KAPAA — The Kapaa High School softball team kept the fire going in the Kauai Interscholastic Federation softball season with a 9-3 win over Waimea High School on Wednesday.
A Waimea win would have clinched the KIF title for the Menehune, sending Kapaa, the No. 2 finisher in the season, to a play-in game against the Maui Interscholastic Federation runner-up finisher for the final berth in the 2018 Datahouse Softball Championships – Division II state tournament that will contest on Oahu on May 8-11.
The Warrior wahine changed all that when its pitching staff of Taelyn Dakamas and Tia Takasaki held the Menehune to just four hits at at the Kapaa High School softball field.
Waimea got on the boards first on a two-run double from Kieren Henderson with two outs in the third inning to score Cerriah Perreira, who got first base on a walk, and Starlynn Ripley, who got first on a fielder’s choice.
Kapaa came back in the home half of the inning to take a 3-2 lead when Tiani Kaui singled to cross Kendra Kupihea, who got aboard on a double. Earlier, Kapaa knotted the game after Takasaki, who was hit by a pitch, and Leipua Kaui,
who got first on an RBI single that scored Takasaki, scored as well.
The Menehune answered in the fourth to knot the contest, 3-3, when Makeyah Wisneski whacked into a triple and scored on a Jenessa Freitas single.
With two outs in the home half of the inning, Kapaa surged ahead for a 6-3 lead and never looked back.
Takasaki singled and scored on a Leipua Kaui RBI double. Kupihea drove the tie-breaker home on a two-RBI single, scoring Leipua Kaui and Shanayah Marshall, who drew first on a single.
Dakamas worked the mound for three complete innings, giving up two hits and walking two Menehune batters before
relinquishing the pad to Takasaki following Wisneski’s triple in the fourth frame with no outs. Takasaki allowed two hits while striking out two and walking two. She also hit one batter.
Shandalyn Kuhlman suffered the loss for Waimea, going four complete innings and two batters into the fifth frame before relinquishing the mound to Cheyla Goias-Soares, who then was relieved by Nikayah Oyamot-Taniguchi. Kuhlman allowed six runs on eight hits while striking out one and walking two Warrior hitters. She also hit a batter.
Wisneski topped the Waimea hitting with a triple followed by Henderson with a two-RBI double. Freitas had an RBI single, and Taira Abreu singled.
Leipua Kaui topped the Kapaa hitting with a double and a single with three RBIs. Kupihea doubled and singled and had two RBIs. Tiana Kaui singled with one RBI. Takasaki and Dakamas each singled.
Kapaa next faces Kauai in a doubleheader Saturday starting at 10 a.m. at Isenberg Park in Lihue. Kapaa needs to win both games to force a playoff for the KIF Round 2 and the KIF title. Any loss in the Saturday’s matches will give the KIF title to Waimea.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
Article is unfortunately incorrect. If Kapa`a wins both games against Kaua`i, the Warriors win round 2 and play off against the Menehune (round 1 winners) for the overall league title. If Kapa`a splits with the Raiders, the Warriors and Menehune will have identical round 2 records and have to play off for the round. If the Warriors drop both contests against the Raiders, Waimea takes the title by virtue of winning both rounds.