Castle's Andre Fraticelli makes contact with a pitch against Kalani. Brien Ing | SL

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Castle's Keaton Loui charges down the first base line after laying down a bunt attempt. Brien Ing | SL

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Castle's Christian Kapeliela and Dane Kamalu attempt to make a catch of a ball in foul territory against Kalani. Brien Ing | SL

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Kalani's Dallas Asuncion throws a pitch to the plate against Castle. Brien Ing | SL

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Castle starter Christian Kapeliela throws a pitch to the plate against Kalani. Brien Ing | SL

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It was somewhat uncharted territory for Castle starter Christian Kapeliela, but you would never have guessed it by his performance on the mound.

Kapeliela, who had not gone more than 5 innings during the preseason, threw a two-hit complete game shutout to lead the Knights to a season-opening victory over the Kalani Falcons, 2-0, in an afternoon game at Kahala Field.

"He's capable of throwing a game like this," said head coach Rocky Fraticelli. "This is the first time he went seven innings (this season). But, he realized that (it was) a 1-0 game through six innings, he had to do his job out there."

And the 5-foot-11 senior did just that, keeping the Falcons' batters off-balance all afternoon, allowing just two singles the entire contest, a one-out single in the first inning and another one-out base knock in the last of the seventh.

In between those base hits, Kapeliela struck out seven while walking just two.

Kapeliela credited his work leading up to the season for his performance on the mound against Kalani. "The thing that helped me most was that I conditioned a lot in the off-season," said Kapeliela, "so coming into this I felt better than normal."

The Knights got things going early, as back-to-back singles by Dane Kamalu and Billy Kerkau set Castle up with an immediate scoring opportunity. And a seeing-eye single down the third base line two batter later by Micah Camara brought home Kerkau for the initial run.

Other than that rough first inning for Kalani starter Dallas Asuncion, the junior left-handed settled down and threw 5 2/3 innings of scoreless ball for the Falcons, scattering just 5 hits, walking two and striking out two.

"He (Asuncion) did the job all the way until the last inning," said Kalani head coach Shannon Hirai. "He pitched a good game."

The score could very well have been a one-run contest heading into the bottom of the seventh, and looked to be a very real possibility as Reece Kakugawa flashed some serious glove on a stop of a hot shot down the third base line for the second out.

But a throw to first on the next at-bat sailed high, allowing Kerkau to motor around from second for an insurance run.

Kerkau finished the afternoon 2-for-4 at the dish, with two runs scored and a stolen base to boot.

The two-run cushion proved to be enough for Kapeliela, though a one-out single to Sean Romo made for a little bit of drama.

The right-handed Kapeliela got the next Falcons batter to strike out looking, then drew the count out to 1-2 on the next batter. Romo broke for second on the next pitch, and was ruled safe on a throw that appeared to have gotten there in time for the game's final out.

Undeterred, Kapeliela ended the game on his own terms, registering his seventh K of the afternoon to end the contest.

"It felt really good after the last strikeout," remarked Kapeliela. "I was pretty excited and pumped up about this season."

Next up for the Knights is a home-opener against Moanalua on Saturday at 11 a.m., while Kalani travels to Kaiser for a 3:30 p.m. first pitch.