Leilehua's Kamryn Kamakaiwi connects for a solo shot to go up 4-0 in the bottom of the second inning. Spencer Honda | SL

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Mules Kaena Nistal is the only returning No. 1 pitching option in the OIA West. The senior gave up just one earned run to the Chargers on Tuesday and improved to 2-0. Spencer Honda | SL

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WAHIAWA — The recently named top-ranked team in the land kept on rolling Tuesday afternoon.

Ranked No. 1 in the first ScoringLive/Hawaiian Electric Diamond Power Rankings, the Leilehua Mules mashed the sixth-ranked Pearl City Chargers, 9-3, in an Oahu Interscholastic Association West Division contest on their home field at Kaala Park.

The Mules (3-0) jumped on the Chargers (1-1) early thanks to a pair of defensive errors that they were able to cash in with hits to go up 3-0 in the first inning. In the following two innings, a solo shot from Kamryn Kamakaiwi and back-to-back jacks from Alohilani Kauhane and Staisa Micky extended the lead to 6-1. Then in the bottom of the fifth, Kauhane and Micky slammed back-to-back doubles followed by Brandi Leong's two-baser to bring the score to 8-2.

Seven of the Mules' 11 total hits went for extra bases.

Through the first week and a day of league play, Leilehua unofficially leads the state in almost every offensive category.

"My main focus is to make sure we keep the sticks alive and keep the girls focused in the sense where for every one run that the other team scores, we got to try and put up two or three. Try to win the innings," first-year Leilehua coach Wendell Au said.

Mules Kaena Nistal is the only returning No. 1 pitching option in the OIA West. The senior gave up just one earned run to the Chargers on Tuesday and improved to 2-0. Spencer Honda | SL    Purchase image

On the other side, the Chargers left nine runners on base with seven of them stranded in scoring position. Of the three runs Mules starting pitcher Kaena Nistal gave up, only one of them was earned.

"Everyone makes errors. I know that my defense will back me up, and they did that," Nistal said. "Just come back with the hits. Our coaches make us hit a lot. We focus on our hitting because that's what going to help us win the game."

Nistal is the only returning No. 1 pitching option in the OIA West, and as a whole, Leilehua returns 18 of their 20 rostered players from a season ago. Fellow senior Kamakaiwi and juniors Alyssa Abe and Alyssa Asuncion also return after having logged time in the circle last year.

"It's a luxury, definitely. We got a rotation of pitchers which most teams don't really have," Au said. "It allows me to start one, have one hot right off the bench and then knowing I can close with the same starter or have the other closer."

Kamakaiwi got the complete game win in a 12-3 victory over Waianae last Saturday, while Abe came in to close the game out in the top of the seventh Tuesday afternoon.

"Kaena is definitely a team player," Au said of making the pitching change. "I asked her right before, ‘How you feeling? How about Abe closing it out?' and she said, ‘Yes, coach.'"

"Really want to push this team concept," Au continued. "Everybody trains hard, everybody pushes each other. It's like next man up so you don't have to have all that weight on your shoulders. We can depend on each other."

While the Mules have depth in their bullpen, Pearl City looks to replace reigning All-OIA D1 West Player of the Year Tyanna Kaaialii, who pitched all innings but 1/3 of an inning for the Chargers in 2017.

In the Chargers' 5-1 win over Nanakuli last Wednesday, freshman Maiyah Faleafine-Lesu got the start and the complete game win, giving up just one earned run while fanning eight batters. She again got the start against the Mules but was tagged for nine hits and five earned runs before being lifted for fellow freshman Jozayah Iriarte.

Although Leilehua has the luxury of tested returning experience, it's a long season with plenty of time for other teams to get their situations figured out.

"It's all about when we peak. Day in and day out in the OIA West is a battle. It's like a championship game every single game," Au said.

Both teams' seasons continue Saturday with Leilehua playing H2-foe Mililani (1-2) and Pearl City playing Kapolei (2-1).