Pearl City's Matt Tsutomi capped a perfect day at the plate (4 for 4) on Saturday with a game winning RBI double in the bottom of the sixth inning to defeat the visiting Campbell Sabers 7-6.
After being rained out in Friday's scheduled match up at Campbell High School, the two teams took to the Pearl City High School diamond under windy and wet conditions along with cloudy skies that threatened a repeat of Friday's cancelation.
Mother Nature held back the rain and the game got underway at the scheduled 3:00pm start time. The Chargers opened the bottom of the first inning with two runs for an early 2-0 lead over the Sabers. Pearl City scored another run in the third inning and three runs in the fourth inning to take a comfortable 6-0 lead after four complete innings.
In the top of the sixth inning the Sabers jumped on Pearl City starting pitcher Kamalu Neal and reliever Tyler Tokunaga for six runs that tied the game at 6-6.
The Chargers came out in the bottom of the sixth inning needing a run to take the lead and that's exactly what the defending state champions proceeded to do without hesitation and with perfect execution. Kamalu Neal, who moved to first base after being relieved by Tokunaga, put himself in scoring position after hitting a double down the left field line. Matt Tsutomi, stepped up to the plate and ripped a double that scored Neal for the go ahead run.
Tsutomi, who is just a freshman, is playing his way into a leading role with his early season "clutch" contributions for the Chargers. He is one of six talented freshmen who made the Chargers 2012 varsity roster.
In the top of the seventh inning Tokunaga closed the door on the Sabers to seal the win.
Brannon Okinaka took the loss for Campbell.
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
Pearl City's Kamalu Neal scores on Matt Tsutomi's game winning RBI double in the bottom of the sixth inning to defeat Campbell 7-6.
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
Tyler Tokunaga pictured bringing the heat and closing it out against the Sabers in the top of the seventh inning.
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
Tyler Tokunaga also hit 2 for 4 with a double for the Chargers.
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
Tanner Tokunaga also hit 2 for 4 with a double for the Chargers.
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
Campbell's #13 Cole Nagamine had a solid day at the plate hitting 2 for 4 with a double for the Sabers.
@ Pearl City High School
Campbell (0-1) 0 0 0 0 0 6 0 6
Pearl City (2-0) 2 0 1 3 0 1 X 7