Lihue A’s on top of league standings

TGI Report

It took eight innings, but the Lihue A’s were able to top the Rookies 10-9 Saturday and take a definitive standings lead of the Kaua’i Senior Softball League.

Tied 7-7 after seven innings, the Rookies scored two runs in the top of the eighth inning on a two-run homer by Stan Dela Cruz. The A’s came back with a with a Glenn Akina lead-off blast to climb Lihue to within one. And than Shige Oshiro, with Ismo Yoshishige on base, hit a homer over the left field fence to put Lihue on top. The A’s improve to a perfect 4-0 record; the Rookies fall to 3-1.

Tomo Hiranaka went the distance for his second win; Archi Fontanilla notched his first loss. Dela Cruz, Hank Nishikawa and Mendonca each had home runs for the Rookies.

In the first game played at Eleele Field, West Kaua’i swamped East Kaua’i 12-1 on a sterling first win from pitcher Frank Bukoski. Losing pitcher Walter Silva also notched a good performance – he allowed one hit less than Bukoski – but the three walks and seven errors are what handed East Kaua’i its second loss of the season.

Bukoski paired hits for West Kaua’i; Ronnie Holt got two hits for East Kaua’i.

Kawaihau outscored the K-Makules 15-13 to get their first win in Saturday’s weekend finale at Eleele Field.

Paul Awazu finished every inning to get his first win while Dado Paiste notched his third loss. Don Boro and Steve Fujii each had three hits for Kawaihau; Ernie Domingo hit two homers; Guy Ruiz had a home-run and three hits; Doric Remala had a solo shot and Ben Pescador had three hits for the K-Makules.

This Saturday Senior Softball moves to Isenberg Field. The first match-up, at 9:15 a.m., pits undefeated Lihue against .500 East Kaua’i. The second game is West Kaua’i versus the winless K-Makules, and in the third game, the Rookies will try to rebound from their first defeat against Kawaihau.