Mililani sent Pearl City two their second loss in a row on Wednesday after breaking a 2-2 tie with a two-run top of the seventh inning rally to defeat the Chargers 4-2 in OIA Red Western Division Varsity Baseball played at Pearl City High School.
Mililani hurler Kanoa Hironaka earned the win for the Trojans in seven complete innings of work. Hironaka allowed two runs on five hits with six strikeouts and two walks.
Pearl City's Kamalu Neal took the loss for the Chargers working 6 1/3 innings. Neal allowed four runs on eight hits with three strikeouts and one walk. Tanner Tokunaga came into the game in relief of Neal in the top of the seventh inning.
Scoring Summary:
Top 5
Mililani struck first in the top of the fifth inning after four innings of scoreless play on Jensen Kim's 2 RBI double with one out that scored Ekolu Ramos from third and Adam Connell from first to put the Trojans up 2-0.
Bottom 5
Pearl City got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fifth inning to pull within one run at 2-1. Sean Milan led off the inning with a double. Shaye Higa grounded out for the first out. Kanoa Hironaka struck out Jordan Taamu for the second out. Next batter Jason Komoda stroked an RBI single to left field scoring Milan from second base.
Bottom 6
The Chargers picked up another run in the bottom of the sixth inning to tie the game at 2-2. Colby Hirano led off inning with an infield single. Hirano advanced to second base on a pass ball at the plate. Matthew Tsutomi moved Hirano to third base on sac bunt. Next batter Kyle Tom walked. Isaiah Aribal came in to pinch run for Tom at first base. Kamalu Neal reached first base to load the bases with one out. Hirano scored from third base on a pass ball at the plate to tie the game at 2-2. Hironaka got Sean Milan on strikes and Shaye Higa to pop out to end the inning.
Top 7
The Trojans scored two runs in the top of the seventh inning to take a 4-2 lead. Trevor Inouye led off the inning with a single. Ekolu Ramos moved Inouye to second base in scoring position with a sac bunt. Adam Connell hit a single to left field advancing Inouye to third base. Pearl City made a pitching change bringing in Tanner Tokunaga from third base in relief of Kamalu Neal. Neal left with two runners on base and one out. Connell reached second on a steal. Tokunaga walked Justice Nakagawa to load the bases. Inouye scored from third base on a hard hit ball by Troy Kakugawa to Chargers shortstop Colby Hirano that was bobbled allowing the go ahead run to score. Connell scored the Trojans final run from third base on Travis Maekawa's RBI ground out to first base. Mililani went up 4-2. Tokunaga got the next batter to fly out for the third out. The Trojans left two runners on base to end the inning.
Bottom 7
In the bottom of the seventh inning Jason Komoda reached first base on a walk. Komoda advanced to second base on a pass ball at the plate. Next batter Tanner Tokunaga walked putting runners on first and second. Colby Hirano flied out for the second out. Hironaka put down Matt Tsutomi on strikes to end the game with two runners left on base.
Pearl City evened their league record at 2-2. Mililani improved to 3-1.
The Chargers travel to Campbell High School on Saturday, March 16 to take on the Sabers at 11:00am.
Go Chargers!
@ Pearl City High School
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Mililani (3-1) 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 4 8 1
Pearl City (2-2) 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 2 5 3
Leading Hitters:
Mililani – Adam Connell 2-4, 2 Runs; Jensen Kim 1-1, RBI; Ekolu Ramos 2-2, 2B, 1 Run.
Pearl City – Sean Milan 1-3, 2B, 1 Run; Jason Komoda 2-2, 1 RBI; Kyle Tom 1-1; Colbhy Hirano 1-4, 1 Run.
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
Pearl City starting pitcher Kamalu Neal pictured on the mound for the Chargers.
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
Jensen Kim stroked a 2 RBI double with one out in the top of the fifth inning that scored Ekolu Ramos from third and Adam Connell from first to put the Trojans up 2-0.
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
Adam Connell crosses home plate after scoring on Jensen Kim's 2 RBI double in the top of the fifth inning.
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
Sean Milan slides in safely at second base with a lead off double in the bottom of the fifth inning. Milan scored the Chargers first run of the ball game on an RBI single by Jason Komoda.
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
Matthew Tsutomi advanced Colby Hirano from second to third base on sac bunt in the bottom of the sixth inning. Hirano would later score on a pass ball at the plate to tie the game at 2-2.
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
Adam Connell scores his second run of the ball game in the top of the seventh inning that gave the Trojans a 4-2 lead.