Run on Gehrig Octavio at your own risk.
The Waiakea senior center fielder’s gun helped preserve a 2-1 win over Kamehameha in a BIIF baseball game Wednesday night at Wong Stadium, where the atmosphere felt like a championship.
“We knew it would be a battle against a state-caliber team like Kamehameha,” Waiakea coach Rory Inouye said. “It was good for our boys to play under this kind of pressure. From here on out (with the playoffs approaching), every game might be like this.”
In the bottom of the seventh, the drama was set for a Kamehameha storybook comeback, and the host team followed the script in a game where both teams threw their best arms.
The Division II Warriors had the top of the lineup due up and proceeded to execute with small-ball precision.
Kyran Kai singled off reliever Makoa Andres, Kobie Kinzie put down a sacrifice bunt, then Jai Cabatbat smoked a ball to medium-center field.
That’s where Octavio patrols and makes a difference even if he goes hitless; he went 0 for 2, including a sacrifice bunt.
“One of the things we preach to the players is don’t take an at-bat into the field,” Inouye said. “Let your teammates pick you up. Gehrig hit the ball hard, but it was right at people and had a great defensive day.
“I think he’s one of the best outfielders in the state with his speed, arm, and how he reads balls off the bat. When we take batting practice, he’ll be out in center field and make catches that make us go, ‘Wow.’ He’s a great athlete.”
In the bottom of the seventh, Octavio’s defense took a starring role. He charged in, caught the ball for the second out, and pushed off that momentum to power a throw to third baseman Jacob Igawa, who applied an early tag for the final out.
“I saw the pop fly coming to me and saw the runner going and let it go,” Octavio said. “It was one of my better throws.”
Andres picked up the win with 3 2/3 innings of scoreless relief. The senior right-hander allowed a hit, walked three and whiffed two. He didn’t have his wipeout slider or reliable command but found a way to produce goose eggs.
David Nakamura started and pitched 3 1/3 innings of one-run ball. The junior left-hander gave up two hits, walked five and struck out four. When he needed a key out, Nakamura reared back for extra mustard on his fastball.
He escaped from a bases-loaded pickle in the first with a strikeout. Nakamura struggled to find his rhythm, then briefly found his fastball and worked both sides of the plate, getting arm-side run and sinking his two-seamer the other way for punchouts.
But in the fourth, Nakamura walked Kekona Naipo-Arsiga to load the bases with two out and was pulled for Andres, who walked Bryce Furuli, Kamehameha’s No. 9 hitter, to force in a run.
Meanwhile, Kamehameha starter Kyran Kai scattered four hits over four scoreless innings. The junior right-hander walked none and struck out one. Kai was his efficient self because he doesn’t allow free passes (walks or hit by pitches).
Tai Atkins pitched three innings and allowed two unearned runs in the loss. The sophomore southpaw surrendered three hits, walked two and whiffed two. He wasn’t sharp but Atkins still threw power pitches that impressed the stadium’s crowd and put a buzz into the air.
Kamehameha’s pitching allowed 10 base runners (seven hits, two walks, and one hit by pitch) while Waiakea had 12 on (three hits, eight walks and one hit by pitch).
The stat that really made a difference was strikeouts. Kai and Atkins combined for three strikeouts; Nakamura and Andres combined for six. Waiakea consistently made contact, forcing Kamehameha to field balls and make plays.
In the fifth, Curren Inouye, Waiakea’s No. 9 hitter, singled off Atkins. Then Casey Yamauchi sac bunted pinch runner Chris Hatakenaka-Gibbs to second for the second out. Trayden Tamiya drew a full-count walk, setting the table for Nate Minami.
Atkins didn’t have his best stuff but got a 2-2 count on Minami, who protected the plate and hit a chopper to third. An errant throw brought in the tying run. Cleanup hitter Jacob Igawa was sitting first-pitch fastball, got one and smashed an RBI single for another unearned run and 2-1 lead.
“All year long, we’ve wanted to put pressure on the other team, make them field the ball and make a throw,” Waiakea coach Inouye said. “It doesn’t do us any good with a flyball or strikeout. Even for Nate, he put the ball in play with two strikes.”
Igawa batted 2 for 3 with an RBI, and Nakamura went 2 for 2 to lead the Division I Warriors (12-0), who stranded seven on base.
No one paired hits for the Division II Warriors (11-2), but Kegan Miura batted 1 for 1 and drew two walks. Kamehameha left eight on base, stranding the bases full in the first and fourth; Nakamura and Andres got strikeouts each time.
It was Kamehameha’s Senior night for Aiden Ah Hee, Cabatbat, Noah Chow, Kinzie, Miura, and Alton Penrose. Ah Hee batted 1 for 3.
Unfortunately, Waiakea’s two seniors stole the spotlight: Andres with 3 2/3 innings of bulldog relief and Octavio with a throw that was his own diamond gem.
Waiakea 000 020 0 — 2 7 1
Kamehameha 000 100 0 — 1 3 2
