It wasn’t Alec Reichle’s prettiest performance of the season. But it was enough. Reichle, bouyed on by Kaua’i’s early offensive barrage, held off Waimea in a complete-game outing in helping the Red Raiders win the KIF first-round championship 7-5 on
It wasn’t Alec Reichle’s prettiest performance of the season.
But it was enough.
Reichle, bouyed on by Kaua’i’s early offensive barrage, held off Waimea in a complete-game outing in helping the Red Raiders win the KIF first-round championship 7-5 on Saturday at Vidinha Stadium.
After Waimea scored three times in the top of the fourth inning on a couple of Kaua’i fielding errors, the Kaua’i pitcher came back to retire three-straight Menehune batters in the fifth inning.
In the sixth, Waimea had its best chance to get even with Kaua’i as Michael Ishibashi and then Rayson Cacal both reached base. However, Brandon Ishibashi grounded out to end the threat.
In the seventh inning, the Menehune went down in order.
Reichle yielded seven hits with four strikeouts for Kaua’i. The Red Raiders’ made Reichle’s job a little easier with seven early runs in the first and second innings.
Kirby Yates (2-for-3) singled in Shawn Ogata to start the scoring for Kaua’i in the first inning off Waimea starter Robbie Correa.
Daryl Higashi added a run-scoring hit and Sam Diaz walked with the bases loaded to give the Red Raiders a 3-0 edge.
In the top of the second inning, the Menehune got two runs back on a Kaua’i error and RBI hit from Michael Yaris.
The Red Raiders continued to pressure Waimea pitching in the second. Yaris came on relief of Correa, who lasted just 2/3 of an inning.
Yaris yielded consecutive RBI doubles to Jake Oketani and Yates. Jerrick Amaki later added a run-scoring single for the Red Raiders who led 7-2 after the offensive spurt.
Yaris allowed just three hits in his relief appearance but also walked four batters with two strikeouts.
In the fourth, Kaua’i totaled four errors in allowing Waimea two get back into the game.
