LIHUE — The Kauai Senior Softball League turned up lop-sided results in a full day of action. The Isenberg Softball Park saw a tripleheader hosted by the Aloha Kia Lihue A’s. At the same time, Da Kruzers invited teams for three games at the Bryan J. Baptiste Sport Complex Softball Stadium.
The A’s circled their calendars with the date of a matchup with Ohana Motors Rebels. Every time these teams get together, it is a friendly battle between two very talented and evenly matched teams. The Rebels have won the last three games by one run.
This time around, coach Gary Yates had the Rebels out to an early lead, scoring five in the first inning and ran away with the game with a season high mark of 31 hits in a game. Dwight Fujii’s A’s waited until late in the game to get their offense going and by then it was too late to stop a 21-7 defeat.
The Rookies and Kuku’s Aces met up in the middle contest. The Rookies are looking to be in state tournament form and methodically rolled to a 21-2 win. The Aces got their two on a booming two-run home run to right.
The Rookies sprayed the ball across the diamond to run away with the victory. The game ended after five innings after the Rookies built at least a 12-run lead.
Neal Zaslow brought West Kauai to town for a game with the Islanders. One big problem for Joe Bertucci is fielding 10 players, and this week the Islanders were short players once again playing with just three outfielders on a jumbo sized Isenberg outfield.
West Kauai has been attacking the ball in recent weeks and went right to work with the long ball, drilling the outfield gaps and making the most of the defensive disadvantage. West Kauai went for the quick knock out and ended the game early with a decisive 16-1 win.
Da Kruzers and the East Kauai Legends opened the day in Kapaa with fireworks and one of the best games of the day. Norman Holt has the Legends playing up to form and using their wily veteran skills to come up with hits.
Barry Toy is getting some continuity from Da Kruzers at season’s end and they are now putting runs on the scoreboard. While Da Kruzers came up with some clutch hits in posting six runs, the Legends found too many openings that turned into runs. The Legends topped da Kruzers, 17-6.
Pat Baniaga and Barteks crossed the island to take on Ernie Koerte’s Kawaihau squad. Great pitching and solid defense was on display.
Barteks clamped down on the usually potent Kawaihau hitters, holding them to three runs over seven innings. Kawaihau didn’t give up much on their side either, scattering the Bartek hits. But the veteran club bunched enough together to come away with a 9-3 victory.
The east side day wrapped up with Pete Rayno and the Hanamaulu Hillsiders up against the Keonimana Gents. Sia Salausa has the defensive heat turned up with the Gents and they are not allowing any runs lately. At the same time, the lineup is relentless in putting together base hit barrages.
As has been the habit over recent weeks, the Gents made short work of the day and hammered the Hillsiders, 14-1, for the win on their home surface.
The league will have more games this weekend with contests slated for the Wailua Houselots Garden Park and back at the Bryan J. Baptiste Sports Complex in Kapaa. Kawaihau will have the host duties in the Houselots and open the day in a game with Kuku’s Aces. Frank Bukoski and Ohana will be on the road taking on the East Kauai Legends in the mid-morning match, and the last game of the three will pit the Islanders against the Aloha Kia Lihue A’s.
At the Bryan Baptiste Softball Stadium, Da Kruzers will play host for the day again and are set to play red hot West Kauai. The Ohana Motors Rebels square off with the Hanamaulu Hillsiders in the middle game. The games will wrap up with a feature showdown when the Rookies come in to town to take on the Keonimana Gents.
The following weekend will be the final weekend in the Kauai Senior regular season. The big season enders are scheduled for Hanamaulu and out west in Kaumakani. Both parks have three games on the slate. The Islanders and the Gents have a rained out game yet to be made up and that will be played out before the final standings.
The League standings will determine the seeding and bracket assignments for the upcoming Hawaii Senior State Tournament on Maui.
League standings
Ohana Motors Rebels, 21-2
Keonimana Gents, 19-2
Rookies, 17-5
Aloha Kia Lihue A’s, 16-6
West Kauai, 15-7
Barteks, 13-10
Ohana, 11-11
Islanders, 10-11
East Kauai Legends, 8-14
Kawaihau, 7-15
Hanamaulu Hillsiders, 4-18
Da Kruzers, 2-20
Kuku’s Aces, 0-22
