It was a wild weekend all around in the Kauai Senior Softball League. The softball parks in Hanamaulu and Kaumakani were jam-packed with great games and some big hits. The Peter Rayno Softball Park hosted three fantastic games with exciting finishes. On the Westside the Wally Sonoda Softball field put on two very entertaining contests on a gusty windblown day.
It was a wild weekend all around in the Kauai Senior Softball League. The softball parks in Hanamaulu and Kaumakani were jam-packed with great games and some big hits. The Peter Rayno Softball Park hosted three fantastic games with exciting finishes. On the Westside the Wally Sonoda Softball field put on two very entertaining contests on a gusty windblown day.
The Islanders played host for the day at the Rayno Stadium and got caught up in a battle royale with Norman Holt’s East Kauai Legends. Joe Bertucci added a couple of new players to the Islander roster and got an immediate boost to the club. What was not expected was an onslaught of hitting from the Legends. Both teams came out swinging and scoring. The Islanders pounded the ball en route to racking up 14 runs only to fall short. The Legends continued to apply the pressure giving a lesson in hitting to edge the Islanders 15-14 in a classic match-up.
The Hanamaulu Hillsiders and Kuku’s Aces showed no mercy on offense rolling up 32 runs in a slugfest. Everyone’s batting average improved in the non-stop hit-a-thon. Peter Rayno’s crew took care of business and the Hillsiders knocked off Kuku DeCosta’s Aces in a wild encounter 19 to 13.
The third game of the morning featured Dwight Fujii’s Aloha Kia Lihue A’s pitted against the Keonimana Gents. Sia Salausa has had the Gents steamrolling through the competition in the first 18 weeks suffering just one loss so far but the A’s have been a thorn in their side over the past few seasons. This game had all the markings of a championship match-up showcasing talent on both sides of the line-up with power and clutch hitting to go with crafty pitching and a pair of stiff defenses. The Gents scored in bunches and the Lihue A’s kept pace matching blow for blow. The A’s pulled away while the Gents could not keep up down the stretch. Aloha Kia stunned the park pulling off a huge 18 to 13 win over Keonimana handing them just their second loss of the year.
The Wally Sonoda Field in Kaumakani was impeccable under brilliant skies for two of the three scheduled games. The teams were faced with fierce competition and howling gusty trades blowing out to the left field foul pole. The third game of the day was forfeited by Da Kruzers who could not field a team against Ohana. That score goes 7-0 in the records.
The Rookies groomed the diamond early in the morning setting the stage for a crosstown clash with Barteks. Alan Horikawa’s Rookies took the field first in blustery conditions that would play to the advantage of the hitters throughout the game. The Rookies jumped out to an early lead and held on for a few innings until Pat Baniaga could get Barteks on track and their hits started falling in to battle back. They exchanged rallies down to the final inning with the Rookies holding on to a slim lead. Barteks gave it a good run but came up on the wrong end of a 13 to 10 loss. The Rookies’ strong showing snapped their recent skid.
The mid-morning matchup pitted West Kauai against Gary Yate’s Ohana Motors Rebels. Neil Zaslow has continued to build a competitive team after a slow start for West Kauai. Yates, however, had his team toss a defensive blanket on the hot hitting Eleele Ten. The Rebels turned three double plays allowing one run in the second and two in the seventh to limit the Westies to just 3 runs. Ohana Motors scored in all but one inning riding a pair of 2-run home runs by Aaron Garcia to roll to a 9 to 3 win.
The games continue this Saturday with more action at the Wally Sonoda tropical field in Kaumakani and at the Bryan Baptiste Sports Complex Softball Stadium. The Rookies will once again host the three games plus a rain out make-up game in Kaumakani when they open against the resurgent East Kauai Legends. The Ohana Motors Rebels square off with the Keonimana Gents in the middle contest. The regular schedule wraps with the Islanders in town to take on Kuku’s Aces. The Aces will have a double header making up an earlier postponement with Keonimana Gents. The Gents and Aces will have a double header on the day.
In Kapaa Da Kruzers will open the gates for a set of three games starting with their game with Barteks. Ohana will get back into action when they take on Kawaihau. And West Kauai will take the long trip to the Eastside for an encounter with the Hanamaulu Hillsiders. The games start at 9 a.m., 10:15 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. The make-up game between the Gents and Kuku’s Aces at the Wally Sonoda Field will begin shortly after the Islanders – Aces game.
