Trojans, Mules Optimistic At Start Of Prep Baseball Season

Last season was one to remember for the OIA Red West, as the league claimed five of six available berths for the Division I state baseball tournament in May. Mililani and Leilehua once again hope to be part of the mix this season. A look at both teams’ matchups today (March 12) is below.

Mililani at Pearl City – 3:30 p.m. today

Playing your best baseball at playoff time is the goal of every team in the state, and no one did that better than Mililani last season, peaking at the right time en route to a late run all the way to the title game of the DI state tournament.

As it began its 2013-14 season last week, perhaps no team in the Red West was faced with a more demanding schedule out of the gate. After its opener on the road against defending OIA champion Campbell last Wednesday, a home date with traditional power Waipahu was to follow last Saturday. Next up is this matchup with Pearl City, which has been the Red West’s most successful outfit over the past decade.

Mililani hung tough in the Campbell opener, rallying for three runs in the seventh before losing 5-4. Kaimana Souza-Paaluhi, Micah Yogi, Ty Desa (two hits), Justice Nakagawa, Chase Miyachi and Kainoa Wilson all collected at least one hit for the team.

For its part, Pearl City opened in impressive fashion last week with a 9-4 home win over Aiea. The Chargers pounded out 12 hits in that game with six of them going for extra bases.

Following this game, Mililani will have a seven-day layoff between games prior to its March 19 home game against Aiea.

Leilehua hosts Kapolei – 3:30 p.m. today

The Mules have made the DI state tournament two of the last three years, including last season when they finished fourth at the OIA Red post-season tournament.

A tough schedule awaited Leilehua to begin this season with three of its first four games (Waipahu, Pearl City and Campbell) to be played on the road. This is the lone home date in that stretch for the Mules, who will at least get to play their final three league games on their home field in mid-April.

Leilehua dropped its opener 2-0 to Waipahu last Wednesday and then had a full week off before this Kapolei game. Offensive production was hard to come by in its Waipahu opener, as it was limited to four hits by the Marauders. Leilehua’s Nainoa Paragoso was a bright spot with two hits.

Kapolei, which was idle last Wednesday, was to open its Red West slate Saturday at Aiea.

jackster.1969@yahoo.com