KAPA’A — The rain came down in sheets. In fact, it was more like double-paned, bullet-proof glass, and it whipped through the infield with enough force that the girls on the field had to guard their faces with their gloves.
KAPA’A — The rain came down in sheets. In fact, it was more like
double-paned, bullet-proof glass, and it whipped through the infield with
enough force that the girls on the field had to guard their faces with their
gloves.
Conditions were not exactly ripe for softball. But that didn’t stop
defending Kaua’i Interscholastic Federation champion Waimea from picking up a
6-1 season-open victory over Kapa’a Wednesday evening.
“Yeah, how do you
like those [conditions],” Waimea coach Pat Baniaga said. “What a way to open
the season.”
Though the coach spoke in sarcasm, his sentiments hit home. It
was quite a way to open.
Calling on the experience earned last year,
during Waimea’s run through the state tournament, Menehunes’ pitcher Albette
Nawai tossed a one-hitter. She also displayed an ability to react quickly,
fielding sharply hit balls on more than one occasion.
“She pitched a nice
game,” Baniaga said. “There’s room for her to improve, but that’s okay, because
she’s just a junior.”
But a senior was the Menehunes’ spark at the
plate.
Center fielder Robyn Hoopii-Manuel ended the contest 3-for-4 with
three RBI. She brought home a run with a double in the first, singled in the
sixth and drove in two runners with a single to center in the
seventh.
“Robyn’s a senior, and she’s starting to take the lead for us,”
Baniaga said. “That’s what we need. She’s on her way.”
As are the Menehunes
as a team.
Coming off a 10-1 performance last season, Waimea passed the
first round of the state playoffs before losing 9-2 to top-ranked Iolani. The
team has been focusing since.
“It’s good to get this one out of the way,”
Baniaga said. “I was as nervous as the girls tonight. Needless to say, this was
a good win for us.”
Waimea ended with six runs on six hits and committed
one error. It left seven runners on base. Kapa’a finished with one run on one
hit and committed two errors. Five Warriors were stranded.
Though she
picked up the loss, Kapa’a pitcher Tiana Loranio fired a solid game. Untimely
errors coupled with timely Waimea hitting proved too much for the
Warriors.
In the top of the first, Waimea scored initially on a Bridget
Louis sacrifice fly. Hoopii-Manuel’s double brought home the second.
The
weather cleared a bit, and solid pitching prevailed until the bottom of the
fifth. Kapa’a got its only run when Jackie Alapai hit a sacrifice grounder to
bring home Shayna Carvalho.
The Menehunes then scored in their half of the
sixth on a Warriors’ error, and opened things up in the bottom of the seventh.
Hoopii-Manuel drove home two runs, and Maka Keamoai singled in the
other.
Waimea won’t play again until December 20, when it hosts Kaua’i at
Waimea Canyon Park. Kapa’a travels to Kaua’i Saturday, Dec. 16 for a noon
doubleheader.
Staff photos by dennis fujimoto
waimea’s ashley Mier
slides safely into home to record the first run of the KIF softball season
Wednesday in Kapa’a. The Menehunes won 6-1.
