Hanapepe jumps into AJA baseball first place

LIHU’E — Hanapepe took over sole possession of first place in the Kaua’i

Americans of Japanese Ancestry Baseball League by beating Kalaheo 9-6 last

Sunday at Vidinha Stadium.

It was Kalaheo’s first loss of the year.

In

another game last Sunday, Lihu’e edged Kapa’a 6-3.

The top three teams form

a tight-knit group — Hanapepe at 4-1, Kalaheo at 3-1-1 and Lihu’e at

3-2.

Hanapepe 9, Kalaheo 6

Scott Yamase rapped a triple and two

singles, and he drove in four runs for Hanapepe.

Other big offensive

contributors were Kelly Robinson with a double, two singles and two RBI,

Wendall Nonaka with a double and two singles, Vince Nitta with a triple, Dean

Nonaka with two sacrifices, and Len Nitta with two hits.

For Kalaheo, Liko

Pereira smacked two doubles and a single, while Troy Kaneshiro doubled and

singled twice.

Duane Miyasato helped out in a losing cause with three hits.

Other big Kalaheo hitters were Kalani Salazar with a double and Jason Koga with

a double and a single.

Robinson, in relief of Wendall Nonaka, was the

winning pitcher. Pereira took the loss.

Hanapepe led 5-2 after four

innings, but Kalaheo came back to take a 6-5 edge after five

innings.

Hanapepe rallied four a run in the seventh and three more in the

eighth for the victory.

Lihu’e 6, Kapa’a 3

Dave Bukoski kept up his hot

bat by slamming a two-run triple for Lihu’e.

Also helping out offensively

in the victory were Mike Cardinez with an RBI hit and Shane Sadamitsu with a

triple and three runs scored.

Kapa’a’s Allen Mundon clobbered a two-run

home run onto the highway, while pinch-hitter Jay Gatiuan socked a single and

drove in a run.

Barry Kawamura, the Lihu’e starter, was the winning

pitcher. He got relief help from Cardinez.

Owen Koishigawa, who was

relieved by Mundon, was sacked with the loss.

Next Games

The

league shifts to Hanapepe Stadium this Sunday. Makaweli plays Hanapepe at 10

a.m. in the opener, and Kapa’a challenged Kalaheo at 1 p.m.