WAIP'IO — Yesterday's O'ahu Interscholastic Association baseball showdown between 'Aiea and Leilehua sent a message to all Western Division contenders:

Hold on to your hats. Literally.

Leilehua knocked off the previously unbeaten Na Ali'i, 6-2, at Central O'ahu Regional Park to create a three-way tie for first place with Wai'anae. All three teams are 4-1.

The Mules won despite starting shortstop and No. 3 batter Andrew Ontai being ejected in the second inning for taking off his batting helmet just before entering the dugout after grounding into a double play.

Leilehua led 6-1 at the time, but head coach Mike Kim was concerned about the loss of Ontai, a three-year starter.

"He's our best hitter," Kim said. "I'll admit I was worried, because against a team like 'Aiea, you never have enough runs. But (starting pitcher John) Olley stepped up."

The Mules gave Olley a 6-0 lead in the top of the first inning by sending 10 batters to the plate and cashing in on four hits, two hit batters, a walk and two balks. Sevy Tolentino had a run-scoring single and Casey Yamaguchi an RBI double in the rally.

Tripper Chung slammed a first-pitch fastball over the left field fence for a leadoff home run in the bottom of the first, but Na Ali'i managed only one more run off Olley, who scattered 10 hits and gave up no walks in a complete-game effort.

'Aiea loaded the bases on three singles in the seventh, but Olley got a game-ending grounder to short from Derek Grace, Na Ali'i's No. 3 batter.

"I just tried to keep doing the same thing I was doing all game, and for the past couple months," said Olley, who relied mostly on a fastball and slider. "I just had to bear down for one more out."

Another big out in that inning was the second one, in which Olley got Chung to foul a high popup to catcher Kai Woolley near the backstop with runners on first and second.

"We had our chances, but Leilehua made the plays when they had to and Olley got it done," 'Aiea coach Ryan Kato said. "He did a good job of staying around the plate and he threw strikes. Usually when you're down by that many runs you need help — either walks or errors — to get baserunners so you can have that one big hit. But give them credit, they didn't give that to us."

As for Ontai's ejection, under National Federation of State High School Associations rules, any player on the batting team must be wearing a helmet if he is on the field while the ball is in play. Morris Rios, the OIA's commissioner of umpires, said last night "the ball is alive if no time(out) is called," even between batters after a groundout that leaves the bases empty.

Asked if the umpire can use discretion in such a situation, Rios acknowledged that some umpires choose not to enforce the rule all the time but stressed that it can and should be enforced if a violation occurs.

"It can only be interpreted one way," Rios said. "To be consistent, the umpire shouldn't have to decide when to call it and when not to."

Players who are ejected normally must sit out the next game under OIA rules, but Rios said that rule is for unsportsmanlike conduct and is not applicable in this case, so Ontai is eligible for tomorrow's game at Pearl City.

LEILEHUA (4-1) 600 000 0 — 6 9 1

'AIEA (4-1) 101 000 0 — 2 10 1

John Olley and Kai Woolley; Shane Koga, Cody Aquino (2) and Tripper Chung. W — Olley. L — Koga.

Leading hitters — Leilehua: Del Macanas 2-3; Josh Pastor 2-4; Casey Yamaguchi double, RBI; Woolley double. 'Aiea: Chung 2-4, double, home run; Reid Nakamura 2-3.

PEARL CITY 31, WAIALUA 0

Anthony Sabog batted 5 for 5 with two doubles, five runs and four RBIs, and Rorry Nakayama and Chad Quillopo each had three RBIs for Pearl City, which led 28-0 after three innings. Jason Rasa, Cory Yuh and Scott Muraoka combined on a two-hitter with seven strikeouts.

WAIALUA (0-5) 0 00 00— 0 2 3

PEARL CITY (3-1) (13)96 3X—31 28 0

Bryce Whittaker, Derrick Nacario (2), Keliikoa Vierra (4) and Justin Manglallan. Jason Rasa, Cory Yuh (3), Scott Muraoka (5) and RJ Mitsuda, Anthony Sabog (3). W — Rasa. L — Whittaker.

Leading hitters: Pearl City — Bryant Katakura 2-2, triple, 2 runs; Casey Fujishige 2-2, triple, 2 runs; Rorry Nakayama 3-3, 2 runs, 3 RBIs; Kellen Ushijima 2-2, 2 runs; Dustin KimSeu 2-2, 2 runs; Matt Ko 2-2, 2 runs; Chad Quillopo 2-3, 3 RBIs; Mitsuda 2-5; Kurt Tanabe double, 2 runs; Yuh 2-2, 2 runs; Sabog 5-5, 2 doubles, 5 runs, 4 RBIs.

Reported by Mel Seki

WAI'ANAE 6, WAIPAHU 5

Ande Kuakini batted 2 for 4 with two RBIs for the Seariders, who scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh, aided by two errors.

WAIPAHU (1-3) 001 004 0—5 8 3

WAI'ANAE (5-1) 021 000 3—6 10 1

Tryton Gante and Jake Tabieros. Ande Kuakini, Joshua Telles (6) and Darius Fuller. W — Telles. L — Gante.

Leading hitters: Waipahu — Derek Kiyabu 2-3; Kaimi Haina 3-3, 2 RBIs; Tabieros 2-3. Wai'anae — Barak Holt 2-4; Kuakini 2-4, 2 RBIs; Aaron Tateil 2-2, RBI.

Reported by Kekoa Kaluhiokalani

CAMPBELL 7, NANAKULI 0

Nanakuli forfeited because it didn't have enough players to start the game.

ROOSEVELT 5, MCKINLEY 1

The Rough Riders used one hit — a double by Keoni Manago — three fielder's choice grounders and a sacrifice fly to score four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning for their first win of the season.

MCKINLEY (2-2) 000 010 0—1 6 1

ROOSEVELT (1-3) 001 004 0—5 3 1

Devin Okinaga and Andrew Mitani. David Chow and Shannon Fukata. W — Chow. L — Okinaga.

Leading hitters: McKinley — Okinaga 3-3, RBI. Roosevelt — Jason Higa double, Keoni Manago double.

Reported by Aaron Fujii

CASTLE 18, KALAHEO 3

Royce Diaz struck out eight over six innings and Kyle Kanaeholo batted 2 for 3 with a homer and three RBIs for the Knights.

CASTLE (4-1) 210 710 7—18 15 3

KALAHEO (0-4) 010 020 0— 3 6 8

Royce Diaz, Cody Cabael (7) and Lyle Kitagawa, David Mohika (6). Talon Wemple, Kyle Okumura (4), Paul Schmeding (7) and Doug Cox. W — Diaz. L — Wemple.

Leading hitters: Castle — Kyle Kanaeholo 2-3, homer, 3 RBIs; Kitagawa 2-4. Kalaheo — Cox 2-3; Jordan Hugo 2-3, double.

Reported by JD Cox

ILH

IOLANI 18, SAINT LOUIS 8

Case Miyahira hit a grand slam and Chris Johnson belted a two-run shot in an 11-run second inning for the Raiders. Iolani bought up 16 players in the inning. Travis Nishioka went 5 for 5 for the Raiders.

SAINT LOUIS (2-4) 1 0 2 050— 8 9 1

IOLANI (5-1) 0(11)1 303—18 22 0

Josh Saio, Grant Costa (2), Kamakani Usui (2), Jarron Nakasone (4) and Justin Doane. Kela Marciel, Kelsey Outram (5) and Jarvis Nohara, Ryan Barayuga (5). W — Marciel. L — Costa.

Leading hitters: Saint Louis — Cole Shidaki 2 RBIs; Ryan Sasaki 3 runs; Jason Fukumoto 2-2, 2 runs; Cameron Bayne 2-4; Rick Miyamoto 2-4, 3 RBIs. Iolani — Case Miyahira 2-4, grand slam, 3 runs; Travis Nishioka 5-5, double, 3 runs; Wally Marciel 4-4, 2 RBIs; Chris Johnson 2-2, double, 2-run homer, 3 runs; Reyn Nagamine 2-4, double, 2 RBIs; Brennan Nacario 2-4; Mike Hirokawa 3-4, 2 runs; Jarvis Nohara 2 runs.

Reported by Gail Juan

PUNAHOU 4, PAC-FIVE 3

Bucky Aona singled in the winning run with the bases loaded in the seventh inning for the Buffanblu.

PAC-FIVE (3-3) 200 010 0—3 5 1

PUNAHOU (2-3) 001 200 1—4 5 0

Peter Kirst and Josh Gelson. Carl Graves, Paul Snieder (6) and Zachary Kometani. W — Snieder. L— Kirst.

Leading hitters: Pac-Five — Brennen Young triple; Kirst triple; Ross Yamato 2-4; double; Ronel Trias triple. Punahou — Bucky Aona 2-4, triple.

DAMIEN 8, KAMEHAMEHA 6

T.J. Esclito hit a two-run homer to right-center field in the bottom of the seventh inning to lift the Monarchs over the Warriors.

KAMEHAMEHA (3-4) 320 100 0—6 5 1

DAMIEN (2-3) 131 100 2—8 9 3

Waylen Sing Chow, Chris Pascual (2), Jordan Inafuku (4), John Worthington (7) and Stuart Kam. Robert Cuizon, Oliver Taoy (7) and Kai Higa. W — Taoy. L — Worthington.

Leading hitters: Kamehameha — John Worthington double, 2 RBIs; Aaron Nichols 2 RBIs; Pi'ikea Kitamura 2-3. Damien — T.J. Esclito 2-3, homer, 2 RBIs; Scotty Taleasea 2-3, double, homer, 2 RBIs; Jowyn Alapai 2-3; Travis Derby double.

Reported by Pua Hayashi

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com.