KAPA‘A — It was a beautiful day for baseball as the Kapa‘a Warriors hosted the Kaua‘i Red Raiders to an exhibition game of baseball at the Ron Martin Field Saturday. Judging from the turnout, fans appreciated the preview of the
KAPA‘A — It was a beautiful day for baseball as the Kapa‘a Warriors hosted the Kaua‘i Red Raiders to an exhibition game of baseball at the Ron Martin Field Saturday.
Judging from the turnout, fans appreciated the preview of the KIF season which opens later in March, the crowd lining both the firstbase and thirdbase line as well as making full use of the backfield bleachers.
Fences in the left and rightfield still need work before the first pitch is thrown, but for an island that is without the Ron Martin Tournament this year, fans flocked to the field on the Kapa‘a High School campus marking the start of baseball season.
The Kaua‘i High School Red Raiders will be joining Waimea High School in action on O‘ahu this coming weekend as they both participate in the Mid Pacific Baseball Tournament there, and for the Red Raiders this was a chance to unlimber their muscles.
Sorely missing from the field was senior Alec Reichle who was injured in an auto accident a few nights ago.
But, a team is made up of more than a singular player, and it was Jake Oketani who ignited the lumber, finishing eight innings with four RBI on a double and a single.
Jake took his turn on the mound as did the pitching rosters of both schools, Kai Lopez being strapped for the first run as Stanton Yoshimori brought the crowd to life with his RBI double in the fourth inning.
Kapa‘a got their moment in the sun as Ashcon Kuhaulua punched a run across with a single that dropped in the gap in the bottom of the sixth much to the delight of some of the Warrior cheerleaders who took up a position adjacent to the Press box.
For Kapa‘a head coach Destry Carvalho who is in his first year at the Kapa‘a helm, it was an opportunity to see the Warrior team in action beyond the practice field, while Red Raider coach Hank Ibia worked to fine tune the skills of his players as the rosters of both teams got a chance to dirty their uniforms in the 10-inning affair.
And, for those who keep score, the dust settled 15-1 in favor of Kaua‘i.
