The ball bounced Kaiser's way three times in the second inning yesterday, and the result was a crucial 5-3 victory over visiting Kailua in an O'ahu Interscholastic Association baseball showdown.

The Cougars snapped a two-game losing streak and improved to 5-2 in the OIA's Eastern Division, while the Surfriders fell to 6-1 and into a tie for first place with Kalani, which defeated Moanalua, 6-3, yesterday.

For Kaiser, it was a welcome reversal of fortunes after dropping 3-2 decisions to Moanalua and Kalani on Saturday and Wednesday, respectively.

"We lost both times by one run, and we didn't want it to happen again," said Cougars starter Toby Inouye, who pitched a five-hitter yesterday.

Kailua went up, 1-0, in the top of the second inning when Kainoa Uemoto blasted a line drive home run over the center field fence, and the Surfriders had a chance to escape a jam with two Kaiser runners on base with two outs in the bottom of the frame.

But a third strike pitch to Michael Kawashima hit the dirt and got past catcher Rayner Yokoi, allowing Kawashima to reach first and load the bases.

Cal Tashiro then hit a ground ball up the middle that skipped high off second base and into center field, scoring two runs. Dustin Dela Pena then followed with a sharp grounder that skipped high off first base and into right field, scoring Kawashima.

The throw to second base was off line, allowing Tashiro to score and make it 4-1.

"The (wild pitch) ball hit the dirt, but Rayner will block that 99 percent of the time," Kailua coach Corey Ishigo said. "If he makes that play, the inning is over. But (the bad hop grounders) weren't luck, it was about heart. Their batters did whatever it took and willed their way to get on base. We were flat and Kaiser just wanted it more than we did today."

After Dela Pena's single, Joe Honma had an RBI single to center field to make it 5-1.

"(The wild pitch) was big, because it kept the rally going and kept the inning alive," said Cougars assistant coach Mark Rasmussen, who was filling in for head coach Peter Ho due to Ho's one-game suspension following an ejection on Wednesday. "But we kept telling the kids that we still needed to score because Kailua was going to come back. You know they're never going to give up."

Rasmussen proved correct, as the Surfriders mounted a rally in the seventh.

Keenan Tanaka led off with a single to left, and Ryan Kinoshita reached on a fielder's choice grounder to third. After a groundout moved the runners up, Tanaka scored on Jared Iha's groundout to short.

Zach Akamine then followed with a run-scoring single to right, making it 5-3. But Inouye got a foul pop-up to first base to end the game.

"I knew Kailua could hit, but I just tried to keep the ball down," said Inouye, a right-hander who struck out only one but walked none. "I wanted to get ahead in the count with my fastball and curves, and they were getting out in front of my change-up, the change-up was working good. I just tried to throw strikes and let my defense get the outs."

KAILUA (6-1) 010 000 2 — 3 5 1

KAISER (5-2) 050 000 X — 5 10 1

Kili Vierra, Marcus Mathews (2) and Rayner Yokoi; Toby Inouye and Bryce Marcouiller. W — Inouye. L — Vierra.

Leading hitters — Kailua: Kainoa Uemoto home run; Kale Sumner double. Kaiser: Cal Tashiro 2-4, 2 RBIs; Joe Honma 2-2, RBI.

KALANI 6, MOANALUA 3

Jordan Sumida scored the tying run and Keola Wakazuru the go-ahead run on Jason Lee's double in the top of the seventh to rally the visiting Falcons (6-1) past Na Menehune (4-3).

KALANI (6-1) 001 010 4—6 8 3

MOANALUA (4-3) 000 300 0—3 7 4

Shamus Kumashiro, Micah Takahashi (5) and Jason Lee. Kenson Miyaki, Jordan Hirata (7) and Chris Liu-Saguib. W — Takahashi. L — Hirata.

Leading hitters — Kalani: Ridge Carpenter 2-3, double, triple; Jordan Sumida 2-3, triple, 2 RBIs; Lee double, 2 RBIs; Keola Wakazuru 2-3. Moanalua: Jay Yoshizawa 2-4, double; Miyaki 2-3; Reid Matsumoto double.

Reported by Brittney Kanetake

RADFORD 5, WAIPAHU 4

Jory Simms hit a sacrifice fly with no outs in the bottom of the seventh inning to lift the Rams over the Marauders.

WAIPAHU (1-6) 001 000 3—4 6 5

RADFORD (1-7) 013 000 1—5 7 2

Kaimi Haina and Sam Chee. Kyle Blair, Dominick Caggiano (6) and Zach Seitz. W — Caggiano. L — Haina.

Leading hitters — Waipahu: Triton Gante 3-3, double, triple; Jaris Komuro-Rosete double; Eric Hudson double. Radford: Dustin Reed 2-3; Jory Simms 2-3, double, 3 RBIs.

Reported by Lon Passos

ILH

PUNAHOU 4, SAINT LOUIS 2

Jeeter Ishida pitched a complete game, striking out nine while giving up four hits to lead the Buffanblu over the Crusaders.

SAINT LOUIS (1-9) 100 010 0—2 4 2

PUNAHOU (10-0) 000 013 X—4 5 2

Jayson Fukumoto, Kyle Gonzaga (6) and Keoni Haina. Jeeter Ishida and Zach Kometani. W — Ishida. L — Gonzaga.

Leading hitters — Saint Louis: Gonzaga 2-2; Ryan Iaea solo homer. Punahou: Reece Kiriu 2-2, double, run; Matt Suiter RBI, run.

Reported by Gail Juan

'IOLANI 8, KAMEHAMEHA 2

Grant Liu had four RBIs and Kelsey Outram tossed a complete game to lead the Raiders (8-2) past the Warriors (4-5) at Ala Wai Field.

'IOLANI (8-2) 210 104 0—8 9 0

KAMEHAMEHA (4-5) 000 011 0—2 7 3

Kelsey Outram and Grant Iwamoto. Scott Fisher, Chris Pascual (5), John Worthington (6) and Vance Nobriga. W — Outram. L — Fisher.

Leading hitters — 'Iolani: Case Miyahira 3-3, RBI; Reyn Nagamine 2-4, RBI; Grant Liu 2-4, 4 RBIs. Kamehameha: Waylen Sing Chow 3-3, double; Vance Nobriga double.

MID-PACIFIC 8, PAC-FIVE 4

Derrick Tan drove in three runs to lead the host Owls (7-3) past the Wolf Pack (0-11). Zachary Fujimoto had two RBIs for Pac-Five.

PAC-FIVE (0-11) 000 030 1—4 5 2

MID-PACIFIC (7-3) 211 004 X—8 8 1

Ryan DeMello, Tyler Simao (7) and Reid Morihara. Dane Kinoshita, Kase Kaneko (5), Austin Sloan (6), Michael Nagamine (6), Matt McDaniel (7) and Aaron Fujiki. W — Kinoshita. L — DeMello.

Leading hitters — Pac-Five: Zachary Fujimoto double, 2 RBIs; Ian Padeken double; Travis Ogimi triple. Mid-Pacific: Derrick Tan 2-4, 3 RBIs; Nagamine 3-3, RBI.

Reported by Pua Hayashi

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com.