With the exception of Leilehua, which had to play a play-in game on the Big Island against Hilo on Friday, every OIA team entered the state baseball tournament with at least 17 days between games.
In the opener of the Wally Yonamine Foundation/HHSAA State Baseball Championships at Les Murakami Stadium on Tuesday, Campbell seemed to have no problem with the long layoff.
Left-hander Ayzek Silva needed just 78 pitches to get through a three-hitter and the Sabers played error-free baseball in a 3-0 win over Kamehameha-Maui to improve to 6-0 in their opening game of the state tournament over the last six years.
“It was a tough two-plus weeks to stay mentally ready,” Campbell coach Rory Pico said. “We played a few games in the middle and scrimmaged a couple of other teams in this tournament — do what you got to do so your pitchers can get some live action.”
Silva was as effective as he was efficient. He threw more than 13 pitches in an inning only once and didn’t have a three-ball count until he walked his only batter with two outs in the fifth inning.
He struck out two and allowed only one runner to reach second base — on a two-out stolen base in the second inning before Silva punched out Rio Moleta.
“We kind of had to grind on our own. Not having games is different from playing every week,” Silva said. “I was just going after them and letting them hit the ball and trusting my defense.”
Campbell pieced together three consecutive two-out singles in the bottom of the first inning and scored a run when Ansley Isaacs-Acosta beat out an infield chopper to first, allowing Nick Sampson to score from third.
Campbell scores the first run of the tournament on Ansley Isaacs-Acosta’s infield single with 2 out in the top of the first. Sabers up 1-0. @HawaiiPrepWorld pic.twitter.com/ZA1VSbRxiY
— Jason Kaneshiro (@jasonkaneshiro) May 8, 2018
Shayden Sabangan reached on a fielder’s choice in the second inning and scored on shortstop Ikaika Ganancial‘s two-out single to right to make it 2-0.
Campbell’s Ikaika Ganancial singles with 2 out in the second to give the Sabers a 2-0 lead vs. KS-Maui. @HawaiiPrepWorld pic.twitter.com/WKSYr2LWHg
— Jason Kaneshiro (@jasonkaneshiro) May 8, 2018
Sabangan tripled off the glove of right fielder William Thompson, who nearly made a difficult running catch, with one out in the bottom of the fourth inning. Sabangan scored his second run of the game on Dylan Ramon’s sacrifice fly.
Sabangan’s triple was the last hit given up by KS-Maui starter Tristan Catan, who allowed six hits in a complete-game effort.
Silva gave up a one-out single in the top of the seventh but managed to finish the game before getting to 85 pitches, which would have kept him out of the rest of the tournament.
“The game plan was to attack and pound the zone and we feel (Silva’s) movement can get guys out even if he misses his spots,” Pico said. “Not to be too fine, but just pound the zone and let the defense work and he did those things today.”
COMMENTS