By KEVIN JAKAHI
By KEVIN JAKAHI
Tribune-Herald sports writer
Hilo’s Nick Fukunaga repeated his fine pitching numbers against Keaau, helping the Vikings take a firmer grasp of second place, an enviable position, in the East Division I standings.
Earlier in the month, the junior right-hander went 5 2/3 innings, allowed two runs and picked up the decision in a 5-2 victory over the Cougars.
On Tuesday, he posted similar numbers, pitching two-run ball over 5 2/3 innings to spark Hilo to a 9-2 win over Keaau in a Big Island Interscholastic Federation baseball game at Wong Stadium.
Fukunaga yielded two hits and three walks and struck out six, pitching tough when he ran into trouble in the fourth inning, limiting his damage and maintaining a 3-2 lead.
He also pitched smart, getting two strikeouts when the Cougars attempted to bunt with two strikes and runners in scoring position. Fukunaga also showed a nifty pickoff move, getting a runner at second in the third.
“I felt good. My fastball felt like it had pop and my curveball was breaking. My changeup was good. Everything was good,” Fukunaga said. “I thought I did OK. I threw strikes. That pickoff move was planned. We practiced it and it worked.
“It was a good team win. Everybody on the team played a part.”
He wasn’t the only underclassman to shine for Hilo (6-2). Sophomore left fielder Jodd Carter went 3 for 3 with three RBIs and junior Kian Kurokawa was 3 for 4 with two RBIs. Junior shortstop Chayce Kaaua was 1 for 4 with an RBI.
Also, sophomore right-hander Conrad Kauffman was flawless in 1 1/3 innings in relief, striking out two and retiring all four batters he faced, including stranding a runner at first in the sixth on a flyout.
Senior catcher Koa Matson showed the old guys can contribute, too. He was 2 for 3 with an RBI, and also provided additional value with his strong arm, gunning down a runner at second to end Keaau’s two-run rally in the fourth.
Cody Silva gave up seven runs on six hits and four walks in five innings, and took the loss. He was the victim of five errors, which led to four unearned runs. Adrian Huff pitched an inning, and allowed unearned runs.
“Those four unearned runs, that was basically about it,” Keaau coach Herb Yasuhara said. “You definitely don’t want to be the third seed in the East division for the playoffs and face No. 1 (likely to be Waiakea). Everybody is looking at that.”
Keaau (3-5) started off the fourth in good shape when Jonathan Segovia walked and Rason Martines singled and each moved up a base on a sacrifice. Then Konnor Kanetani tried to bunt with two strikes, but Fukunaga fired a ball up in the zone that was fouled off for a strikeout.
Keha Wong hit a two-run single to right field. Right fielder Randall Iha’s throw home was late, but Matson whipped a fastball to second to peg Wong, trying to advance, ending the short-lived rally.
Carter provided enough run support with an RBI single to left field in the third, a perfectly placed safety RBI squeeze sacrifice bunt in the fifth, and a run-scoring double to right in the sixth. He singled to left in the second.
“I felt pretty good. I wanted to hit the ball solid and do my job,” said Carter, who was dropped from the leadoff spot to seventh for the second straight game.
He got a late start with baseball after Hilo reached states for basketball for the third consecutive year. All three hits Carter tagged the ball on the nose with authority, finishing perfect at the plate.
“My swing is getting there. It was hard at first,” Carter said. “I wasn’t comfortable in the beginning. But I’m getting back into it.”
All the contributions are helpful because the Viks are still in the running for the No 1. seed in the East. They have seven games left, including two against Waiakea. In the first meeting, Quintin Torres-Costa struck out 11 in a 5-3 win over Hilo earlier in the month.
“Every game is important in the East side,” Hilo coach Tony DeSa said. “Keaau is going to be in every game, and we’ve got to be ready. Keaau and Kealakehe are playing well. There is no easy road, even if you get the No. 2 seed.
“I liked our pitching and defense today. Nick had good velocity and good control of his curveball, and I liked how he threw strikes. Earlier on we weren’t getting runs in during RBI opportunities, but toward the end of the game we capitalized really well.”
Keaau 000 200 0 — 2 2 6
Hilo 111 033 x — 9 10 1
• Hawaii Prep 14, Kohala 2: Kai Fink had three hits and three RBIs as Hawaii Prep dominated Kohala in Kapaau.
Holden Pattengill went 2 for 3 with two RBIs, and Zane Gray went 2 for 4 in the game that ended after five innings because of the league’s 10-run mercy rule.
Gray pitched all five innings for the Ka Makani (4-3), giving up two runs on two hits and two walks and striking out seven.
Hookele Aiona lasted only one inning and suffered the loss for Kohala (0-6). He allowed five runs on three hits and two walks.
Mana Akima had a double for the Cowboys, and Keanu Bruno added a single.
HPA 506 03 — 14 15 0
Kohala 000 11 — 2 2 0
• Konawaena 4, Kealakehe 0: Jordan Miyahira-Young scattered six hits over seven innings as Konawaena topped Kealakehe.
Miyahira-Young struck out seven and walked one while throwing only 78 pitches. The Division II Wildcats improved to 6-0.
Evyn Yamaguchi had a double, and Ryan Torres-Torioka went 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI.
For Kealakehe (3-4), Bricen Ferreria suffered the loss. He pitched four innings, struck out four, walked three and gave up three runs. Zaynan Sanchez gave up one run on three hits in two innings and struck out one while pitching in relief.
Austin Galigo went 2-for-3 for the Waveriders
Kealakehe 000 000 0 — 0 6 5
Konawaena 003 100 x — 4 4 0
• The Waiakea at Kamehameha game was rescheduled for 3 p.m. Thursday. The site will be determined today.
Stephens Media contributed to this report.