LIHU’E – Jordan Leanio’s four-RBI kept Lihu’e’s record unblemished as they kept Hanapepe at bay, 10-2 in the Pony Baseball playoffs, Sunday at Vidinha Stadium. A two-run in-the-park homerun by Ryson Sakamoto fueled a four-run opening inning by Lihu’e as
LIHU’E – Jordan Leanio’s four-RBI kept Lihu’e’s record unblemished as they kept Hanapepe at bay, 10-2 in the Pony Baseball playoffs, Sunday at Vidinha Stadium.
A two-run in-the-park homerun by Ryson Sakamoto fueled a four-run opening inning by Lihu’e as the Sakamoto bang to deep rightfield brought Leanio across the plate with just one out in the inning.
Earlier in the frame, Lihu’e capitalized on Hanapepe pitching as Jordan Leanio drove home Kellen Wakumoto and Kalani Brackenridge for the opening scores, both runners getting first on walks.
Leanio’s bat continued to drive runs home as he scored Wakumoto for the second time in the second inning, Wakumoto getting aboard after advancing Jordan Garcia to third.
Garcia notched his score on a wild pitch for the 6-0 bulge after two complete.
Hanapepe responded in the fourth inning as shortstop Cole Parongao opened up with a triple, and scored on an RBI from Nainoa Nobrega.
Stealing second, Nobrega advanced to third on a play by Sean Inouye who was safe at first on a Lihu’e error.
Gavin Jardin kept the Hanapepe lumber going with an RBI to rightfield scoring Nobrega, but while over-running third, Jardin was caught in a run-down between Lihu’e catcher Lanan Rice-Kashima, thirdbaseman Egan Kouchi, and pitcher Dalston Miyasato who ended the Hanapepe threat on the tag of Jardin.
Lihu’e answered with two more runs in the bottom of the fourth as Leanio again drove home Brackenridge on an RBI double for the 8-2 bulge.
Jessica Iwata, who took over the mound from Dalston Miyasato in the fifth inning, also scored in the frame on a Dustin Julian RBI single, Julian coming home on a Garcia bang for the final score.
Earlier, Koloa kept ahead of Kapa’a, 6-2.
The Pony Baseball playoffs continue on Wednesday and Sunday with site locations to be determined following the full outcomes of last Sunday’s match-ups that saw Waimea battle Kekaha, and the Hanama’ulu Angels fall to Kalawai, 3-1.
