KAPAA – The indefatigable Kapa’a Warriors utilized a 6-run third inning and the unflagging arm of starting hurler Kyle Neuberger to hold off a furious Waimea rally to win the 2002 Kauai Interscholastic Federation Prep Baseball Championship by a score
KAPAA – The indefatigable Kapa’a Warriors utilized a 6-run third inning and the unflagging arm of starting hurler Kyle Neuberger to hold off a furious Waimea rally to win the 2002 Kauai Interscholastic Federation Prep Baseball Championship by a score of 7-5 over the Waimea Menehunes Saturday afternoon at Ron Martin Field.
Despite the threat of pending inclement weather, fans of both squads knew that the 2002 KIF baseball title game would be special and came out in droves to witness the exciting conclusion to the high school sporting season. The Kapa’a student parking lot had nary a vacancy and the grass area near the athletic directors office was additionally filled with vehicles.
The public address system blared up-tempo beats as school pep squads did their best to motivate the teams and fans packed both in the stands and sheltered under a plethora of sideline umbrellas.
This game would indeed be special.
The Menehunes immediately jumped out to a 2-0 advantage as Clarence Aki opened the contest with a single to right and moved into scoring position on Michael Ishibashi’s perfect sac bunt. Brandon Ishibashi singled through the right side to plate Aki and Zenon Schonberg entered to run for the Menehune catcher. Schonberg easily stole second and raced in as Leonard Zalopany stroked an RBI-double to the left center field gap.
Kapa’a cut the lead in half when leadoff hitter Tyler Wakuta was unintentionally plunked and was sacrificed in turn by Matt Isoda to second. Kyle Neuberger helped his cause with a sharp double to left just beyond the diving attempt of Shawn Yadao to score Wakuta.
Neuberger matched Waimea starter Buddy Taniguchi pitch-for-pitch as both registered 80+ mph speeds in a scoreless second inning.
Zalopany beat out a two-out single in the top of the third frame and hustled to third when Mark Ruiz deposited a 2-2 offering into right field. Jay Parinas greeted Neuberger with a shot over the mound to drive in Zalopany for a 3-1 Menehune lead.
The bottom half found the Warriors in that perfect zone when almost nothing could go wrong. Tyler Wakuta doubled over the third base bag and Isoda beat out a bunt single to begin the comeback. Isoda stole second but the momentum suffered a temporary setback as Taniguchi picked up his third strikeout. An intentional walk was issued to dangerous Kaili Panui to set up a potential double play opportunity but Brad Wakuta spoiled the strategic move with a check-swing single that found its way through the left side to knock in his twin brother and reload the bags. J.J. Ancheta reached safely as his excellent sac squeeze was fielded cleanly but dropped at first while Isoda scampered homeward to tie the contest at 3-3. Dustin Mundon was hit on Taniguchi’s first delivery to force in Panui and Kapa’a took its first lead of the contest. A wild pitch allowed courtesy runner Clesson Hiranaka (aboard for the Warrior catcher) to score the fifth run and moved Ancheta and Mundon up a bag. A passed ball and Rayton Bonilla’s heads-up sac squeeze brought in the final Warrior runs for a 7-3 advantage.
The fun was just getting started.
Taniguchi settled down to shut out the Warriors the rest of the way while Waimea got a run back in the fourth as Michael Ishibashi beat out a one-out roller to the left side and advanced on a Neuberger wild pitch. A base on balls was followed by a fielding error at second on Correas fielders choice ground ball to cash in Ishibashi for a 7-4 deficit. Neuberger settled down to notch his fifth “K” and Brandon Bonilla ran down a Ruiz fly ball in right with a clutch over-the-shoulder catch to end the threat.
The Menehunes cut the lead to a pair as Michael Ishibashi opened the sixth with another infield single, raced to third on B. Ishibashi’s ground out to the right side, and tallied his second run of the game on Correa’s extra-base shot down the right field line. Neuberger’s seventh and eighth strikeouts snuffed out additional damage.
With the large west-side contingent cheering them on in the final frame, Waimea continued to battle back and the Warriors met them every step of the way. Pinch hitter Olizer Moniz stroked a single to left and was replaced on the bags by Yadao. Neuberger picked up his ninth and final strikeout and got Yadao eliminated on an Aki fielders choice ground out. Aki would reach second however, on a throwing error as Kapa’a looked to complete a game-ending double play. Michael Ishibashi was nipped by a Neuberger offering to put the tying run on and an ensuing walk to Brandon Ishibashi filled the bags for designated hitter Correa.
Drained fans were on their feet and runners in motion as Correa smashed a rocket up the middle only to be denied by the snagging grab of the 6 3″ Neuberger to end the contest in dramatic fashion.
Second round champ Waimea fell just short at 10 wins 5 losses but exhibited a gritty determination all season long in overcoming an 0-3 start. West-side fans and players showed outstanding sportsmanship as they stuck around to congratulate the winners after a lengthy meeting in right field.
The come-from-behind victory (virtually a trademark in KIF action this year) improves the no-quit Warriors season record to 8-6 overall and gives Head Coach Shannon Masada his second league championship and the right to represent the Garden Island in the upcoming Wally Yonamine Foundation Hawaii State Baseball Tournament in Honolulu next week.
Neuberger, who picked up his KIF-leading sixth victory, was initially worried about not having his best stuff at the start. “I was pretty nervous, I gave it my all,” the junior right-hander explained after the victory, “at first, I thought I didnt have my best stuff but as I started throwing, I thought I had enough to win.”
When asked how he felt when Correa’s final line drive came at him, Neuberger laughed, “That was the first time I was happy to see a line drive come my way cause I knew I had it.”
As to his teams ability to execute in the critical third inning the junior replied, “I thought it was amazing that they hit the ball and stayed in there. We knew Waimea would fight all the way.”
Fitting words from a personable young champion who will soon play his first game on the turf surface of Les Murakami Stadium.
