KAPAA — Both Kapaa and Kauai high schools’ varsity baseball teams finished the first round tied at 4-2 records.
In Saturday’s makeup games, Kapaa defeated Waimea, 4-1, at Kapaa High School, and Waimea defeated Kauai, 13-4, at Vidinha Stadium.
The first round playoff game is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Wednesday at Kapaa High School.
In the first of Saturday’s games, Warriors sophomore shortstop Noa Cardinez hit a two-run home run to left field in the first inning as the Warriors beat the Menehune, 4-1.
Cardinez’s hit also scored senior third baseman Kaenen Lacaden, who reached first base on an error.
In the third inning, Lacaden hit an RBI single to second base to score senior third baseman Ekolu Rivera from third. Rivera hit a triple to left field in the previous at bat.
In the fifth inning, Warriors sophomore outfielder Caden Shimbukuro hit an infield RBI single to plate the team’s fourth run. Junior catcher Ka’imi Malina scored from third.
Waimea (1-5 KIF) got its lone run in the first inning. Menehune junior first baseman Lacin Montemayor hit an RBI single to shortstop to score junior outfielder Noah Bermudez from third.
In the game, Kapaa got its four runs on seven hits, left seven runners on base and recorded two errors. Cardinez was 1-3 with the two-run home run and two strikeouts.
Warriors junior starting pitcher Ka’eo Kamau was the winning pitcher. In six innings, Kamau had seven strikeouts, three walks and four hit batsmen.
Malina relieved Kamau in the top of the seventh inning and recorded the save. He had one strikeout.
Waimea got one run on four hits, left 10 runners on base and recorded two errors. Montemayor was 2-4 with two infield singles and one RBI.
Menehune starter Caleb Martin took the loss. In two-plus innings, he had one hit-by-pitch.
The game was a makeup for a game that was put off on March 14 because of unplayable field conditions due to weather.
In the second game Saturday, Waimea padded its lead with three runs scored in the top of the seventh inning to beat Kauai High,
13-4.
With the bases loaded, Menehune senior shortstop Keaka Wisneski and designated hitter Tysson Unciano each drew a walk to plate runners from third. Also, third baseman Nalu Lazaro scored from third as Montemayor reached first base on an error.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Menehune relief pitcher Reydan Rull threw a lineout, a popout and a strikeout to clinch Waimea its first win of the season.
In total, Waimea got its 13 runs on nine hits, left nine runners on base and recorded two errors. Kaikoa Perreira-Alquiza, who started the game at outfielder and was then moved to third base on Saturday, was 2-2 with an RBI double and a single.
Rull was the winning pitcher. In 3 2/3 innings, Rull had on strikeout.
Kauai had four runs on eight hits, left seven runners on and recorded seven errors. Red Raiders senior catcher Skyler Sadora was 2-4 with a couple of singles, one RBI and one run.
Red Raiders sophomore starting pitcher Dahlus Hood took the loss. He went just 2/3 of the first inning before being relieved and gave up four runs on four hits.
The game concluded a matchup that was postponed during play on March 21. At the time of stoppage, Waimea led Kauai, 10-4, in the bottom of the fifth inning with two outs.
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Nick Celario, sports writer, can be reached at 245-0437 or ncelario@thegardenisland.com.
