Jordan Cezar pitched 2 2/3 strong innings of scoreless relief and drove home the go-ahead run in the fifth inning. Leighland Tagawa | SL

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In his only second appearance at the plate of the season, Jordan Cezar (8) drove in the game-winning run on a double to the left-center alley in the fifth inning. Leighland Tagawa | SL

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AIEA — Seldom-used Jordan Cezar pitched 2 2/3 strong innings of scoreless relief and drove home the go-ahead run in a three-run fifth and Aiea rallied to beat Leilehua, 4-2, Wednesday at Aiea Recreation Center field.

Na Alii (5-2) trailed 2-1 through four innings before taking the lead on three consecutive doubles with two out in the bottom of the fifth for their fifth victory in a row in the Oahu Interscholastic Association Division I West to stay in third place — 1 1/2 games ahead of the Mules (4-4). They both trail Campbell and Mililani, both with 8-1 records. Aiea will have its chance to move up as it plays Mililani Saturday and at Campbell on April 10.

"Every game we play we're finding more and more about us and that's what I like about this team," Aiea coach Ryan Kato said.

In avenging a season-opening 4-2 loss to the Mules on March 9, Na Alii have learned they do not have to play bash ball to win. After beating Campbell with the long ball (three home runs), Aiea beat its next three opponents by mercy rule. Against the Mules, Na Alii relied on strong pitching.

"The pitching is outstanding," Kato said. "The guys are around the plate."

Aiea starting pitcher DJ Akiyama pitched four-plus innings, allowing two runs and seven hits with three strikeouts. He departed after giving up a lead-off triple to Ty Yukumoto for Cezar, who walked the first batter he faced but stranded both. Cezar ran into some trouble in the seventh, but John Navarro came in from right field to get the final out for the save.

"DJ got hit a little bit, brought in Jordan — he's the same guy that beat Campbell," Kato said. "It's uncanny. Nothing fazes him."

In the Campbell win, Cezar started on last-minute notice when the original starter experienced pain during warmup. Cezar allowed one run, which was unearned, in five innings. He had not pitched until Wednesday.

Cezar's hitting also could be considered uncanny. His RBI double was only his second plate appearance of the season.

"He might start batting more now," Kato said with a laugh.

In his only second appearance at the plate of the season, Jordan Cezar (8) drove in the game-winning run on a double to the left-center alley in the fifth inning. Leighland Tagawa | SL    Purchase image

The Mules scored a run in the first. Akiyama's first pitch of the game hit lead-off batter Aiden Romero, who scored an out later on Shyden Cordero's triple to the left-center alley. But Akiyama stranded the runner to escape further damage.

Aiea tied the game in the bottom of the first with its feet. Akiyama singled with one out and went to third on Navarro's single to right. With Noa Ohara batting, Navarro broke for second and caused a rundown; he made it back to first, but Akiyama stole home. Ohara ended up grounding into an inning-ending double play.

The Mules regained the lead in the second. Mason Yamashiro led off with a walk, took second on Lii Wofford's single to left. Courtesy runner Kellen Duboyce-Tangjian took third when left fielder Ohara bobbled the ball. With Jaxon Hotta batting, Duboyce-Tangjian scored on a wild pitch that moved Wofford to second. After Hotta struck out, Masen Reis hit a comebacker to Akiyama and got Wofford out in a rundown between second and third. Reis stole second but was stranded there when Akiyama struck out Romero.

Leilehua had a golden opportunity to add to its lead in the fifth. Yukumoto led off with a triple off Akiyama, who was lifted for the left-handed Cezar, who walked Cordero to put runners at the corners with no outs. Zane Staszkow hit a bouncer up the first-base line but ran into the batted ball and was called out, as Yukumoto crossed the plate. But on such plays, the ball is ruled dead and the runners had to retreat to their original bases. Cordero stole second to put runners at second and third with one out, but Cezar struck out the next two batters to end the threat.

"That hurt us," Leilehua coach Marc Rios said of the stranded runners.

But time was running out for Mules' starter Yamashiro in the bottom of the fifth. Shane Ota grounded out sharply to shortstop and Nick Okutsu flied out on a nice running catch by center fielder Reis. Kawika Shima flared a double to shallow right and scored the tying run on Ryson Ujimori's ground-rule double to right. Ujimori scored the go-ahead run on Cezar's double to the left-center alley. After Navarro walked, Yamashiro was pulled for Zavyn Agbulos, who started in left field. Ohara greeted him with an insurance RBI single before Chase Mindoro grounded out to end the inning.

Losing pitcher Yamashiro was charged with four runs, seven hits and a walk with two strikeouts in four-plus innings.

Cezar held the Mules scoreless in the sixth before running into trouble in the seventh. With one out, Cordero reached on an error but was forced at second when Staszkow reached on a fielder's choice grounder to second. Pinch hitter Kaleo Nishimoto lined a single to right that sent Staszkow to second. Nishimoto might have been thrown out at first had right fielder Navarro's throw wasn't high. Navarro was pulled in from his position to pitch and he got Yamashiro to ground to short for a game-ending force at second.

"We just have a good group of guys," Cezar said of his team's success after an 0-2 start. "We have potential and we just bond."

After a 4-2 start, the Mules have dropped two in a row. The Campbell loss, 13-0, ended after five because of the mercy rule. Rios liked the way his players rebounded from that loss.

"Definitely coming off the big loss of Campbell — we talked about character and coming back — it tells you about the character of the boys on the team," Rios said.

Leilehua hosts Pearl City on Saturday and will play Mililani April 10 at Hans L'Orange Park.