OIA Baseball
Campbell walks over Leilehua to win OIA championship


  



Fri, Apr 28, 2023 @ [ 7:00 pm ]


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W: Ismael Diaz    L: Pono Arindain

CAMP: Hunter Lindsey 1-2 2 runs 3 rbi; Morgan Lavin 3.3 IP 2 ER 2 K
LEI: Bryden Takayama 2-4 run 2 dbl; Tanner Tammarine 2.6 IP 3 ER 2 K


MANOA — The title returns down 76 South.

Campbell benefitted from 10 walks and flexed its depth at the plate and mound to win its sixth OIA title in school history in a 10-3 win over Leilehua in the league's Division I championship game Friday night at Les Murakami Stadium.

"It feels good, surreal," said Hunter Lindsey. "It's been a long time since we've been OIA champions."

The formula for success for the Sabers (13-2) was simple — just do your job.

Campbell, who last won the league crown in 2015, sent its entire lineup to the plate in two different innings as seven different players scored a run. Whether it was by hit or walk, every member of the order got on base at least once.

Lindsey tallied three RBIs in four plate appearances, with two of them coming via a bases-loaded walk. Shortstop Kayne Carlos had himself a day in the field and in the batter's box, going 3-for-4 at the plate. Ridge Choy, Shaveh Sarono and Lindsey also scored twice batting in the middle of the order.

"For everything we do, it's the whole team," said Campbell coach Wayne Nagamine. "We just try to see who shows up and we'll play them. We've been fortunate the whole season, somebody else steps up and we start moving along.

"Hopefully the switch stays on and nobody wants to save electricity and we keep rolling."

Nagamine added that the players have been working for this moment since September of last year.

"These kids really sacrificed a lot. They worked hard in the weight room, on the field, in the class room and they did other things outside (of campus). They did a great job and really relied on each other."

Defensively the Sabers stranded runners on base in six of seven innings. Ismael Diaz was credited with the win after pitching 2 2/3 innings in relief of starter Morgan Lavin. Kalaeloaloa Kalua came in at the end to get the final three outs.

The Mules (9-6) had the advantage to start the game. Zane Winter's two RBI double down the right field foul line scored Loren Owan and Bryden Takayama for the first runs of the night.

Campbell struck back with a four-run inning when it sent its entire lineup to the plate. The Sabers chased Leilehua starter Pono Arindain after he walked five of the six batters that he faced. The lone hit for Campbell in the frame came on a two RBI single through the infield by Shaun-Lee Saito to make the score 4-2.

"Pono is a good pitcher, he's a really good pitcher," said Nagamine. "He's got some good stuff, but there's tendencies when we watch him play or (when) he threw against us. We were making sure that we weren't swinging at anything high or at pitches that we couldn't handle in the beginning part. We were fortunate that it paid off."

The Sabers added to their lead in the bottom of the fourth when they sent their entire lineup to the plate and chased two Leilehua pitchers. Carlos led off the half-inning with a single to right field. He then stole second before coming around the bases on a pair of throwing errors on the same play.

Cason Eliptico-Quitana followed this up with a base hit to right field. After a line out and a walk, Choy singled to center field to score pinch runner Julius Guanino. The Mules then replaced Zayden Winter on the mound with center fielder Bryce Anzai to the mound, but his stint was short lived after he walked two consecutive batters. Lindsey got credited with his second RBI via a bases-loaded walk to make the score 7-2.

"Just wait for the right pitches, just get it to next guy," said Lindsey. "Each guy is going to play their role."

Tanner Tammarine replaced Anzai after the bases-loaded walk and got out of the jam after Slade Sarono flied out to right and Saito lined out to shortstop.

Campbell scored three more runs off of three hits and one error in the sixth inning for its final runs of the contest.

The Mules got one more run in before the game was over when Arindain scored on a wild pitch in the top of the seventh.

Both teams area already qualified for next week's state tournament. The Sabers will draw a first round bye while Leilehua will begin first round play next Tuesday.



Reach Michael Lasquero at [email protected].




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