Things aren’t quite the same when there’s a nine-run margin in the middle of a baseball game.
Ryan Ancheta was cruising along with a one-hitter after four frames. He needed a modest 51 pitches to record 12 outs, but the Mililani Trojans opted to get some game action for reserves with a big lead.
In the aftermath of a 16-hit attack and a 10-5 win over Leilehua, ninth-ranked Mililani got to see what it needed to see on the mound. Ancheta wasn’t quite dominant, but close.
“Honestly, the curve ball felt fine, but we went with the fastball, just attack them and see how far they can hit it,” Ancheta said. “I threw maybe four or five off-speed pitches.”
Mililani coach Mark Hirayama got a good look at pitchers Dane Little, Joshua Reis and Vance Oshiro.
“We still need a little more control. We need to be better at getting ahead in the count,” Hirayama said.
Hirayama’s counterpart got to see much, much more. With 10 players suspended for breaking a team rule, Mules coach Spencer Omalza left young Jerin Po‘opa‘a-Adaro on the mound for nearly four innings. He threw 63 pitches, walked just one batter, and that’s the good news. He also surrendered 14 hits and eight earned runs.
Po‘opa‘a-Adaro certainly can swing the bat. He stayed in the game, moving to shortstop when Ty Yukumoto took his turn on the mound. He led the Mules with a 2-for-4 day at the plate, driving in a run. Yukumoto, just a freshman, went 3 1/3 innings and allowed just one run on two hits. He didn’t record a strikeout and walked one.
Mililani relievers Dane Little and Joshua Reis were less consistent than Yukumoto, but it’s the game action that matters for deep teams early in the season.
“For us to be successful, we need all 30 guys to contribute,” Hirayama said. “Getting guys in early will help us down the road.”
Veterans like Ancheta and Noah Domogsac, who went 4-for-4 with a double and three runs scored, make key contributions thanks to their experience.
“We’ve got to keep the energy alive,” Ancheta said. “It all starts in the dugout.”
Domogsac’s evolution as a hitter has been noticed.
“Noah has been disciplined, going up the middle and the other way,” Hirayama said. “He used to pull, pull, pull.”
For both the Mules and Trojans, it’s all about being ready when the time comes to step up.
“That’s our message,” Omalza said. “Next man up. It’s an opportunity, not a challenge.”
So sorry wrong facts on Domogsac, he went 1 for 3, please lets give kids the credit where credit is deserved.
OMG on Sally Bob.
I could see if it was shedding a negative light on the kid but, geez.
Are you Ancheta’s mom? Dont want to share the stage?
Or are you Domagasc’s mom? If so, I applaud you. lol.
Stats are stats and there’s a huge difference between a player going 4 for 4 and 1 for 3. You have to be clueless about baseball to make that kind of mistake in scoring. Either this article is way off or Sally Robert got the wrong info.
I hear that. But that last part seemed personal, which was my point.
“please lets give kids the credit where credit is deserved”
But, thats just my take on the comment.
Btw, how much does stats play into making a starting lineup?
^^^ Thats a general question with too many variables to answer. As examples of general answers to the question … if my last (9th) batter in the lineup goes 4 for 4 two games in a row, it would make a lot of sense to move him higher up in the lineup the next game. Likewise, if two players are platooning at one position and one guy goes 4 for 4 over two games and the other guy goes 0 for 4, it might be time to give the first guy the job.
Like I said, lots of other variables, including defense, attitude, versatility. There is no way to answer the question with a simple answer.
I’m actually curious now to find out which stat from the game is correct, the 4 for 4 or the 1 for 3. Anybody out there know?
According to Game Changer App- Domogsac is 1 for 3. Sad that the Leilehua Boys weren’t at full line up. Well hope they learned from their mistake.
Mahalo Falcon.
What if 4-4 has a bad attitude and 0-4 is a leader and a positive attitude? And your headed into playoffs?
Noah Domogsac, Mililani
1st inning: single to left, scored.
2nd inning: infield single.
4th inning: infield single, scored.
6th inning: double to center, scored.
Just for the record, high school scoring is a bit more lenient than MLB when it comes to infield hits. Scoring errors as if this was pro baseball is too much at the prep level. And yes, I’m not afraid to confer with other people about gray-area plays. One of these plays, I actually conferred with a former Leilehua coach who happened to be in attendance. His judgment: hit. He agreed with me and vice-versa.
After 28 years, I think I’m fair about these situations. Not perfect, but fair as I can be.
What you saw as hits are debatable, but JR Suehisa pinch hit for Domogsac in the 6th inning and hit the double. That is not debatable. And yes I was at the game.
^^^ Thanks on the clarification For the record. Awesome to actually get to the truth. As I mentioned earlier the difference between 4 for 4 and 1 for 3 is huge if you are a baseball purist.