KAPAA – With Waimea clinching the KIF prep baseball second round title last Wednesday, the weekend double-header between the Kapa’a Warriors and Kaua’i Red Raiders was supposed to be somewhat “inconsequential.” Don’t tell that to the coaches and players of
KAPAA – With Waimea clinching the KIF prep baseball second round title last Wednesday, the weekend double-header between the Kapa’a Warriors and Kaua’i Red Raiders was supposed to be somewhat “inconsequential.”
Don’t tell that to the coaches and players of both squads who battled through four-and-a half hours of competitive action at Ron Martin Field.
The Warriors pulled out the sweep with 8-2 and 4-3 (in 8 innings) victories to collect their 6th and 7th wins of the season and improve to 3-2 in second round play.
GAME 1
– Certainly don’t mention the word to Kyle Neuberger, who picked up his league-leading 5th victory in a complete game, 4-hit performance. The big right-hander limited the Raiders to only 2 runs (1 earned) while striking out 4 batters.
Kapa’a got to Raider starter Jake Oketani early without the benefit of a base hit. Matt Isoda reached safely on a one-out fielding error in the home half of the first and moved into scoring position with a theft of second base. An out later, Isoda raced in with the games first run as Neubergers line drive opportunity was dropped at the hot corner.
The Warriors came back with three additional runs in the next frame as lead-off Dustin Mundon was plunked, stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error. Rayton Bonilla started a torrid hitting day with an RBI-single to center to drive in Mundon for a 2-0 advantage. Designated hitter Tyler Wakuta lofted an 0-1 delivery into the Mailihuna hill pine trees for a four-run Warrior cushion.
Kapa’a parlayed 5 third-inning base hits (capped by a Bonilla ground rule double) and a pair of Kauai fielding errors into four more runs to go ahead 8-0 and chase the hard-luck Oketani from the hill.
Oketani (aboard on a one-hop fourth-inning double to the left field fence) came around for the Raiders first score on a Warrior fielding error as the relay on Kekoa Crowells grounder was dropped.
Another followed in the sixth as Alec Reichle singled through the right side and was replaced by Alaric Villatora on the base paths. Villatora easily stole second, advanced to third on a ground out and scored on a Kekoa Crowell grounder to the right side.
Kapa’a banged out ten hits with bottom-of-the-order batter Rayton Bonilla enjoying a 3-4 contest (double, 2 singles, 2 RBIs, 2 runs scored) to lead the way. Third baseman J.J. Ancheta paired hits for the Warriors while Mundon and Isoda also scored twice.
Jake Oketani rapped a pair of hits (double, single) to pace the Kauai offense but got tagged with his third pitching loss of the season. Reichle excelled in relief to shut out the east-siders on four innings of three-hit, six-strikeout ball.
R H E
Kauai 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 – 2 4 7
Kapaa 1 3 4 0 0 0 X – 8 10 1
GAME 2
This contest settled into a gripping pitchers duel between Raider starter Kekoa Crowell and Kapaa lefty Kai Lopez.
The Warriors again got on the board early with a first-inning bases-loaded walk to Kyle Neuberger that allowed Tyler Wakuta to jog in from third.
Kaua’i answered in the next frame as Garen Itamura led off with a walk, moved to second on a Gabriel Rebb sac bunt, and slid in safely just under the relay tag on Crowell’s chopped single to left.
The Raiders went ahead in the fourth as Rodney Baptiste drew a leadoff walk, raced to third on an errant pick-off throw and scored easily on Crowell’s second RBI-single of the game.
In addition to his hitting heroics, Crowell also enjoyed his best outing of the season on the hill. Utilizing a real estate agents favorite mantra (location, location, location), Crowell kept Warrior hitters off-balance for most of the contest and picked up his 11th strikeout in the bottom of the sixth. Kapa’a was denied in the frame as a perfect Higashi-Baptiste-Casey Oketani relay nabbed courtesy runner Clesson Hiranaka at the plate as he attempted to score from second on a Bonilla single to left.
In the seventh, Kelsey Furuikes sac fly plated Rebb (who singled and advanced to third on a pair of Warrior fielding mistakes) for a 3-1 Raider advantage.
Kapa’a tied the contest in the home half as Isoda drew a two-out walk and advanced a bag on a wild pitch. Raquel singled to move Isoda to third and raced to second as the ball was temporarily bobbled in the outfield. Kaili Panui, who played the entire twin bill at shortstop, lined a clutch single through the box to drive in Isoda and Raquel and send the contest into extra innings.
Marcus Punzal took over mound duties in the top of the eighth for Kapa’a and limited the Raiders to a one-out single without further damage.
Mundon was unintentionally plunked to open the Warrior half and moved to second on Bonilla’s single through the right side. A throwing error advanced both to third and second respectively and Brian Merkel was hit to fill the bags and bring Reichle in from center field for a second relief stint. Tyler Wakuta’s slow roller to the right side was thrown wide and late to the plate as Mundon slid in with the game-winner.
Despite not figuring in the decision, Warrior starter Lopez pitched effectively (7 innings, 7 hits, 3 runs, 4 walks, 3 strikeouts) and again demonstrated the best pick-off move in the KIF.
For his one-inning effort, Punzal picked up his first victory of the season while Crowell dropped to 0-3 despite an often-dominating performance on the hill.
Panui went 3-3 at the plate (double, 2 singles, 2 RBIs) and Bonilla paired hits (2 singles) to lead the victors. League leader Scott Serizawa continued his torrid hitting ways with a 2-4 day to finish the season unofficially with a .543 batting average (19 hits in 35 at bats) for the Raiders. Crowell also stood out offensively with a pair of singles and 2 RBIs.
R H E
Kauai 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 – 3 8 2
Kapaa 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 – 4 9 4
– The Raiders end their 2002 KIF prep baseball season with an overall record of 3 wins 10 losses while the first round champ Warriors travel to Hanapepe Ball Park on Wednesday, May 8, for the 2:45 p.m. regular season finale against second round title holder Waimea in a possible preview to next Saturdays KIF championship contest.
