No hits, no problem

KAPA‘A — Who needs hits?

That’s what the Kawaihau All-Stars were saying after their 1-0 win over Kane‘ohe Saturday morning in Kawaihau’s opening game of the Little League Majors District Playoffs at New Kapa‘a Town Park.

Despite being no-hit by a combined effort from Andrew Aleki and Zanen Samoa, Kawaihau came out with the victory by mixing patience at the plate with advantageous base-running.

Kainoa Nakamura-Makanani led of the bottom of the sixth inning with a walk, advanced to second and third on wild pitches and came around to score the winning run when Samoa uncorked his third wild pitch of the inning.

With the Kawaihau bats struggling throughout the game, head coach Ken Nagahisa said he told his team to be ready if they got on base.

“As soon as we got on we knew we had to take advantage of the speed we have on the team,” Nagahisa said. “Good, aggressive base-running is a big advantage. We were lucky to get one man on and from there work it.”

While the offense was able to produce when it was needed the most, Kawaihau pitcher Chayse Basuel got them there.

The 11-year-old starting pitcher went the distance for Kawaihau, limiting Kane‘ohe — a team that scored 12 runs in its Friday win over Kahalu‘u — to three hits while striking out six batters.

“It was a terrific job by Chayse Basuel today,” Nagahisa said. “We got the ground balls when we needed them. We practice defense, defense, defense and it came through.”

Nagahisa said he knew his team would have to play efficient Saturday. He said Kane‘ohe saved their ace for them and knew that runs would be at a premium. Aleki pitched 3.2 innings and racked up eight strikeouts.

“We knew they were going to be tough. It turned into a pitcher’s duel,” he said. “I didn’t think it would come down to the last inning.”

With the win, Kawaihau advances to the quarterfinals of the winner’s bracket and will face Kailua today at 1 p.m.