Kaiser's Kelan Yoshioka rounds second on his way to third for a triple to lead off the game against Kalani. Greg Yamamoto | SL

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Kaiser's Michael Austin connects with a pitch for an RBI single against Kalani. Greg Yamamoto | SL

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Kalani's Brandon Roberts connects for the Falcons' only hit in the game against Kaiser. Greg Yamamoto | SL

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Kaiser's Noah Sakatani threw s complete game, one-hit shutout against Kalani. Greg Yamamoto | SL

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WAIPIO - Noah Sakatani did not get in on Kaiser's 15-hit parade, but he was certainly the beneficiary of it in the Cougars' 11-0 rout of Kalani Saturday at the Patsy T. Mink Central O'ahu Regional Park.

The fourth-place Cougars (6-4) pulled a half-game ahead of the Falcons (6-5) in the O'ahu Interscholastic Association Red East in a game called after five innings because of the 10-run differential mercy rule.

Sakatani pitched a one-hitter, facing only 17 batters, striking out four and walking one. He took a no-hitter into the fourth when Brandon Roberts flared a single to center with two out. Roberts stole second and went to third on a wild throw to center, but he was stranded there when Reyn Shitanishi flied out to center. That was the closest Kalani got to scoring, as no other other runner reached second base.

"They were just talking about it in the dugout," Sakatani said of teammates on his impending no-hit bid. "Then he got the hit."

Actually, his no-hitter was in jeopardy in the third with a runner on first and two out. Dallas Asuncion hit a fly to the left-center alley, but speedy center fielder Jeshua Bitanga made a diving catch.

All Sakatani had to do was throw strikes, which he did, after the Cougars sent 12 batters to the plate in a nine-run first inning. The top three hitters of Kaiser's lineup - Kelan Yoshioka, Michael Austin and Aaron Oda - each had two hits in the inning. Yoshioka led off the game with a triple and had an RBI single his second time up. He scored twice. Austin had two singles, driving in three runs with them. Oda also had two singles and scored a run.

Kalani starting pitcher Asuncion lasted only one time through the order. He allowed seven runs, six hits and a walk, while retiring only two of the nine batters he faced.

Freshman Micah Kawano did not fare much better, as he allowed three successive hits. The inning mercifully ended when Oda was caught in a rundown between first and second, but stayed alive long enough to allow Austin to score on the fielder'c choice before the out was recorded

The Cougars tagged three Falcon pitchers for 15 hits. Ironically, Sakatani, who batted seventh in the order, was on the outside looking in, as he went 0 for 3. The only other Cougar not to get a hit was No. 8 hitter Royce Narahara, but he reached safely on a walk and hit batsman.

Kaiser added a run in the second inning on Kamalu Simeona's RBI single. He was 3 for 3, as was Oda, who hit a third-inning triple and scored on Curt Clivio's sacrifice fly to center.

Logan Scott pitched the final 1 1/3 innings for the Falcons, allowing a walk an pinch-hit double by Ryan Wall, who scored twice as a courtesy runner for catcher Yoshioka.

The first inning, it seemed, was not going to end for the Falcons.

"They just found all the holes," Kalani coach Shannon Hirai said. "It was one of those days where anything you do just couldn't go right."

The Falcons have lost three in a row and strangely, have allowed 11 runs in each of those games. They have a bye on Wednesday before closing out the regular season Saturday at Castle. To keep sharp and give some seldom-used pitchers some work, Kalani will scrimmage at Mililani.

"We have to go back and work at it," Hirai said. "That's all we can do."

With Kalaheo's loss to Moanalua on Saturday, the Mustangs have been eliminated from a berth into the 12-team OIA Red tournament. The top six qualify with the top two teams drawing first-round byes.