HANAPEPE — “We’re the bad guys,” a Kalaheo outfielder muttered as he strode to his position after the team came up short on an umpire’s decision during the championship game of the AJA baseball league Sunday at Hanapepe Stadium. But,
HANAPEPE — “We’re the bad guys,” a Kalaheo outfielder muttered as he strode to his position after the team came up short on an umpire’s decision during the championship game of the AJA baseball league Sunday at Hanapepe Stadium.
But, the Kalaheo Kaneshiro Farmers didn’t need the benefit of an official’s decision as they banked behind the hitting performance of Liko Perreira and pitching of Kaina McCallum to take a 19-4 win over the league’s hittingest team for the title, holding Hanapepe to four runs and a dozen hits.
Kalaheo, on the other hand, exploded for four homeruns including a seventh inning grandslam from Perreira enroute to a 20-hit game.
McCallum went the distance for the win scattering five walks and striking out eight Hanapepe batters while Wendall Nonaka suffered the loss in five innings, striking out three and walking an equal number of Farmers while allowing eight Kalaheo runs on ten hits.
Perreira topped the hitters for Kalaheo with nine RBI coming across in his 4-6 showing, Perreira scoring twice in the win.
Kaina McCallum (3-5), Jake Oketani (3-5), and Keola McCallum (4-4) each drove in a pair of runs, with Kainoa Santos (1-5), Dave Bukoski (1-6), and Shannon Oketani (0-1) each finishing with an RBI apiece.
Tyrus Matsumoto (4-5), Kelly Robinson (1-4), and Dean Nonaka (1-4) led the Hanapepe effort with an RBI each in the loss. Other Rivermen hitters included Vincent Nitta, Nolan Albarado, Wendall Nonaka, Troy Yamase, and Kevin Suga who finished the day with two hits.
Santos opened the frame with a two-out solo homer for Kalaheo in the first inning only to have Hanapepe answer in the bottom of the frame as Wendall Nonaka drove in a run.
Perreira upped the ante in the second frame with a two-RBI single as Kalaheo pulled ahead until the seventh inning when Kaina McCallum faltered on the mound.
Giving up back-to-back walks, Kalaheo salvaged the inning with a double play, but not before Hanapepe generated a pair of runs.
The Kalaheo victory breaks a 6-1-1 season standing between the Farmers and Hanapepe with Kalaheo taking the title and the trip to the state competition in Maui later this Spring.
Makaweli and Kapa‘a finished the season tied for third with 3-5 records with Lihu‘e rounding out the leage with a 1-7 showing.
