HANAMAULU — The Kauai Senior Softball League finally got a full schedule on the field of play near the midway point of the season. There was plenty of kupuna action at the Peter Rayno Park in Hanamaulu and the Wally Sonoda Softball Park in Kaumakani.
The Lihue games were originally scheduled for Isenberg Park and moved to help accommodate Kauai Interscholastic Federation softball. The weekend games were to be the final match ups of the first round but with the recent rainouts due to the storms most teams have make-ups remaining.
Dwight Fujii’s Aloha Kia Lihue A’s hosted the day’s games after relocating to Hanamaulu. The first contest paired the A’s with the Islanders. Final score was not reported and is not available.
Kawaihau got tangled up with Frances DeCosta’s Kuku’s Aces in the mid-morning matchup. The East side sluggers put together by Ernie Koerte showed up with too many bats and knocked out the Aces, 18-4.
Norman Holt and the East Kauai Legends had a doubleheader on the day. Their first encounter with Frank Bukoski and Ohana was closer than expected. Both teams had to work for their hits in a narrow contest. Bukoski’s bunch got the lead and ran away with a 7-2 win.
The Legends then squared off with a makeup game against the Aloha Kia Lihue A’s. This game did get in the books and it was a dandy. Holt’s team gave the A’s all they could handle and then some as they rolled up 10 runs. The Lihue A’s young legs ran away with a razor thin 12-10 victory.
Out West, a storm was threatening with the two top teams in the league scheduled to duel it out in front of a capacity crowd. The undefeated Keonimana Gents, skippered by Sia Salausa, were first on the field with Pat Baniaga’s one-loss Rookies at the Wally Sonoda Softball Park in Kaumakani.
The first game of the day put on a brilliant fireworks display with the Rookies’ Jerry Nishihara clobbering two home runs and Nelson Chiba blasting another round-tripper to spark the Rookies offense. After a tense scoreless first inning, the Rookies went to work scoring a run in the second inning and the fourth and posted three-run scores in the third, fifth and sixth, using the long ball en route to a 13-4 win. Tough pitching and tight defense throttled the normally potent hitters of the Gents. Both teams now have a solo loss on the year and are in a virtual tie for the league lead.
The middle match featured the Ohana Rebels and the Hanamaulu Hillsiders. Gary Yate’s Rebels put their foot down in the first inning and powered their way to a 13-1 win over Peter Rayno’s Hillsiders in a five-inning game. The Rebels are the leagues other one loss team.
The day wrapped up with a lively contest between Neil Zaslow’s West Kauai and Da Kruzers. Barry Toy’s squad made the long trip from Kilauea and parts north for their now semi-regular visit to the West side. Da Kruzers got off to a hot start and posted three early runs to stun West Kauai and keep the game close.
Zaslow put the hit sign on and West Kauai started bunching their hits into run scoring innings. Da Kruzers didn’t have the answer for the steady stream of hits and fell 16-4 after six innings.
Rained out games are on tap during the coming open weekend with games at the Bryan J. Baptiste Sports Complex Softball Stadium and back at the Wally Sonoda Park in Kaumakani. This will complete the first round of Kauai Senior Softball.
Kapaa will host four games to complete the first round of play. Da Kruzers will take on the Aloha Kia Lihue A’s in the early game. The Hanamaulu Hillsiders will then face off with the Lihue A’s in the second game to complete an A’s doubleheader. The Keonimana Gents will close out their first round taking on the Islanders. The final game at the park will have the East Kauai Legends up against Kawaihau. The game times are 9 a.m., 10:15 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 12:45 p.m.
In Kaumakani, the two Eleele teams Ohana and West Kauai will be the first to play in a game starting at 10 a.m. The two games at the Wally Sonoda will be capped off with another big showdown with the 10-1 Rookies and the 10-1 Rebels getting down to business in an 11:30 match.
Final score for the Lihue A’s 13 vs Islanders 11.