KAPA’A — For Kaua’i, the rust peeled away painlessly. Thirty-two days after the last competitive high school baseball game on the island, the Red Raiders wanted to prove themselves. They did so Saturday to the tune of a doubleheader sweep
KAPA’A — For Kaua’i, the rust peeled away painlessly.
Thirty-two days after the last competitive high school baseball game on the island, the Red Raiders wanted to prove themselves. They did so Saturday to the tune of a doubleheader sweep of Kapa’a at Ron Martin Field.
The wins, 4-0 in Game 1 and 7-3 in Game 2, secured the Kaua’i Interscholastic Federation first-round crown for Kaua’i (4-1 KIF). In this strike-shortened season, the title is good for a first-round bye in the upcoming round-robin tournament to determine the overall KIF champion.
“It was really good to see us come off the strike like this,” Red Raiders coach Kenneth Mizuo said. “But we’ve got to have our eye on that round-robin tournament. It’s still one game and you’re done.”
Saturday, Mizuo’s pitchers had their eyes on Kapa’a’s batters. The Red Raiders got complete games from Mark Rodrigues and Levi Rapozo. Mizuo said the performances were encouraging.
“Mark pitched really well,” the coach said. “And Levi had a nice outing, though we committed some errors behind him.”
Two Kapa’a wins Saturday would have sealed the KIF championship for the Warriors (2-4 KIF). The Red Raiders’ sweep renders Wednesday’s final regular-season contest between Kaua’i and Waimea meaningless, as far as standings are concerned.
“We’re just going to use Wednesday to try and get better,” Mizuo said. “With the round-robin, anything can happen.”
Game 1
Though not especially overpowering, Rodrigues (2-0 for season) did plenty to shut down the Warriors. He yielded just three hits, struck out six and walked four.
Kapa’a’s Robin Lore (1-2) proved a worthy foe. Outside of the three runs he gave up in the first inning, the Warriors’ number one pitcher maintained control. All four Red Raiders runs were earned. Lore gave up four hits, struck out two and walked five.
Kaua’i jumped on Kapa’a early. Kamanu Grace and Kwinton Estacio drew walks, setting up Rodrigues and Scott Oshima with RBI opportunities. They seized them. Kaua’i also scored on a wild pitch to take a 3-0 lead.
Rodrigues then went to work, finishing the game stronger than he started. The Warriors never seriously threatened.
Game 2
The Red Raiders again jumped out early, scoring a run in the top of the first when Rodrigues singled home Grace.
Pitching then sped the contest along until the fourth, when a series of Kapa’a errors put Oshima in position to score. Rapozo brought him home.
The bottom of the fourth was Kapa’a’s to have. Two errors and a Lore single loaded the bases with no outs for Kalani Miyashiro. Rapozo hit the Warriors’ third baseman with a pitch to score one. But that was all the damage Kapa’a could do.
The Warriors did manage to tie the game in their half of the sixth. Singles from Royce Rapozo and Lore set up Miyashiro for a two-run basehit.
But the Red Raiders sent their game into another gear in the top of the seventh. On three hits, including a two-run single from Oshima, Kaua’i put Kapa’a away.
