• Upset Saturday!
Upset Saturday!
By Duane Shimogawa Jr. – The Garden Island
What as both soccer team and was thought of at first to be a busy Saturday instead, ended up as upset Saturday the Kaua’i boys the Kapa’a softball squad turned the tide for upset wins yesterday.
I’ll be the first to tell you that parity is a good thing, and so are upsets in sports.
It brings about competition and it teaches athletes about showing up every game and not just the ones that count.
Now, I’m not saying that the Menehune boys soccer and softball teams didn’t show up yesterday. Instead, I’m making the point that any team on any given day can beat any team in the league.
That was certainly evident in the Kapa’a/Waimea softball doubleheader, as the Warriors did the unimaginable by sweeping the Menehune at Kapa’a Ballpark.
Warrior head coach Rory Rayno was all smiles after the game and with the smallest (just enough players to play a game) and youngest squad (no seniors) in the league, he figures that they have grown together and have found the right chemistry, which put them in the unlikely spot of title contention.
Going into the season, Rayno, who’s team only won a single game last season, wanted to improve on offense and cut down on mistakes on defense and until yesterday, the Warriors were hung out to dry.
But yesterday’s sweep rose them from the dead and gives them some hope for the rest of this season and the next as well.
Congratulations to Rayno and the Warriors for a job well done. (Enjoy the Genki Sushi from coach Borrero, Steph).
Meanwhile, just an hour later, the Red Raider soccer team felt the buzz of the upset win in Kapa’a at Hanapepe Stadium.
With Waimea standout Kenny Estes out with an injury, Kaua’i found itself in the driver’s seat from the start.
Head coach Mark Brandeburg had his boys ready for the challenge of finally beating the defending champion Menehune.
After numerous tries last season, the boys in red could not get past the westside hump.
But yesterday’s win was a reminder as to how tight the boys soccer season turned out to be.
Kaua’i, who started out with two straight losses to begin the season, are now just a win away (3 points) from tying up the KIF soccer standings.
Both the Warrior softball girls and the Red Raider soccer boys provided fans with true inspiration, but to tell you the truth, it really wasn’t the wins they secured on the field. Instead it was about the way they conducted themselves after the victories.
Both squads were humble and unassuming after their respective triumphs and that’s a tribute to their coaches, who lead their teams both on and off the field.
Just can’t wait ’til the next set of upsets and inspirational play from the next set of games.
