By Wes Nakama
KAILUA — Defending OIA baseball champion Kailua was a young team with only one senior a year ago, but is now a veteran team that made a big statement in its league opener Wednesday afternoon.
The Surfriders overcame an early 3-0 deficit and pounded out 19 hits in a 17-7 victory over visiting Eastern Division rival Moanalua, scoring seven runs in the second inning, three in the third and seven in the sixth to end the game via the 10-run rule.
Ale Kuhaulua went 3 for 4 with a double, triple and four RBIs, Rayvin Pagan went 3 for 4 with two RBIs, Ryce Aoki went 3 for 4 with a run-scoring triple and Kalama Carreira went 3 for 4 with an RBI double to lead Kailua’s explosive offense.
Meanwhile, Jayden Hunt, DJ Kauahi and Pagan each pitched two innings and allowed only two earned runs.
The victory comes less than a week after an 0-3-1 preseason tournament showing on Maui.
“It was a good learning experience, we didn’t win any games (there) but we learned a lot,” Surfriders coach Corey Ishigo said. “It was good for us. We faced good competition, everybody pitched well.”
Things did not start out well on Tuesday, as Moanalua took an early 3-0 lead on three hits, a walk, and a passed ball. But that deficit did not last long, as Kailua erupted for seven runs in the bottom of the second.
Will Risso and Sage Tokoro led off with singles, and Devon Ishigo followed with a two-run double into the right-field corner. Pagan then followed with a towering two-run homer over the right field fence to put the Surfriders ahead for good at 4-3. They added a walk, two singles and Aoki’s triple to the same right field corner — all that plus an outfield error plated three more runs for a 7-3 lead by inning’s end.
“We call it, ‘Kailua Baseball,’ no matter the deficit, we’re going to play as a team,” said Pagan, who batted leadoff and scored two runs. “We just gotta chip away. During practice, we work on hitting a lot. I think it worked out.”
Kailua scored three more runs in the third inning on a double, single, outfield error, sacrifice fly and RBI triple to extend the lead to 10-3.
Na Menehune closed it to 10-7 in the top of the sixth after two walks, a sacrifice fly, RBI double, bunt single and run-scoring single to center.
But in the bottom half, the Surfriders responded with a triple, double, error, single, three walks, RBI single and game-ending three-run triple by Kuhaulua to the back of the hill in center field.
Despite the 10-run margin, Ishigo said he saw some potential in Moanalua, which qualified for last year’s state tournament and is now coached by his longtime assistant, Todd Takabuki.
“I like how they competed,” Ishigo said. “It’s just his first game. I’m glad he finally has the opportunity to be a head coach. Especially at his alma mater.”
Photos: Austin Meadors
