LIHU’E — Mikey Cardinez, handling the mound for Lihu’e, gave fans reason to cheer Sunday as the Lihu’e Builders picked up their first season win, blanking Kapa’a 6-0 in regulation nine innings. Lihu’e fans also cheered Lihu’e thirdbaseman Curtis Sadamitsu
LIHU’E — Mikey Cardinez, handling the mound for Lihu’e, gave fans reason to cheer Sunday as the Lihu’e Builders picked up their first season win, blanking Kapa’a 6-0 in regulation nine innings.
Lihu’e fans also cheered Lihu’e thirdbaseman Curtis Sadamitsu who celebrated not only a season-first win, but his birthday as well, Sadamitsu finishing the day 2-for-5 with an RBI and scoring a run in the win.
For Cardinez, fans noted his “good day,” holding Kapa’a to no runs on just six hits while striking out nine and allowing only one walk.
Owen Koishigawa suffered the loss for Kapa’a with four runs on nine hits allowed while striking out six before turning the rosin bag over to Kainoa Pezario who finished with a run allowed on two hits with a strike out in his one-inning relief.
Cardinez performed not only on the hill for Lihu’e, but joined the leaders in the batter’s box as the hurler ended the day with three RBI, the team’s leader, in his 3-for-5 showing in the box.
Dan Tanimoto also gave fans a reason to cheer as he boomed a homerun in his 2-for-5 showing, driving in an RBI in the process.
Catcher Derek Lacaden led the hitting for Kapa’a, ending the day 2-for-3 in the box. Ikaika Pezario, Sean Hiranaka, Travis Shigeta, and Evan Gibson each notched a hit in the effort.
A two-run ninth inning came up a little short as the Makaweli Indians fell to the Kalaheo Kaneshiro Farms 5-3 in the second game played at Vidinha Stadium.
Kalaheo answered a Makaweli run in the second inning and continued to build, surging ahead with a two-run fourth enroute to their win that came behind seven hits led by thirdbaseman Dave Bukoski and firstbaseman Palani Bukoski, each Bukoski driving in an RBI on their 2-for-4 performance.
Kainoa Santos and Garen Itamura each drove in RBI on their 1-for-3 showing in the box.
Makaweli was led by Lance Nakata driving in an RBI on a hit with Sean Jardin also driving in a run. Leighton Otoman finished 2-for-4, scoring once for the Indians.
Liko Perreira picked up the win for Kalaheo with three runs allowed on seven hits with three strikeouts and a walk.
Otoman suffered the loss strapped with five runs on seven hits with a strikeout, but walking five.
The AJA league will take a break on Sunday due to the Super Bowl, and when action resumes in two weeks, the games will move to a Hanapepe Stadium debut.
