Rookies back in driver’s seat

WAILUA—A win and a loss at Saturday’s senior softball games put the Rookies

back in the driver’s seat of the Kaua`i Senior Centers’ softball league’s

second round as the Rookies chalked up a 19-7 win over the K-Makules, and the

Lihu`e A’s issued West Kaua`i a 10-5 loss at the Wailua Field.

Archie

Fontanilla was the man for the Rookies as, in addition to doing pitching

duties, Fontanilla belted two home runs behind the plate.

Nellie Mendonca

and Doric Remata each added a homer apiece for the Rookies with Wally Sonoda

and Hank Nishikawa chipping in with three hits apiece in the win.

Sonny

Hoopii and John Taboniar were the only two hitters from K-Makules that were

able to get hits off Fontanilla as Hoopii went 3-for-3 behind the plate while

Taboniar pegged a pair of hits.

Buster Matsumura held the big bats of West

Kaua`i to just 10 hits as the Lihu`e A’s went on to wrap up a 10-5

win.

Frank Bukoski suffered the loss as Lihu`e was able to get 17 hits off

the pitcher with Chic Cacabelas whacking a homer in his 3-hit stint behind the

plate.

Tomo Hiranaka and Glen Akina chalked up three hits apiece, and

Buster Matsumura ended the day with a pair of hits in the Lihu`e win.

Boni

Garma was the only West Kauaian who was able to pair hits in the loss.

The

day’s opening game had East Kaua`i’s Ronnie Holt throwing a 6-hitter as East

Kaua`i stopped Kawaihau 17-1.

Ed Bales led the bats against losing pitcher

Teddy Daligdig by banging a 2-run homer on 3 hits. Sonny Laguguen and John

Garcia also ended the day with 3 hits apiece.

Joe Pendergest was able to

pair hits off of Holt for Kawaihau.

Lihu`e A’s’ pitcher Tomo Hiranaka led

off the seventh inning with a homerun to break open a pitchers’ duel as the A’s

went on to squeak past Kawaihau 2-1 in the make-up game that followed the third

scheduled game.

Hiranaka ended the day giving up 1 run on 3 hits to

Kawaihau with Tets Tamashiro suffering the loss, allowing 2 runs on 6 hits in

the outing.

With the Rookies (6-1) in the driver’s seat in second round

standings, the Lihu`e A’s and West Kaua`i are tied at second with 5-2 records

followed by East Kaua`i (4-3), K-Makules (1-6), and Kawaihau

(0-7).

Saturday’s games move to Isenberg Field in Lihu`e with the Lihu`e

A’s hosting the Rookies in the opener followed by East Kaua`i going up against

West Kaua`i. Kawaihau will meet K-Makules in the day’s finale.

A win by

the Lihu`e A’s and West Kaua`i would result in a three-way tie for the second

round lead. West Kaua`i has already clinched the first round.