KAPA’A — It started as the first game of a KIF doubleheader with playoff implications at stake. It ended up being one of the wildest and most memorable games that has been played in many seasons. Rayson Cacal’s RBI double
KAPA’A — It started as the first game of a KIF doubleheader with playoff implications at stake.
It ended up being one of the wildest and most memorable games that has been played in many seasons.
Rayson Cacal’s RBI double to deep center field scored Oliver Moniz with the game-winning run in the top of the 13th inning in lifting Waimea to a 4-3 win over Kapa’a at Ron Martin Field on Saturday.
With the dramatic win, the Menehune moved closer to winning the second-round title. Due to impending darkness as a result of the length of the first game, the second game of the doubleheader between Kapa’a and Waimea will be played on Monday at 2:45 p.m. at the Ron Martin Field.
If Waimea can win Monday’s game, it will claim the second-round championship.
Saturday’s game lasted 4 1/2 hours in which the Menehune (3-2 in the second round of the KIF) took the lead twice in the 9th and then 11th innings only to see the Warriors (2-2 in the KIF) storm back to tie the contest.
Kapa’a looked as though it would again tie the score after Cacal’s hit in the top of the 13th inning.
Moses Punzal walked to leadoff the bottom of the 13th and then moved to second on a Brian Merkel sacrifice bunt. After Tyson Cremer struckout, Karl Kimura earned a walk off of Waimea relief pitcher Shawn Yadao.
However, with two outs, Yadao got Matt Isoda to pop up to end the game.
The game was scoreless through the first eight innings of play.
In the top of the ninth, Michael Ishibashi (2-for-3) put the Menehune on the scoreboard with an RBI double to center field. Moniz then followed with a run-scoring single to left field that gave Waimea a 2-0 lead.
The Warriors, though, came right back with two runs off of Menehune starter Michael Yaris, who had yielded just two hits through the first eight innings of action.
Kapa’a’s Kyle Neuberger crushed an RBI double to cut Waimea’s lead to 2-1. Neuberger later scored from third base on a passed ball to get Kapa’a even.
In the 11th inning, the Menehune regained the lead when Ishibashi doubled to left field and then scored on a Kapa’a fielding error.
However, Isoda (2-for-5) singled in a run in the bottom of the inning with two outs to keep the Warriors alive.
Kai Lopez pitched the first six innings for the Warriors allowing three hits with three walks and two strikeouts.
Clarence Aki went 3-for-6 for the Menehune.
