BIIF baseball: Pitching-rich Kamehameha claims fourth consecutive D-II title

Behind a pair of strong pitching performances, Kamehameha swept Konawaena 7-0 and 7-2 in the BIIF Division II championship series on Thursday night at Wong Stadium, capturing its fourth straight league title.

In the 7-0 win in Game 2, Malu Peralta fired a four-hitter and struck out 10 for a complete-game gem, and the Warriors got all the runs they needed with a three-run first. He walked five, and left seven on base, including the sack filled in the fourth.

Kobi Candaroma batted 3 for 4 with two RBIs, clocking a two-run single in the first. He was the only Warrior to get more than one hit.

Jai Cabatbat added an RBI single in the third, and Kamehameha scored three unearned runs in the seventh off one costly error.

Kolu Alani went six innings in the loss. He allowed four runs on eight hits and two walks, and struck out two. Andrew Udac went an inning, and gave up three unearned runs on two hits and a walk.

In Game 1, Kamehameha pitcher Reese Mondina didn’t have it easy but the freshman left-hander only made it look that way in the 7-2 win.

Kamehameha (12-1) and Konawaena (5-7-1) both have berths to the HHSAA Division II state tournament. The BIIF champion Warriors don’t get a first-round bye, only one of the four seeds to the eight-team tourney.

In six-plus innings, Mondina finished with an eight-hitter with two walks and two strikeouts and a golden grade in the poise department, after stranding six on base. He almost got his first complete game, but he walked two and yielded a hit in the seventh.

Junior right-hander Daylen Calicdan entered the seventh with the bases loaded, and recorded three quick outs for the save, providing more than a bit of relief for Kamehameha coach Andy Correa.

“Thank goodness we scored early,” Correa said. “We left 11 on base. Konawaena battled and made pitches when they had to. It’s unfortunate we couldn’t separate more.

“But Reese pitched a really good game. He threw strikes, and he threw his secondary pitches for strikes. And our defense played pretty well.”

The Wildcats stranded nine on base. The Warriors left 11 on, including the bases loaded in the first, fourth and fifth innings. It was that type of game — missed opportunities or clutch pitching, depending on one’s point of view.

Mondina retired the side only once, in the first, and wiggled out of bear traps every other frame, none more troublesome than the sixth, when his composure was needed just as much as his curveball.

After an error and botched play on a rundown (that would have ended the inning), Mondina had two on and one out, and a 3-1 count against Koa Basque. Instead of being rattled, he got a full count, and a grounder for an inning-ending double play.

“He’s real composed. He’s always been like that,” Correa said. “He wants the ball. He’s willing to be in there. We’re lucky to have him.”

Best of all, Mondina didn’t beat himself. He walked two and both free passes were harmless. Konawaena scored only when Mondina hung a pair of pitches — Shelton Grace’s RBI single in the third, and Logan Canda’s run-scoring single in the sixth.

“All my pitches were working, fastball, cutter and palmball,” said Mondina, who picked up his pitching philosophy from a showcase. “I’ve got to work on throwing strikes, keep my focus. I aim small, miss small. I got that from the Trosky showcase.”

Meanwhile, Kamehameha got much of its offense from Konawaena’s inability to throw strikes. The Wildcats walked nine, and four of those free passes came around to score. The Warriors also got 10 hits, and that helped, too.

Stevie Texeira got one out in the loss. He allowed five runs on two hits and four walks. Logan Canda went 5 2/3 innings, and surrendered two runs on eight hits and five walks. But those ugly stats don’t tell the whole story.

After he gave up two runs in the second, Canda put up goose eggs for the next four innings, keeping Konawaena in the ballpark, pending a big hit — that never came.

Calicdan went 1 for 1 with three walks, and scored two runs. Kolbie Kinzie was 0 for 1 with three walks, and was one of the few Warriors who didn’t score.

Makana Aiona had a memorable day; he batted 3 for 4 with three RBIs. Candaroma went 2 for 3 with a walk and two runs, and Brandyn Lee Lehano went 2 for 2 with an RBI.

Grace batted 2 for 3 with an RBI, and Anthony Ward was 2 for 2 for Konawaena.

Game 2

Kamehameha 301 000 3 — 7 10 3

Konawaena 000 000 0 — 0 4 2

Game 1

Konawaena 001 001 0 — 2 8 0

Kamehameha 520 000 x — 7 10 1