KAILUA — Kailua High School baseball coach Corey Ishigo feels his team can rally from any deficit.

Yesterday, the Surfriders fell behind 5-0 before pulling off a furious comeback late in the game to beat Kaiser, 9-8, in eight innings in an O'ahu Interscholastic Association Red East game.

"We were able to hit well," Ishigo said. "No amount of runs can put us down. We feel we can put up runs in a hurry."

Jordan Limahai scored the tying run in the seventh inning and drove in the winner in the bottom of the eighth as the Surfriders, ranked fourth in the Advertiser's statewide poll of media and coaches, improved to 5-1.

Kaiser, ranked ninth, is 4-2.

"Kaiser is always a good team," Limahai said. "This was a big win for us."

Limahai's two-out shot to right field scored Keenan Tanaka in the eighth. There were two outs when Tanaka singled to left field and Rob DeMarsh singled to right.

"He's been on the varsity for three years and he's never come through like what he did today," Ishigo said of Limahai.

Down 8-5 to start the seventh, Rob DeMarsh and Limahai each drove in a run to close the deficit to 8-7.

With two outs and Limahai on second, pinch hitter Reyn Matsuki popped the ball into the infield. But the Kaiser shortstop couldn't make the catch, keeping the inning alive.

Jared Iha then grounded to the shortstop, who tried to get the out by stepping on second base. But Matsuki beat the tag and Limahai scored from third to tie the score 8-8.

"We tell our runners to run hard all the time," Ishigo said.

Kaiser assistant coach Vince Bedoya, who is filling in while head coach Peter Ho is away, said his player went with his instinct on the play.

Ryan Kinoshita, who struck out to end the seventh, came back to make a diving catch in center field to end the top of the eighth.

Kailua pitcher Bryson Gauthe threw two innings of relief to earn the win. He allowed one walk, struck out a batter in the seventh and retired all three batters he faced in the eighth.

"We just wanted to pick, pick, pick (at the lead) and hope it comes out," Limahai said.

Bryce Marcouiller's two-run double gave Kaiser a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning. The Cougars then went up 5-0 in the third after Pono Meyer's three-run homer over the center-field fence.

"When you jump on top a team like Kailua, you need as much runs as you can get," Bedoya said.

The Surfriders scored two runs each in the bottom of the third and fifth innings to cut the deficit to 5-4.

In the top of the sixth, Joe Honma drove in two runs and Marcouiller doubled in a run to extend Kaiser's lead to 8-4.

Kailua's Jared Iha doubled in the bottom of the sixth and later scored from third on a balk to make it 8-5.

Reach Stanley Lee at sktlee@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2451.

KAISER (4-2) 203 003 00—8 10 3

KAILUA (5-1) 002 021 31—9 12 3

Kekoa Torres, Shotaro Saito (5) and Bryce Marcouiller. Jared Tamanaha, Bryson Gauthe (7) and Keenan Tanaka. W — Gauthe. L — Saito.

Leading hitters — Kaiser: Marcouiller 3-4, 3 RBIs, 2 doubles, 2 runs; Pono Meyer 2-4, 3-run home run; Joe Honma 2-4, 2 RBIs. Kailua: Jordan Limahai 3-5, 2 RBIs; Tanaka 3-5, 2 RBIs, double, 3 runs; Rob DeMarsh 2-5, 2 RBIs; Kale Sumner 2-5, 2 doubles, 3 runs; Jared Iha RBI, double, 2 runs.

KALANI 5, ROOSEVELT 4

Jake Massye, Troy Kashiwabara and Wataru Noguchi each had two hits and the Falcons (3-3) scored in top of the seventh inning to beat the Rough Riders (2-2).

KALANI (3-3) 022 000 1—5 10 1

ROOSEVELT (3-3) 112 000 0—4 9 2

Dillon Matsuda, Dylan Von Wiegandt (2) and Kiel Odo. Tyler Nitahara, Kelson Okimoto (7) and Erik Ching. W — Von Wiegandt. L — Okimoto.

Leading hitters — Kalani: Jake Massye 2-4, 2 runs; Troy Kashiwabara 2-3; Wataru Noguchi 2-3, double; Jordan Wong double. Roosevelt: Aaron Yamane 3-3, double, 2 RBIs.

Reported by Craig Arakawa

CASTLE 14, MCKINLEY 3

Kainoa Tom went 3 for 3 with a solo homer in a three-run first inning, and Josh Serrano blasted a three-run homer to spark a nine-run third inning as the visiting Knights (4-2) beat the Tigers (0-6) in a game called after five innings because of the mercy rule.

CASTLE (4-2) 309 02—14 15 1

MCKINLEY (0-6) 021 00— 3 5 2

Josh Serrano, Seamus Yoneshige (4) and Koby Agres. Kurtis Kometani, Brandon Maeda (3), Jonathan Ho (3) and Kelsen Ganeku. W — Serano. L — Kometani.

Leading hitters — Castle: Kainoa Tom 3-3, double, solo homer; Serrano 2-3, double, 3-run homer; Bryan Raines 2-3, triple; Marcus Osoia-Stezens double; Tyler Kon double. McKinley: Ho triple.

Reported by Kyle Kurahashi-Takenaka

OIA RED WEST

PEARL CITY 7, MILILANI 0

Kahana Neal scattered nine hits and struck out nine, Bully Casarez had two hits and three RBIs, and Duane Kiyota, Ryno Acosta and Jared Nagai each paired hits to lead the visiting Chargers (5-1) past the Trojans (2-4) in an O'ahu Interscholastic Association Red West game.

PEARL CITY (5-1) 010 300 3—7 12 0

MILILANI (2-4) 000 000 0—0 9 2

Kahana Neal and Carlton Tanabe. Kylen Cadiam, Joey Aquino (5) and Jacob Matsukawa, Kacey Miyasato (5). W — Neal. L — Cadiam.

Leading hitters — Pearl City: Duane Kiyota 2-3; Bryson Nakamura 2 RBIs; Bully Casarez 2-4, 3 RBIs; Bryson Namba double; Ryno Acosta 2-4, triple; Jared Nagai 2-4. Mililani: Dustin Antolin 2-3; Jordan Queja 2-3; Jay Yoshizawa 2-3; Chad Bolibol 2-3; Alan Pearson double.

Reported by Dean Sato

CAMPBELL 4, WAI'ANAE 1

Allyn Oliva-Respicio gave up a run on four hits, Bronson Ellis went 2 for 3 with two RBIs and Kia Kapana singled, doubled and scored two runs, helping the host Sabers (3-3) beat the Seariders (2-4).

WAI'ANAE (2-4) 010 000 0—1 4 2

CAMPBELL (3-3) 201 001 X—4 9 1

Ben McQuown and Joe Fredricks. Allyn Oliva-Respicio and Cameron Howser. W — Oliva-Respicio. L — McQuown.

Leading hitters — Wai'anae: Aina Kalaula-Neyer 2-3, triple, RBI; Bud Pickering double. Campbell: Kia Kapana 2-3, double, 2 runs; Bronson Ellis 2-3, 2 RBIs; Sebastian Locquiao double.

Reported by Kaci Cole

'AIEA 6, KAPOLEI 3

Keenan Naeole, Kainoa Ahsing-Kaahanui and Kanekoa Asing each had two hits, with Naeole and Ahsing-Kaahanui driving in two runs apiece to lead host Na Ali'i (4-2) over the Hurricanes (2-4).

KAPOLEI (2-4) 110 000 1—3 9 1

'AIEA (4-2) 311 100 X—6 11 2

Kalani Omoto, Michael Sanchez (5) and Michael Filio. Shane Okubo, Keenan Naeole (6), Jarn Iwane (7) and Jacob Arakawa. W — Okubo. L — Omoto.

Leading hitters — Kapolei: Kalani Brackenridge 2-4; Kyle Dela Cruz 2-2; Lyle Santiago 2-3; Cody Kamei 2-3. 'Aiea: Naeole 2-4, double, 2 RBIs; Kainoa Ahsing-Kaahanui 2-3, double, 2 RBIs; Kanekoa Asing 2-3; Ricky Itagaki double.

Reported by Ryan Kato

OIA WHITE

WAIPAHU 10, WAIALUA 4

Tryton Gante scattered five hits and struck out 15 in a complete-game victory, and the host Marauders (4-0-1) used a six-run second inning to beat the Bulldogs (1-4) in an O'ahu Interscholatic Association White game.

WAIALUA (1-4) 002 020 0— 4 5 5

WAIPAHU (4-0-1) 063 010 X—10 8 5

Shane Peiler, Anthony Esteban (2), Bryce Whittaker (3), Kaikala Carralho (6) and Chris Whittaker. Tryton Gante and Ignatius Mackenzie. W — Gante. L — Peiler.

Leading hitters — Waialua: Peiler 2-4, triple, double; AJ Hernandez solo homer. Waipahu: Gante 2-3, triple; Kaimi Haina 2-4; Mackenzie double; Andrew Alejandro triple.

Reported by Milton Takenaka

KALAHEO 26, FARRINGTON 0

Alakai Kaonapu hit two homers, Aaron Fernandez went 4 for 5 and the visiting Mustangs (4-1) scored 13 runs in the third inning in support of Steven Bega and Richard Preza-Haynes, who combined on a five hitter in a game called after five innings due to the mercy rule.

KALAHEO (4-1) 38(13) 20—26 16 0

FARRINGTON (2-2) 00 0 00— 0 5 7

Steven Bega, Richard Preza-Haynes (4) and Lawaika Bator. Lucky Castro, Alan Lumansoc (3) and Wayne Segundo. W — Bega. L — Castro.

Leading hitters — Kalaheo: Alakai Kaonapu 2-6, two homers; Aaron Fernandez 4-5; Haynes 3-6. Farrington: Brandon Buzon 2-2.

Reported by Brandon Baniaga

KAHUKU 17, KAIMUKI 9

Jordan Kamae and Kekoa Hughes each went 4 for 5 with a homer, RJ Van Ness was 3 for 4 with a homer, and Steven Van Ness was 3 for 4 with two doubles, leading the host Red Raiders (2-2) over the Bulldogs (2-3).

KAIMUKI (2-3) 102 024 0— 9 7 8

KAHUKU (2-2) 233 153 X—17 16 2

Eddie Char, Ian Delizo (6) and Delizo, Char (6). RJ Van Ness and Kekoa Hughes. W — Van Ness. L — Char.

Leading hitters — Kaimuki: Delizo 2-2; David Taliauli 2-4, homer; Kohta Nishitani homer. Kahuku: Jordan Kamae 4-5, homer; Hughes 4-5, homer, triple; RJ Van Ness 3-4, homer; Steven Van Ness 3-4, two doubles.

Reported by Steve Van Ness

RADFORD 7, NANAKULI 0

The host Rams (3-1-1) were awarded the victory when the Golden Hawks (0-5) forfeited the game.