The latest "hottest team" in the O'ahu Interscholastic Association's Eastern Division is Moanalua.

The visiting Na Menehune tightened the race for first place yesterday by holding off previously unbeaten Kaiser, 7-5. Both teams are now 3-1, as are Kailua and Castle. All trail Kalani (4-1) by a half-game.

Moanalua handed Kailua its first loss on Monday.

"I think when we lost to Kalani (on March 25), it was good for us because it brought us back to reality," said Menehune senior Peter Arakawa, a starting shortstop who also earned the save yesterday. "After that, we knew we needed to work even harder."

The hard work paid off against a scrappy Kaiser team that rallied from a 5-0 deficit in the third inning and had the tying run on second base with one out in the bottom of the seventh. Arakawa came in and inherited a 2-0 count with the bases loaded, threw two strikes and then induced a hard-hit double-play grounder to third to end the game.

"I wanted the ball," said Arakawa, who had only eight warmup pitches after moving over from shortstop. "To me, it's just a game, so there's no pressure. But this was a team victory — the whole team got each other's back."

Moanalua jumped to a 5-0 lead in the third inning after five hits and a hit batter. Wade Iwanaga's two-run triple to left was the big hit, following RBI singles by Jay Yoshizawa and Markus Miyashiro. Iwanaga scored the fifth run on Jared Coloma's squeeze bunt.

The Cougars got two runs back in the bottom of the inning, after run-scoring singles by Andy Uehara and Colby Ho. Kaiser cut it to 5-3 in the fifth on Scott Uehara's RBI single to left, but Na Menehune stretched it to 7-3 in the seventh on Lee's two-run double to right.

The Cougars got their first two runners aboard in the seventh, but Arakawa then fielded a sharp, tricky grounder and flipped it to second for the force.

Nanea Baird and Jarryd Maeda followed with run-scoring singles to make it 7-5, and then pinch-hitter Bryce Marcouiller walked to load the bases.

After a 2-0 count to Alex Talavera, Arakawa was summoned.

MOANALUA (3-1) 005 000 2 — 7 12 1

KAISER (3-1) 002 010 2 — 5 9 0

Mike Amorozo, Markus Miyashiro (5), Trevor Bell (7), Peter Arakawa (7) and Wade Iwanaga; Scott Uehara, Toby Inouye (3) and Jarryd Maeda. W —Amorozo. L — Uehara. S — Arakawa.

Leading hitters — Moanalua: Jay Yoshizawa 2-3, double, RBI; Jordan Monico 2-3; Trevan Kawaoka 2-4; Iwanaga triple, 2 RBIs; Kekoa Lee double, 2 RBIs. Kaiser: Nanea Baird 2-3, double, RBI; S. Uehara 2-3, RBI; Andy Uehara 2-4, RBI; Alex Talavera triple.

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvvertiser.com or 535-2456.

kalani 4, roosevelt 2: Joshua Markwith and Darren Takemoto teamed on a four-hitter, and Ridge Carpenter had two hits to lift the Falcons.

ROOSEVELT (0-3) 100 100 0—2 4 0

KALANI (4-1) 001 210 0—4 8 1

Nicholas Wong, Keoni Manago (4), David Chow (4) and Shannon Fukata. Joshua Markwith, Darren Takemoto (6) and Jason Lee. W—Markwith. L—Chow. S—Takemoto.

Leading hitters: Roosevelt—Wong double, RBI; Manago homer. Kalani—Ridge Carpenter 2-3; Takemoto RBI; Lee RBI; Tyler Matsuda double, RBI.

castle 21, kaimukI 2: Barron Meyer and Codey Cabael combined on a two-hitter with 10 strikeouts for the Knights. David Mohika batted 4 for 5, and Lyle Kitagawa had three hits, including two triples, and drove in three runs.

CASTLE (3-1) 135 01(11)—21 14 0

KAIMUKI (0-3) 200 000 — 2 3 13

Barron Meyer, Codey Cabael (4) and Lyle Kitagawa. Daren Muramoto, Akoni Sexton (6) and Chase Nanod. W—Meyer. L— Muramoto.

Leading hitters: Castle—Kyle Kanaeholo 3 runs; Brandon Kon 4 runs; David Mohika 4-5, double, 3 runs; Kitagawa 3-4, 2 triples, 4 RBIs; Cabael 2 RBIs; Pat Kapahu 2-6.

mckinley 33, farrington 1: Winning pitcher Ryan Goto went 5 for 5 with a pair of doubles and two triples to lead the Tigers' 26-hit attack.

FARRINGTON (0-4) 0 0 0 01— 1 3 6

MCKINLEY (2-1) (16)(10)4 3X—33 26 1

Brysn Segundo, Jordan Seui (1), Nohea Bation (3) and Mason Serdenia, Brysn Segundo (1). Ryan Goto, Jason Yoon (4) and Andrew Mitani. W—Goto. L—Segundo.

Leading hitters: McKinley—Devin Okinaga 4-5, 2 doubles; Jefferson Okada 2-3, double; Goto 5-5, 2 triples, 2 doubles; Mitani 2-5, homer; Roger Kraemer 2-3, double; Randy Tuley 2-5, double; Yoon 2-4; Andrew Barroga 3-5; Chaz Leong 3-4, double.

Reported by Jillian Tamaru

KALAHEO-KAHUKU, PPD: The game was postponed and rescheduled for Monday.

OIA WEST

'Aiea 9, Campbell 5: Herbert Chung had three hits and three RBIs, and winner pitcher Derek Grace had two hits and three RBIs as 'Aiea stayed unbeaten.

CAMPBELL (0-3) 200 201 0—5 5 2

'AIEA (4-0) 140 103 X—9 8 4

Blayne Dikito, Channon Coloma (6) and Kendall Hodson. Derek Grace, Randy Castillo (4), Andrew Gouveia (4), Keenan Naeole (5), Anthony Tsui (7) and Herbert Chung. W—Grace. L— Dikito.

Leading hitters: Campbell—Coloma double. 'Aiea—Chung 3-4, double, triple, 3 RBIs; Troy Uyeshiro 2-4; Grace 2-3, 3 RBIs.

Reported by Ryan Kato

Leilehua 11, Mililani 1: Brett Nakasone pitched a five-inning one-hitter and Ehukai Woolley had two hits and two RBIs to lead the Mules.

MILILANI (2-3) 100 00— 1 2 3

LEILEHUA (3-1) 245 0X—11 9 1

Richie Mariano, Kylen Cadiam (3), Bryce Rivera (5) and Blayne Kamahiai. Brett Nakasone and Ehukai Woolley. W—Nakasone. L— Mariano.

Leading hitters: Mililani—Dustin Antolin triple. Leilehua—Josh Pastor 2-4, 2 runs; Woolley 2-2, double, 4 RBIs.

Reported by Mike Kim

wai'anae 25, waialua 0: Darius Fuller tossed a five-inning one-hitter, hit two triples and drove in three runs for the Seariders. Paina Pihana added four hits and Willy Duseigner four RBIs.

WAI'ANAE (4-1) 2(13)4 24—25 24 0

WAIALUA (0-4) 0 0 0 00— 0 1 2

Darius Fuller and R.J. Tacgere-Bailey. Derrick Nacario, Keliikoa Vierra (2), Bryce Whittaker (5) and Justin Manglallan. W—Fuller. L—Nacario.

Leading hitters: Wai'anae—Fuller 2-3, 2 triples, 3 RBIs; Barak Holt 2-3; Ande Kuakini 2-2, double; Willy Duseigner 3-3, 2 doubles, 4 RBIs; Dan McQuown 3-5, double, triple, 2 RBIs; Paina Pihana 4-4, 2 doubles, 2 RBIs.

Reported by Herbert Onizuka

Radford 2, Waipahu 0: Mike Goodman pitched a three-hitter with 10 strikeouts and Matt Tsuneda batted 2 for 3 to carry the Rams.

WAIPAHU (1-1) 000 000 0—0 3 1

RADFORD (2-1) 000 110 X—2 9 3

Alfred Maglangit and Jake Tabieros. Mike Goodman and Chris Strutz. W—Goodman. L— Maglangit.

Leading hitters: Waipahu—Jansen Rios double; Tabieros double. Radford—Goodman double; Matt Tsuneda 2-3.

Reported by James Sunday

Kapolei 19, NAnAkuli 2: Kelvin Lenchanko batted 3 for 3 with two RBIs and the Hurricane pounded out 19 hits.

KAPOLEI (3-2) (12) 52 00—19 19 2

NANAKULI (0-3) 001 01— 2 3 5

Calvin Gipson, Mike Sanchez (5) and Mike Kahalehoe. Ainoa Olivera and Curtis Wright W—Gipson. L— Olivera.

Leading hitters: Kapolei—Jon Santiago 2-2, 2 RBIs; Kelvin Lenchanko 3-3, 2 RBIs; M.Kahalehoe 2-2, 2 RBIs; Francis Kahalehoe 2-2, 2 RBIs. Nanakuli—Olivera 2-3.

Reported by Kimo Kaululaau

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com.