HANAPEPE — After winning the first round playoff game earlier last week, the Red Raiders started the second round 2-0.
Kauai High School’s varsity baseball team won both games of Saturday’s doubleheader against Waimea High School at Hanapepe Stadium.
“We hit at the right time today,” said Kauai head coach Hank Ibia. “We left, I think, 12 guys in the first game on bases. We got to capitalize more on that if we want to go any further than this. But, yeah, we hit at the right time in certain times. We’re hitting the ball good now, and we pitched well.”
Kauai High (7-2 KIF, 2-0 2nd round, 1-0 playoff) won Saturday’s opening game, 6-4.
The Red Raiders opened with three runs scored in the top of the first inning. With the bases loaded and no outs, junior starting pitcher Jacob Borrero hit two-RBI single past the second baseman. Later on, junior courtesy runner Jake Gushikuma scored on a wild pitch.
With a 4-1 lead in the top of the fifth, Kauai scored two more runs. Red Raiders senior outfielder Blake Probasco crossed home plate on an error. Later on, senior outfielder Ethan Gray hit an RBI single.
Trailing, 6-1, Waimea (1-7 KIF, 0-2 2nd round) scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth to cut the deficit. Menehune second baseman Deiton Otoman and outfielder Levi Snowden each hit RBI singles to plate runs. Later in the inning, senior shortstop Keaka Wisneski scored on a wild pitch.
In the bottom of the seventh with a runner on first and two outs, Red Raiders relief pitcher Christian Manera struck out Menehune freshman catcher Kaanan Ephan to end the contest.
“The first game, we gave up too many outs,” said Waimea head coach Michael Rita. “Again, errors are going to beat you and you have to catch up. Kauai High School’s a great team. It was hard to catch up, but we tried.”
Kauai got six runs on 11 hits, left 12 runners on base and recorded one error. Red Raiders senior third baseman Keoua Sibayan was 2-3 batting with a RBI double, a single and scored one run.
Borrero was the winning pitcher, going five inning and totaling two strikeouts and two walks. Manera recorded a two-inning save.
“We feel good we got the two wins. It was two important wins,” Manera said. “We needed to get this, and the we have Kapaa on Saturday. So, our mindset is getting the first four games, and then we’ll see how the two Wednesday games play out.”
Waimea got four runs on seven hits, left seven runners on and recorded three errors. Menehune first baseman Nalu Lazaro was 2-4 batting with a couple of singles and scored two runs.
Menehune starting pitcher Tysson Unciano took the loss. He faced five batters and allowed three runs before being relieved in the first inning.
Kauai then won the second game, 13-1. The game ended after five innings because of the 10-run mercy rule.
“Our big guys actually hit today. The third, fourth and fifth batter hit today,” Ibia said. “Once we get the guys on base early, we’re going to be OK. … They hit the ball well again today. It’s pretty hard to stop when they start hitting balls like that.”
Already leading, 5-1, after three innings, Kauai scored four runs in the top of the fourth. Gray and senior catcher Skyler Sadora hit back-to-back RBI singles, then Borrero hit a two-RBI double to left field.
The Red Raiders then plated three more runs to extend their lead to double digits. Borrero hit an RBI single to center field and later scored a run on an error in the outfield. Red Raiders junior first baseman Ricky Rego then hit an RBI single to right.
Waimea got its only run in the third inning. Otoman hit an RBI single to right field, and Snowden scored the run from third.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Waimea struck out twice and hit into a groundout to end the game.
“In the second game, our plan was, I thought we could do it with the lineup that we had,” Rita said. “People were hurt. We’re going through injuries and we’re going through sicknesses. We dealt with it. The kids tried, but again, Kauai High School’s a great team.”
Kauai got its 13 runs on 13 hits and left six runners on base. Borrero was 3-4 batting with two doubles, a single and once reached on a fielders choice. He also had four RBIs and scored four runs. Sadora was 3-3 with a double and two singles.
Manera started the second game and recorded the win. In five full innings, he just gave up one run on one hit. He had three strikeouts and two walks.
“I can say I did pretty good, but there’s always room for improvement. I can always get better,” Manera said. “From that one hit, maybe next time I should go with no hits. So, there’s always room for improvement.”
Ibia added on his team’s pitching in both games: “When we pitch well, we can overcome everything else. Even if we score a couple of runs, if we pitch well like that, we should be in the game at all times.”
Waimea got one run on one hit, left two runners on base and recorded three errors. Otoman was 1-2 with the RBI single in the third inning.
Menehune senior starting pitcher Reydan Rull took the loss. He had two strikeouts in 3 1/3 innings.
Waimea will host Kapaa (4-3 KIF, 0-1 playoff) at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday at Hanapepe Stadium.
Kauai will next play at Kapaa High School for a doubleheader on Saturday. The first game is scheduled for 10 a.m.
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Nick Celario, sports writer, can be reached at 245-0437 or ncelario@thegardenisland.com
