OIA Baseball
First-inning surge powers Chargers past Falcons


Michael Lasquero | ScoringLive
April 23, 2022, 6:03am

  

Fri, Apr 22, 2022 @ [ 4:00 pm ]

Pearl City

7

Kalani

3

FINAL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Pearl City 4 0200107103
Kalani 0 0 20001340

W: Drew Boyles    L: Logan Ouchi    SV: Shaine Fujii

KLNI: Noa Dane Fujitani 2-4 2 rbi; Taichi Fujinaga 4.0 IP 1 ER 5 K
PC: Dacoda Agoto 2-4 run 2 rbi trp; Shaine Fujii 4.0 IP 1 ER




WAIPAHU — A hot start offensively was the difference for Pearl City in its 7-3 win over Kalani Friday afternoon in the first OIA Division I semifinal at Hans L'Orange Field.

The Chargers (10-2) tallied four run on four hits in the top of the opening frame to advance to Saturday's championship game against Mililani (10-2), who defeated Kailua in five innings, 13-3.

Pearl City recorded 10 total hits in the game, which included two triples and two doubles. The top eight players in the lineup all registered a hit, with the top six all scoring runs against Kalani (11-3), who was on a six-game winning streak prior to facing the Chargers.

Three of the Chargers' first-inning hits came on the first pitch thrown. The fourth first-inning hit came on a 1-0 pitch to three-hole hitter Dacoda Agoto, who slapped a triple to deep right-center field to score Devin Hayashi for the first run of the game.

"We were aggressive early," said Pearl City assistant coach Eric Boyles. "Just by looking at the stats and stuff, I could kind of tell that they (the Falcons) don't like two walk too many guys. They like to keep the pitch count low so they must attack (the zone), so we figured let's go at them. Look for it early and just swing."

Kalani starter Logan Ouchi struck out the next batter looking, but freshman right fielder Jayson Au Hoy kept the momentum going with a first-pitch hit into left field to score Agoto. Designated hitter Ranson Aquino drew a walk on the next at bat before Eli Oshiro's two-RBI triple to deep right-center field put Pearl City ahead 4-0.

"The boys that were hitting them, they have power," said Boyles. "Eli is big, Dacoda he's a great hitter. Eli has been in a great groove recently, he's had some big hits for us. Au Hoy, that kid is incredible as a freshman. He's a pure hitter. All of our kids, they've been working really hard."

The Chargers added two more runs on four hits in the top of the third inning to make it a 6-0 game. Logan Honma and Au Hoy started the frame with back-to-back hits to set up Aquino's two-RBI double.

Drew Boyles earned the pitching win for the Chargers, his second of the season. He pitched two innings of no-hit ball before running into some trouble in the bottom of the third. The junior pitcher allowed three hits and two runs while walking two and striking out three in three innings of work.

Both teams turned to a reliever after the third inning. Taichi Fujinaga finished the game on the mound for the Falcons while Shaine Fujii pitched four innings to earn the save for Pearl City. It was the longest pitching stint of the season for Fujii, who has been the middle reliever in three of the team's wins.

Fujii beaned a couple of batters, but held his own against Kalani. The Falcons' lone hit and run against Fujii came in the bottom of the seventh inning. The senior pitcher's ability to finish the game against Kalani also bodes well for Pearl City's pitching rotation against the Trojans as the Chargers can utilize both Agoto and Hayashi on the mound.

"We have a lot of confidence in him. It was really big for the team that he could finish," coach Boyles said on Fujii. "I've been with Shaine for many many years now, back from little league. I have all the confidence in him. He's a crafty pitcher. He's got pretty decent velocity too. He has great command of his pitches."

Noa Dane Fujitani led the Falcons at the plate with two hits and two RBIs.


Reach Michael Lasquero at [email protected].




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