Despite allowing 18 baserunners, North Shore's clutch pitching frustrated Honolulu, 3-1, yesterday in Hawaii Winter Baseball at Les Murakami Stadium.

The Honu (12-15) closed to a game of West-leading West Oahu (13-14) behind a collaborative effort of five pitchers. They made a three-run sixth inning stand up against the Sharks (14-13), who dropped a game behind Waikiki (15-12).

Honu starter Jose Capellan pitched 3 2/3 scoreless innings and Matt Meyer (2-1) did the same in 1 2/3.

Ben Swaggerty gave up the only run in two innings, while Christopher Hicks added 1 1/3 scoreless and was bailed out of a first-and-third situation with two outs in the bottom of the ninth by Brett Hunter, who struck out Jordan Abruzzo after falling behind 3-0 in the count, to register his first save.

But it was laborious, as only Hunter did not allow a base runner.

"We just ran into pitch counts," Honu manager Kevin Boles said. "Guys kept running deep into counts. We worked behind a few times where guys were able to work out of jams, but as far as guys coming out of the bullpen, they were ready to go. It was a good thing to see."

While the Sharks had numerous opportunities, their starting pitcher, Kyle Drabek (0-1), was giving the Honu few chances. He had allowed only an infield single to Chris Carter in the second inning through the first five frames.

But in the sixth, a fastball got away on a 1-2 count and hit Adam Davis to start the inning.

Davis stole second on the first pitch to Ron Rivas, who eventually walked on four pitches.

"I just saw that he was taking his time going to the plate, so I thought it was a good time to run," Davis said.

Boles said the team has been struggling offensively, so he gave Davis the green light to run.

"Davis did a good job there, as far as getting a good jump," Boles said. "Again, not much was happening on the offensive side, so sometimes you've got to manufacture sometimes to try to make things happen."

Things happened with Corey Brown, who bounced a double over first baseman Kala Ka'aihue to score Davis with the first run of the game and send Rivas to third.

Yamaico Navarro's sacrifice fly to right scored Rivas and moved Brown to third, where he scored on Matt McBride's single to center against a drawn-in infield to make it 3-0.

WAIKIKI 6, WEST OAHU 5

The BeachBoys pulled into first in the East by rallying for two runs in the top of the ninth inning to turn back the host CaneFires yesterday at Hans L'Orange Park.

Leading 5-4, the CaneFires brought in closer Cliff Flagello (1-2), who was greeted with a lead-off homer by Marquez Smith to tie the score.

One out later, Buster Posey singled, took second on a wild pitch and scored the go-ahead run on Yonder Alonso's single to center. Roger Kieschnick then grounded into an inning-ending double play.

David Pfeiffer retired the side in order in the bottom of the ninth for his third save.

Kazunori Yamamoto (3-0) allowed two runs (one earned) in two innings of relief.