It’s No. 3 Kamehameha at ‘Iolani in a baseball battle on a pristine afternoon in Moiliili.
The Raiders are 3-7 but have been ranked in the Top 10 three times in the first five weeks. It’s Landon Moran of ‘Iolani against Hunter Breault of Kamehameha.
1st
Logan Salcedo singles up the middle with one out but that’s as far as the visiting Warriors go. IOL shortstop Matt Campos with a sterling play behind second, snagging a ricochet liner that caromed high off the front of the mound, then firing to first in time to retire Mason Quinlan.
IOL loads the bases with a single by Everett Lau and walks by Matt Inaba and Zack Kon, but Breault Bears down. He gets Cade Yonamine to pop out and fans Landon Moran on a fastball to end the threat.
Tied at 0 after one frame.
2nd
Kamehameha is in scoring position when Kawai Takemura leads off with a single to right and advances to second on a grounder. (He was running on the pitch.) With two outs, Revan Wong lined a single to left, but Takemura is thrown out at home 7-6-2 (Inaba to Campos to Devin Ide).
Raiders get a two-out double by Ide in the bottom of the second, but Campos grounds out to the pitcher, Breault, to end the inning.
0-0 after two.
3rd
Both pitchers settling down. After throwing 30 pitches in the first inning, Ichimura has tossed nine in the second and just six in the third. KS goes 1-2-3.
Breault also gets IOL to go 1-2-3.
Still 0-0.
4th
Ichimura rolling with another 1-2-3 effort.
Moran with a one-out infield single, but Breault gets big help from his defense as Kaimana Bartolome’s grounder turns into a 4-6-3 double play. That’s Salcedo to Micah McNicoll to Quinlan.
5th
Ichimura spotting his fastball nicely, another 1-2-3 inning. He has retired nine in a row.
Then ‘Iolani ends the drought. Shane Sasaki lines it to the right-center gap and legs out a lead off triple. Pinch-hitter Chad Suga follows with a line-drive single to center, scoring Sasaki with the first run of the game. IOL 1-0.
After Campos flies out, Lau strikes out and on the third strike, Suga is thrown out attempting to steal second.
6th
Ichimura in command, inducing three groundouts to Campos. That’s 12 batters retires in a row. He has thrown just 53 pitches.
IOL reaches Breault for one more run. Inaba beats out a grounder in the hole at short for a single, then steals second. He advances to third on a fly out and then races home with two outs on Breault’s only wild pitch of the game. IOL 2-0.
Moran nearly leaves the park with a deep double to center and pinch hitter Mel Hoomanawanui is hit by pitch on his helmet as he ducks. Breault departs after 5 2/3 very solid innings. He struck out two and walked two.
Lii Pontes takes over and gets Sasaki on a foul pop for the third out.
7th
KS Chase Miyasato chases a curve in the dirt for a third strike, but Quinlan walks and Takemura singles to left. They advance on a wild pitch and suddenly Ichimura looks vulnerable.
Micah Hee’s grounder to short scores the pinch runner, Nakea Hanohano. IOLANI 2-1.
With two outs, Makoa Mau swings at the first offering and strokes a line-drive single to right, scoring Takemura to tie the game at 2.
Conference at the mound. Ichimura stays in.
Balk on the next pitch moves Mau to second base. Revan Wong then flies out, a diving catch coming to the ball in short center by Sasaki. Clutch comeback by the Warriors. Game is now Pontes’ to win.
Bottom 7th: Ide leads off with a walk, but pinch runner Ezra Heleski is caught off the bag and thrown out 2-6-3. Big boohoo.
Campos battles back, sends a grounder to short and the throw by McNicoll is in the dirt. Campos is on base with one out. Pontes then whiffs Lau, who was late on the swing. Two outs. Inaba then grounds out to second. Heading to extra innings. It’s only fitting.
8th
Jordan Iwasaki is on the mound for IOL. Ichimura went 7 innings, permitting just four hits. He fanned three, walked one and threw 73 pitches.
McNicoll singles with one out and Salcedo’s push bunt is perfectly executed for another single. Miyasaka singles to left and the ball is misplayed. McNicoll and Salcedo score after the ball caroms toward left center. KS 4-2.
Quinlan then doubles to center, scoring Miyasato. KS 5, IOL 2.
Takeouts reaches on an infield throwing error, but Hee grounds into a 6-4-3 double play. That ends the top of the 8th.
Pontes retires IOL 1-2-3 to end the inning and game.
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