Indians win Lihue Mustang title

The Indians used a blistering eight-run third inning to top the Reds 9-3 and win the Lihue Mustang Title Saturday morning at Lihue County Park.

The win follows up their 8-2 victory over the Reds on Thursday, in which they exploded for six runs in the 5th frame, much like they did in the third on Saturday.

But the scoring began in the second inning.

Tommy Moreno singled to right field, stole second and reached third on an Indian sacrifice. Moments later, Moreno would score on a Reds miscue, and the Indians led 1-0 heading into the top of the third inning.

The Reds came out swinging.

Randall Jack roped a left-field single and reached second on a wild pitch. Jessica Iwata then ripped a bomb over the right fielder, which scored Jack and evened the tally at one-apiece. A perfect bunt from Christian Fort scored Iwata, and he would later reach home on a wild pitch to put the Reds up 3-1.

The Indians blew up at the bottom of the third.

Jordan Abigania and Ian Ruiz reached first and second on walks, which set up the defining moment of the game: An inside the ball park homer from Indian slugger Rysan Sakamoto.

Ahead 4-3, Jaexenne Balilea reached first base on balls, then stole both second and third base before she reached home on a Reds error.

In a similar fashion to Balilea, Egan Kouchi reached first on a walk, stole second and third, and then scored on a Moreno slice to left field. Moreno thieved his way to third base and then touched home base on a pitcher’s error.

The Indians were up 7-3 at that point.

Cameron Largusa’s single scored another runner and the Indian’s eighth run.

Ruiz chipped in the final run on a floater to right to score Abigania, and the Reds would never be able to come-back from the six-run deficit.