Errors cost Kaua’i home opener

Kaua’i’s eight errors were a stark contrast to Waimea’s one, and ultimately, this factor is what lifted the Menehunes to a 5-2 win over the Red Raiders last night at Isenberg Park.

But that’s not to say the Red Raiders didn’t play good “D” throughout. In fact, Kaua’i held Waimea scoreless in the first four innings-SS Tyrene Kaluahine caught a beam of a line drive from Waimea’s SS Jamie “Tia” Koerte and 2B Brandi Texeira caught a pretty runner at the top of the second.

But the Red Raider defensive front began to fall in the fifth, mainly due to costly infield errors.

An error following a Shenelle DePeralta bunt sent the Menehune runner to first. But what should have turned into a routine 5-3 play led to a second error in the outfield, and DePeralta rounded the bases for Waimea’s first run.

Koerte’s RBI single would send Waimea’s Melissa Moreno home and give the Menehunes a 2-0 lead in the fifth.

Another Red Raider infield error in the sixth gave the Menehune’s LF Lynette Perriera, who singled earlier, a chance to score. The lead grew to 3-0 going into the bottom of the sixth.

Kaua’i’s offense picked up in thebottom of the sixth, after Red Raider Sarah Yoshikawa smacked a line drive to center for a single. Kaluahine would then single on a bunt, and only moments later, Yoshikawa would steal third. This set up an RBI double for Starlene Kelekoma, who sent both Yoshikawa and Kaluahine home and put Kauai on the board 3-2 after six.

Kaua’i’s defensive woes would re-surface in the seventh. Two more Menehune runners (Sherri Guaber and Ashley Nonaka) reached base on both an infield and an outfield error. This would lead to an Erin Castillo RBI, which brought Bridget Louis home to make it 4-2. Moments later, Waimea’s Moreno popped up a sac-fly to right-center, which waved the checkered flag to Koerte for the final run of the game.