LIHU‘E — The Kaua‘i all stars fought back against a 5-1 Big Island lead to sweep the Babe Ruth championships, Saturday with a 6-5 come-from-behind win in game two. Earlier, Kaua‘i took a 13-3 TKO contest in six innings over
LIHU‘E — The Kaua‘i all stars fought back against a 5-1 Big Island lead to sweep the Babe Ruth championships, Saturday with a 6-5 come-from-behind win in game two. Earlier, Kaua‘i took a 13-3 TKO contest in six innings over the Big Island all stars.
Stanton Yoshimori, who also was credited with the win on the hill, fouled a squeeze play in the bottom of the seventh.
But, Yoshimori took away the bunt and instead smacked an RBI single on the following pitch off Jesse Yoshida to drive in pinch runner Travis Fontanilla, the winning run to cap the sweep.
Firstbaseman Robbie Correa brought life to Kaua‘i in game two as he capitalized on a Big Island wild pitch in the fourth inning to tie the contest, 1-1.
But, Big Island, working to keep the contest going into game three, Sunday, answered as Rendell Naiga scored on a wild pitch followed by shortstop Brandon “Kamalu” Blaisdell driving two runs across the plate on a single for the 4-1 Big Island bulge.
Mason Suga, going 4-4 for the Big Island in game two, continued the scoring drive despite Blaisdell getting picked off on a stolen base attempt in the seventh inning, Kaua‘i shortstop Jake Oketani taking the throw from catcher Bradley Fasco for the play.
Suga crossed the plate on a Jeremy Ka‘aukai RBI single for the 5-1 lead with Kaua‘i facing just three outs for redemption.
But, Kaua‘i answered as lead-off hitter Jonathan Gebauer singled followed by Shannon Oketani singling with no outs.
Cody Goias banged an RBI double that scored Gebauer, but nailed Shannon Oketani at the plate in that scoring effort.
With Shawn Yadao pinch-running for Goias, a wild pitch from Milton Kenui, Jr. upped the score, 5-3 forcing a pitching change for the Big Island as Yadao crossed on the passed ball.
Jesse Yoshida took the mound amidst the chatter from the Kaua‘i dugout, and a balk on Yoshida crossed Garren Itamura, Kaua‘i now a run behind, 5-4.
Leonard “LZ” Zalopany, who was a key batter in Kaua‘i’s game one win, pushed runners into scoring position with a single, and a Robbie Correa RBI bunt single tied the contest, 5-5 as Jake Oketani crossed the plate.
Another balk on Yoshida advanced runners into scoring position setting the stage for the Yoshimori bang that scored Fontanilla for the 6-5 win in the bottom of the seventh frame.
With the Saturday sweep, Vidinha Stadium will go idle, Sunday as Kaua‘i all stars earned the right to move on to the Pacific Southwest Regional Tournament that will be held in Watsonville, California on July 28 through Aug. 2.
Aaron Uyeda, one of the coaches for the Babe Ruth league explained that originally, Maui was supposed to field a team for the state playoffs, but pulled out at the last minute leaving just Kaua‘i and the Big Island to battle for state honors.
Members of the Kaua‘i Babe Ruth all stars include Aaron Adachi, Robbie Correa, Travis Fontanilla, Bradley Frasco, Jon Gebauer, Cody Goias, Michael Ishibashi, Garen Itamura, Waylen Kupihea, Kai Lopez, Dustin Mundon, Jake Oketani, Shannon Oketani, Dustin “Chunky” Pagador, Ray Shirai, Shawn Yadao, Stanton Yoshimori, and Leonard Zalopany.
They are coached by Tyler Wakuta and Casey Oketani with Scott Serizawa as manager.
