WAIPAHU — The West Oahu CaneFires hit for the cycle in a four-run first inning in a 12-3 win against the North Shore Honu last night in the season opener of Hawaii Winter Baseball at Hans L'Orange Park.

A crowd of 898 watched the Little League World Series champion Waipi'o team honored before the game and then watched first baseman Miles Durham drive in five runs, including a three-run homer that capped the four-run first. He also had an RBI single and RBI double for the CaneFires.

"It felt real good," Durham said. "I was just trying to get a ball to drive, got it and I put a good swing on it."

The first six batters for the CaneFires reached safely in the bottom of the first against Honu starter Jason Godin (0-1). Greg Burns led off with a triple to left-center and scored on James Skelton's bloop single to right that fell between second baseman Kurt Mertins and right fielder Kenji Sato. But on the play, Skelton was caught retreating back to first after a wide turn.

Caleb Gindl followed with a double down the third base line and Tyler Henson walked. Durham then drilled Godin's first offering — a fastball — over the center field fence, more than 400 feet away, to complete the cycle.

The CaneFires tagged Honu pitching for 13 hits, but only Durham had a multiple-hit game. But manager Mike Guerrero was pleased with the overall effort.

"It was a blessing (Durham) swung the bat," Guerrero said. "Actually, I thought everyone swung the bat pretty well."

Henson, who batted clean-up in front of Durham, scored four runs, reaching three times on walks, once by an error and on a triple.

The CaneFires also played well defensively. Catcher Skelton threw out Corey Brown trying to steal from both knees after handling a low pitch in the third inning. Third baseman Henson made a nice leaping catch of a liner by Ryan Kalish in the fourth inning.

West Oahu also had a four-run seventh to seal the game. In that inning, the CaneFires were a homer short of cycling again. Henson tripled and scored on Durham's double. Pinch hitter Mark Hallberg followed with an RBI single.

"It was a pretty good ballgame for us," Guerrero said. "But it's just one game. Let's keep it going and see what happens."

Mike Ramlow (1-0), the second pitcher for the CaneFires, was credited with the win by tossing two scoreless innings, allowing a hit and a walk with two strikeouts. The most impressive of the six pitchers used by the CaneFires was Andrew Hess, who struck out five in two scoreless innings.

Jason Castro and Sato led the Honu with two hits apiece.

The series continues at 1 p.m. today at Hans L'Orange Park.

NOTES

Paliku Winchester, who is battling lymphoma and was the source of inspiration for Waipi'o Little League players, threw out the ceremonial first pitch. Mayor Mufi Hannemann and Councilman Nestor Garcia took part in the pregame ceremonies.

NORTH SHORE (1-0) 200 010 000— 3 7 4

WEST OAHU (0-1) 401 012 40X—12 13 1

Jason Godin, Shawn Nottingham (3), Yasutaka Hattori (4), Matt Meyer (6), Ben Swaggerty (7), Sam Demel (8) and Jason Castro, Adam Davis. Tim Bascom, Mike Ramlow (3), Eric Krebs (5), Andrew Hess (6), Chris Cody (8), Daiki Kiyohara (9) and James Skelton, Christ Hatcher. W — Ramlow (1-0). L — Godin (0-1).

Leading hitters — North Shore: Kenji Sato 2-5; Castro 2-3. West Oahu: Miles Durham 3-5, double, homer, 5 RBIs; Caleb Gindl double; Greg Burns triple, 2 RBIs; Tyler Henson triple.

Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8042.

HONOLULU SHARKS 8, WAIKIKI BEACHBOYS 4

Ruben Tejada singled, tripled and drove in three runs, Eric Eiland had two hits and two RBIs, and the Sharks scored eight runs in the first three innings to beat the BeachBoys at Les Murakami Stadium.

Josh Stinson worked the first three innings, allowing two runs on two hits to earn the victory for the Sharks. Junior Guerra, Roy Merritt and Blake King each pitched two innings to complete the five-hitter.

HONOLULU (1-0) 314 000 000—8 9 1

WAIKIKI (0-1) 002 020 000—4 5 0

Josh Stinson, Junior Guerra (4), Roy Merritt (6), Blake King (8) and Jordan Abruzzo. Andrew Brackman, Javier Guerra (3), Steven Edlefsen (5), Robert Harmon (7), Jeremy Papelbon (9) and Buster Posey. W — Stinson (1-0). L — Brackman (0-1).

Leading hitters — Honolulu: Ruben Tejada 2-5, triple, 3 RBIs; Eric Eiland 2-4, 2 RBIs; Greg Veloz double; Jim Rapoport double. Waikiki: Marquez Smith 2 RBIs; Yuji Onizaki 2-4, triple.