David Kawada
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First year head coach Gary Nakamoto, who took over for retired Mel Seki, will lead the Chargers into next week’s HHSAA State Tournament with an expected top seed and a bye in the first round. Pearl City becomes the first repeat champion of the OIA since Corey Ishigo’s Surfriders put together 4 consecutive titles from 2000-03.
The Surfriders will have to play in the first round of the State Tournament with seedings and pairings to be announced this weekend.
The 1st inning would dictate how the game would carry out the rest of the night. Neal got tagged for 3 runs and many thought he would be pulled early. But Coach Nakamoto stuck with him which turned out to be the decision of the night. On the other side, Kailua starter Reyn Matsuki was relieved in the inning after giving up 2 runs.
One of the hits in that wild first inning was a 2-run homerun blast by Kailua’s Scotty Talaesea deep to left center field.
Going into the 6th inning, Kailua was in control with a 5-3 lead. Charger Corey Yuh hit a 2-RBI single to tie the game. Yuh went 3-4 at the plate.
In the 8th inning, Ryan Acosta got Pearl City going with a double. Two batters later, Jordan Nagai brought Acosta home with a double of his own. Yuh singled to bring home Nagai, then scored on an error.
Kailua would not go down so easily as they scored 2 runs. Pinch hitter Jared Tamanaha singled in Ryan Kinoshita. Then clean up hitter Keenan Tanaka singled in Tamanaha. But relief pitcher Bryson Nakamura struckout the final batter to clinch the OIA Championship for Pearl City.
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