace Okamoto provided insurance.

The Cougars scored a run in the top of the seventh and left the tying runs on base.

"We always preach, 'Start fast. Finish strong,'" Roosevelt coach AD Mols said. "So it was big for (us). I think it's the first time we got a lead early and that kind of calmed them down. Then (Wroe) started hitting the zone. We couldn't get the leadoff on so it was tough to score runs. Every game we've played in the East has been close, low scoring."

The right-handed Nakamura breezed through the first four innings, using just 28 pitches to that point. He allowed a third-inning walk to Landon Shigeta but left him stranded there.

"I was just throwing strikes and having fun," Nakamura said. "My fastball today was working the best for me."

Nakamura was backed by some nice defense. Right fielder Reese Kisaba made a diving grab on a foul fly by Okamoto in the first. In the top of the fifth, shortstop Hostas Pang made a back-handed stop of a grounder to the hole by Brock Perreira, who was thrown out on a close play.

"He got ahead and he was able to throw in," Mols said of Nakamura. "He got in early and then expanded the zone a little bit with his off-speed. But for him, he's a strike thrower."

Only four Cougars reached three-ball counts on Nakamura; one reached base on a walk and the other on an error.

The Cougars broke up the no-hitter with one out in the fifth when Tyler Dyball reached on a bunt single to third. Shigeta then grounded a single to left, but Nakamura retired Jesse Stroede and Wroe on grounders to leave the runners stranded.

Nakamura labored in the sixth when he allowed a run and a walk, using 33 pitches in the process. Okamoto reached on an error, an out later took second on a wild pitch, and another out later, Anthonio Omphroy walked. The left-handed hitting Perreira singled up the middle to score Okamoto with an unearned run before Dyball popped to short to end the inning.

Wroe threw 86 pitches in five innings before giving way to Okamoto, who got tagged by Iwamura's homer.

The homer proved important as the Cougars scored a run in the top of the seventh off of Tanabe.

But the damage was done in the bottom of the first against Wroe.

Rylan Teramoto led off with a double down the left-field line. He scored on Ty Taguchi's single to left-center. Jared Tamashiro's double to left sent Taguchi to third before Keaka Aiu walked. Connor Ibi lined a single to right to score two, but Keaka was thrown out trying for third for the first out of the inning. Wroe then got Nakamura on a comebacker for an inning-ending double play.

Both teams have crucial games on Saturday, as they play the Division leaders. Roosevelt will host first-place Kailua and Kaiser will be at home against second-place Kalani. Both games are set for 11 a.m.