HANAPEPE — Despite the massive traffic snafu and the threat of a missile attack, the Kauai Senior Softball League opened the 2018 season at Hanapepe Softball Complex. Under brilliant blue skies, league commissioner Pat Baniaga conducted the opening ceremonies including leading the fans and teams in the national anthem and Hawaii Pono’i.
HANAPEPE — Despite the massive traffic snafu and the threat of a missile attack, the Kauai Senior Softball League opened the 2018 season at Hanapepe Softball Complex. Under brilliant blue skies, league commissioner Pat Baniaga conducted the opening ceremonies including leading the fans and teams in the national anthem and Hawaii Pono’i.
County Council Vice-Chair Ross Kagawa welcomed the crowd and acknowledged the fine work by the Bartek’s team in upgrading the softball facilities with new dugouts and field backstop. The bleachers will be installed shortly with ADA complaint features.
Councilmember JoAnn Yukimura recognized the hard work and accomplishments of the league and presented two council certificates honoring the two gold medal-winning Kauai teams at the Huntsman World Senior Games this past October in St. George, Utah. The Huntsman is the single-largest sporting competition for kupuna in the world. State Reps. Dee Morikawa and James Tokioka participated in the formalities.
After a near two-hour delay, competition got underway with six games on two adjoining fields in triple headers. In the opener of the day Barteks polished off the Hanamaulu Hillsiders, 13-1, on the main diamond. On the west end field, the Rookies showed their strength pounding Kawaihau, 11-4.
In the second games, the defending champion Kaimana Gents got an early challenge from West Kauai and then knocked off the home town team, 17-5, behind big rally innings. Meanwhile across the field, Ohana and the Islanders got locked up in the contest of the day and battled into the last inning with Ohana pulling out a 9-8 victory.
The final contests got underway late in the afternoon. The East Kauai Legends gave all the Ohana Rebels could handle before falling, 15-8, in a tight seven inning contest. And the Lihue A’s wrapped up the day shutting out Kuku’s Aces, 14-0, in five innings.
The games move to Kapaa and Puhi for the second week of play. At Puhi Park, the Rebels will take on the Islanders in the early contest followed by the Rookies up against the Aloha Kia Lihue A’s and then Ohana challenges Kuku’s Aces. Over at the Bryan J. Baptiste Sports Complex, the Kaimana Gents and Kilauea Kruzers start the day. West Kauai will face Kawaihau, and the day will be capped off by the East Kauai Legends squaring off with Barteks. The first pitch at both ball parks is slated for 9 a.m.
