Red Raiders fall to Kailua boys

Senior Rapozo tries his best to keep team within reach

WAIPAHU — The post-game question came as no surprise to Kaua’i head coach Kenneth Mizuo. His facial expression said he’d asked it of himself a time or two already.

“Do you think you left Rodrigues in one inning too long tonight?” was the question. The response was swift.

“Mark has carried us this season and during his career,” Mizuo said. “I tend to feel like you should give a guy like that every chance in the world.”

The Red Raiders lost 7-5 to Oahu Interscholastic Federation champion Kailua Friday night in the quarterfinal round of the 2001 Wally Yonamine Foundation State Baseball Championship. But convictions like Mizuo’s, and Kauai’s unwillingness to roll over when the situation looked grim made the faltering easier to stomach.

“I’m proud of my teammates,” senior Levi Rapozo said. “We didn’t give up. We fought to the end and almost came back. It would have been sweet to do so.”

Rapozo was responsible for keeping the Raiders (6-2) within reach.

After striking out one Surfrider in the top of the sixth, Rodrigues gave up — in succession — three singles and a double. Included were RBI from Kailua’s Jay Kekaula and Jarid Kawamoto. Then came a walk to Kamaile Santos to load the bases and, finally, a base-on-balls RBI yielded to the Surfriders number nine hitter Derek Yonamine.

That run put Kaua’i behind 6-2, and Mizuo was left with little choice.

Rapozo was inserted as the pitcher and retired the next two Surfriders. Rodrigues (3-1) was charged with the loss, allowing 10 hits, striking out one and walking five in five-and-one-third innings. Kailua’s Kamaile Santos got credit for the complete-game victory.

“Mark had good stuff and was throwing the ball hard tonight,” Mizuo said. “But he couldn’t find his change up. He kept trying to throw it but left it up in the strike zone.”

Kaua’i was unable to generate any offense in the bottom of the sixth. Meanwhile, Kailua put a crucial insurance run on the board in its half of the seventh.

“I thought we hit the ball pretty well tonight,” said Surfriders coach Corey Ishigo, whose team banged 12 hits to Kauai’s six. “But we knew Kaua’i wouldn’t give up. They are a bunch of scrappers.”

Rapozo got the Red Raiders going with a single in the bottom of the seventh. Casey Oketani, already with a RBI in the second inning, struck out. Santos then issued a walk, his first of the night, to Rodney Baptiste and number nine hitter Alec Reichle reached on an error that allowed Rapozo to score. Two batters later KIF batting champion stroked a two-run double to center, and Kaua’i was within 7-5.

“I started to get that feeling in my stomach like we had a chance. We are a team that likes to come back,” Mizuo said.

As senior captain Kwinton Estacio stood in the box, the coach said he couldn’t have picked a better guy to have in that position.

Estacio fought through five pitches before taking strike three.

It was Santos’ second complete-game victory in a week. He struck out 11 in Monday’s OIA championship game against Moanaluna. Friday he cut down just three Red Raiders.

“He didn’t have his best stuff tonight,” Ishigo said. “But he’s a warrior and he just finds a way to get it done, just like this team.”

Kaua’i got to Santos early. In the bottom of the second, Oketani wrapped a single to right scoring Allaric Villatora. Kailua scored two in the third to take the lead. Rodrigues then tied the game with a solo home run to right field. The Surfriders took the lead in the fifth and did not look back.

“It was really a privilege to play in the state tournament,” Rapozo said. “It was the first time we’ve played under the lights, so that had an impact, but I thought we played really well. Kailua was just able to get more hits than us.”

Mizuo concurred.

“I’m really proud of these guys,” the coach said. “I think eight to 10 hits would have give us a better chance to win, but I’m glad we got to this point.”