LIHU‘E — Kirby Yates, pitching for Kaua‘i High School, picked up his sixth win of the KIF season with no losses on Wednesday as the Red Raiders locked up the KIF championship with a convincing 16-6 win over the Waimea
LIHU‘E — Kirby Yates, pitching for Kaua‘i High School, picked up his sixth win of the KIF season with no losses on Wednesday as the Red Raiders locked up the KIF championship with a convincing 16-6 win over the Waimea Menehune before a lively, rousing audience.
Yates lost little time making his mark, striking out the lead-off Menehune before allowing a hit to Travis DeLima, but saving the frame with another ‘K’ going to Leonard Zalopany.
Backing up their pitcher, Red Raider bats exploded in the opening frame as Jake Oketani and Sam Dias led the RBI department, Oketani pushing four runs across in two times at bat, followed by Dias driving in three runs in his two times at bat as Kaua‘i piled up a dozen runs in the frame, four coming before they got their first out, a sacrifice bunt by Shannon Oketani.
“We were due for an explosive inning like that,” one of the Kaua‘i coaches said following their victory.
“I’ve never experienced anything like that — even in softball,” Waimea coach Kelly Robinson commented following the game.
But, the Menehune were not out as they capitalized on a faltering Yates in the third inning.
Zenon Schomberg walked followed by Shawn Yadao singling to short, and a DeLima single to leftfield set the stage for a grandslam by Leonard Zalopany that clanged off the rightfield fence just mauka of the 380-yard marker.
But, the Menehune weren’t done yet as Robbie Correa followed with a triple, and combined with a Raider miscue, scored for an in-the-park romp.
The final Menehune run came in that same frame as Kane Zalopany was hit by a pitch to score the final run for Waimea.
“We needed one more run,” Waimea coach Nelson Mendonca said following the game. “But, we just couldn’t do it.”
That extra Menehune run would’ve cut the lead to nine points, and more importantly, keep the game alive for Waimea.
But, despite two hits in the fifth inning, a single by Branden Hew and a double from Aina Emayo, the Menehune couldn’t generate the margin as the courtesy runner was cut down at the plate on a squeeze attempt before the final Menehune flied out leaving their hope stranded on the bag.
With the win, Kaua‘i High will represent the KIF at the state tournament that begins on May 18 at the Rainbow baseball field.
