KAPA’A — What a way to pick up your first win. The Kapa’a baseball team has had plenty of close calls through five games this season. Wednesday’s battle with Kaua’i was no different. This time though, the Warriors came up
KAPA’A — What a way to pick up your first win.
The Kapa’a baseball team has had plenty of close calls through five games this season.
Wednesday’s battle with Kaua’i was no different.
This time though, the Warriors came up with the goods and the result gave Waimea the chance to play for the KIF first-round title.
Kapa’a rallied for three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning after trailing 1-0. Kyle Neuberger then came on in the top of the seventh to close the Red Raiders out to preserve a 3-1 KIF win.
With the loss, Kaua’i (4-2 in the KIF) must now play Waimea (4-2 in the KIF) in a playoff game on Saturday at Vidinha Stadium (1 p.m. start) for the first-round championship.
After Kirby Yates sparkled through four innings of shutout baseball, Kaua’i coaches decided to go with ace Alec Reichle to close out Kapa’a (1-5 in the KIF).
The move backfired as the Warriors sent five batters to the plate in the bottom of the fifth and then seven more in the sixth.
Although Reichle escaped damage in the fifth, the Warriors got to him in the later inning.
Frank Rivera, who picked up the win in relief of starter Kaina Ka’auwai, singled to lead off Kapa’a’s rally.
Matt Isoda bunted him over to second and Neuberger launched the first pitch he saw into center field for an RBI double.
Dustin Mundon then singled Neuberger to third. Brian Merkel brought in the go-ahead run with a perfectly placed sacrifice bunt.
The Warriors added an insurance run on Kaua’i’s second fielding error of the game.
The Red Raiders had numerous chances to take an early edge through the first four innings.
However, Kapa’a played solid defense when it counted, twice throwing out Kaua’i base-runners at home plate.
Kaua’i finally broke through in the top of the fifth when Shawn Ogata fought off several tough Ka’auwai pitches before lacing an RBI single to left field.
That lead seemed to hold up for Yates who yielded just a single in four strong innings.
Yates struckout four Kapa’a hitters and seemed to get stronger as he pitched. At one point, the hurler retired nine-straight Warriors’ hitters.
Ka’auwai gave up just three hits in five innings but also walked six batters.
