MKH looked impressive in the opening round of the 2012 State 10 & 11 Little League Championship Tournament on Friday with an 8-2 victory over Pearl City at Heeia Elementary School in Kaneohe.
MKH, which is comprised of players from Makakilo, Kapolei, and Honokai Hale, moves on to the second round in the winners bracket of the double elimination tournament and will face the winner of Friday's first round match up between Kailua and Waipio. First pitch is set for today at 10:00am.
Pearl City dropped into the loser's bracket with the loss to MKH and will take on the loser of Friday's Kailua/ Waipio game this afternoon at 4:00pm.
Tournament host Kaneohe will battle with Kawaihau in the first game of today's scheduled triple header at 10:00am. Kawaihau defeated Ewa on Friday 8-7. Kaneohe had a first round bye.
In Friday's win, MKH sent Jackson Waialae, Micah Thompson, and Noah Domogsac to the mound. The trio held Pearl City to one base hit.
Brayden Nomura started for Pearl City with Cheyne Obara in relief. MKH pounded out eleven hits against Pearl City hurlers.
MKH scored two runs each in the first, second, third, and sixth innings. Pearl City scored single runs in the fourth and fifth innings.
Scoring Summary:
Top 1
In the top of the first inning, Aidan Koanui hit a double putting Kala'e Holt on third base and Koanui on second with one out in the inning. Next batter Jackson Waialae hit a two RBI single driving in Holt and Koanui to take a 2-0 lead. Pearl City starting pitcher Brayden Nomura got the next two batters to strikeout and groundout to end the inning.
Top 2
Micah Thompson led off the top of the second inning with a single down the third base line. Jonathan Spangler-Sakata followed with a single to right field. MKH had runners on first and second with no outs. Thompson advanced to third base on a steal. Spangler-Sakata took second base on throw from the catcher that was cut off by the second baseman. Thompson scored from third base on a throw to first base by the catcher in attempt to nail Aidan Koanui who was sprinting down the first base line after the ball got away from the catcher on a strike three count. Next batter flied out for the second out. Kala'e Holt stroked an RBI ground rule double that scored Spangler-Sakata to put MKH up 4-0. Next batter grounded out for the third out leaving one runner on base.
Top 3
In the top of the third inning Pearl City made a pitching change bringing in Cheyne Obara in relief of Brayden Nomura. Nomura pitched two complete innings giving up two runs on five hits.
Jackson Waialae got things going in the top of the third inning with a lead off single down the third base line. Next batter Nawaakoa Faurot hit a double moving Waialae from first base to third. MKH had runners on first and third with no outs. Kamalii Silva hit an RBI sac groundout that scored Waialae from third base. MKH led 5-0. Lokahi Pauole powered a one out a ground rule double to center field that scored Faurot from third base. MKH increased their lead to 6-0. Obara got the next two batters on a strike out and groundout to end the inning.
Bottom 4
In the bottom of the fourth inning Shawn Iwane reached first base on a walk with one out. Michael Yanagi came into the game to pinch run for Iwane. Next batter Champ Smith struck out for the second out. Rayson Carriaga hit a single to right field that advanced Yanagi to second base in scoring position. Chasen Goshi reached first base on an infield grounder that was bobbled by the shortstop. Yanagi moved to third base on the play. Carter Ogino came into the game to pinch run for Goshi at first base with the bases loaded. Yanagi scored from third base on a steal for Pearl City's first run of the ball game. Cello Casarez struck out for the third out leaving the bases loaded.
Bottom 5
In the bottom of the fifth inning MKH made a pitching change bringing in Micah Thompson in relief of Jackson Waialae. Pearl City had two runners on base with Tarynce Antolin on second and Cole Miyamura on third with no outs. Next batter Cheyne Obara flied out scoring Miyamura from third. Pearl City trailed MKH 6-2. Thompson put down Michael Englar and Michael Yanagi on strikes to end the inning.
Top 6
MKH scored two more runs in the top of the sixth inning. Micah Thompson led off the top of the sixth inning with a double to left field. Jonathan Spangler-Sakata reached first base safely on a wild throw to the bag. Thompson scored on the play. MKH led 7-2. MKH scored their final run on an infield grounder by Kala'e Holt that forced out Aidan Koanui at second base but scored Jonathan Spangler-Sakata from third base. MKH took a 8-2 lead which would be the final score.
@ Heeia Elementary School in Kaneohe
MKH (1-0) 2 2 2 0 0 2 8 11
Pearl City (0-1) 0 0 0 1 1 0 2 1
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
Brayden Nomura got the start for Pearl City. Nomura pictured in the top of the first inning against MKH.
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
MKH starting pitcher Jackson Waialae held Pearl City to one hit before being relieved by Micah Thompson in the top of the fifth inning.
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
Kala'e Holt strokes an RBI ground rule double that scored Jonathan Spangler-Sakata to put MKH up 4-0 in the top of the second inning.
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
Jonathan Spangler-Sakata scores on Kala'e Holt's RBI ground rule double in the top of the second inning.
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
Michael Yanagi scores Pearl City's first run of the ball game in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
Noah Domogsac closes it out on the mound for MKH in the bottom of the sixth inning.