OIA Baseball
Leilehua shuts the door on Kailua in league semifinals


Michael Lasquero | ScoringLive
April 27, 2023, 11:16pm

  

Thu, Apr 27, 2023 @ [ 7:00 pm ]

Leilehua

1

Kailua

0

FINAL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Leilehua 0 100000130
Kailua 0 0 00000053

W: Bryden Takayama    L: Jayden Hunt

KAIL: Zayne Hookala 1-3 dbl; Jayden Hunt 7.0 IP 0 ER 5 K
LEI: Pono Arindain 1-3; Bryden Takayama 7.0 IP 0 ER 5 K




MANOA — Access denied.

Leilehua made numerous plays on defense and rode a complete game performance by Bryden Takayama to edge Kailua, 1-0, Thursday night in the second OIA Division I semifinal at Les Murakami Stadium.

The Mules (9-5) move on to face Campbell (12-2) for the league crown on Friday when it will try for its first championship since 1962.

"It feels great to be part of history," said Takayama, who improved to 5-0 on the mound with a 2.05 ERA. "We've been struggling every single year, but I felt it this year. We're such a close team. We have the best team chemistry in the OIA. It's just great to be here."

Leilehua punched its ticket to the final on a double play that stunned the Surfriders (10-4). A potential sacrifice fly by Kailua's Jayden Hunt to tie the game in the bottom of the seventh was wiped off the board when left fielder Keola Hanoa fired a dart to catcher Zane Winter to put out pinch runner Romeo Ortiz after he tagged up from third base.

Takayama had all the confidence in his defense to make the play.

"I wasn't worried, it wasn't hit that strong," he said. "It was a good piece, but I know we got a strong arm out of left field in Keola Hanoa."

A similar play also ended the second inning when center fielder Bryce Anzai threw a strike to home to put out Masao Minami, who tried to score on a single by Makaio Roman.

"We practice those throws every single practice," Takayama said of the second-inning putout. "I have full faith in my outfield. Bryce Anzai, that was a beautiful throw."

Takayama threw a season-high five strikeouts with two walks while scattering five hits on 102 pitches. He had inning-ending strikeouts in the first and third inning as Kailua left runners on the base through the first three innings.

"I like the poise that he showed in a big game atmosphere," second-year Leilehua coach Brandon Kon said of Takayama. "He doesn't get too high or too low. He's a senior and we had a lot of confidence in Bryden tonight. He came out and did his thing and it was awesome."

The lone run of the game came in the top of the second when Leilehua capitalized on a pair of Kailua errors. Shortstop Sage Tokoro misplayed a routine pop fly that allowed Anzai to reach first with two outs. Pono Arindain singled to third base to advance Anzai before a throwing error to second base opened the door for Anzai to come home for an unearned run.

"Coach always tells us to run hard every single pitch, every single play and it paid off," Takayama said on scoring an unearned run.

Outside of the Surfriders' errors, it was a pitching battle all the way through. Hunt, the losing pitcher, went the distance on 90 pitches. He allowed just three hits and had five strikeouts while walking just one batter.


Reach Michael Lasquero at [email protected].




Show your support

Every contribution, no matter the size, will help ScoringLive continue its mission to provide the best and most comprehensive coverage of high school sports in the state of Hawaii and beyond.

Please consider making a contribution today.


IMAGE GALLERY


MORE STORIES

KIF on cusp of hosting D2 state tournaments in girls and boys volleyball

The Kauai Interscholastic Federation is expected to be included in the host rotations of the boys' and...

Track and field proposals among those being considered at HIADA conference

Athletics administrators from across the state are gathered at the Hilton Waikoloa Village, where the...

HHSAA inducts 44th class into Hall of Honor

Twelve student-athletes from 10 different schools and representing three of the state's leagues were...

Iolani's Nakanelua garners All-Hawaii Player of the Year honors

Senior setter Bailey Nakanelua was the engine that helped drive the Raiders back to the top of state...

Pearl City's Ngirmidol headlines All-OIA Division II picks

Chargers' setter Marley Ngirmidol named Player of the Year in OIA Division II; Pearl City head coach...

Moanalua sweeps All-OIA East Boys Volleyball top honors

Na Menehune outside hitter Lionel Gannon named Player of the Year and head coach Alan Cabanting named...