Pitchers on both sides of the ball played a major role Saturday as Kaua‘i split their double-header against Waimea to open its softball season at Isenberg Field. Juggling against a time change from testing and the looming deadline for Kaua‘i
Pitchers on both sides of the ball played a major role Saturday as Kaua‘i split their double-header against Waimea to open its softball season at Isenberg Field.
Juggling against a time change from testing and the looming deadline for Kaua‘i High School’s Winter Ball, the hosting Red Raiders split their series, 4-11, 10-9 against the visiting Menehune.
Cassie “Bird” Koerte opened the scorebooks and went on to score three times in Waimea’s opening win. She also went the distance on the mound for the win.
Wailana Borrero, handling the mound chores for Kaua‘i, came up with a go-ahead 2-RBI single in the bottom of the seventh in Game 2 to give Kaua‘i their 10-9 edge with one out. She also scored once in the first inning.
After allowing Kaua‘i thirdbase Randi Oketani to score on a walk with bases loaded in Game 1, Koerte opened the Waimea scorebooks as her courtesy runner scored on a Raider passed ball. Kelcie Igne followed on another passed ball before Ona Defabian stepped into a 2-RBI triple with no outs for the 5-1 Waimea lead.
That set the stage for the Menehune victory as Koerte was credited with three runs to lead Waimea. Igne, Kanani Mata and Whitney Yadao each crossed the plate twice. Shana Tafiti, crossing in the second inning on a Koerte RBI, and Defabian each added a run apiece in the opening win.
For Kaua‘i, Oketani led the scoring with two runs.
Jessica Iwata took the forefront for Kaua‘i in Game 2 by scoring four times in their 10-9 win.
Jumping on Waimea starting pitcher Tafiti in Game 2, Kaua‘i built up a 4-2 lead before Koerte took over for Tafiti.
Alyssa Carvalho upped the Kaua‘i margin in the third before Waimea answered with four runs in the fifth inning as Borrero could close the inning with two outs.
A walk to Defabian loaded the bases with Menehune before Ariel Mizumoto smacked one under the glove of the Raider firstbase.
The hit coupled with an error to give Mizumoto a base-clearing in-the-park homerun for the four Menehune runs and a 6-5 lead.
But Kaua‘i answered in the bottom as Iwata cranked out a 2-run ITP homer, scoring Jori Jasper who walked.
With the 7-6 lead, Kaua‘i shut down Waimea in the sixth on a double play, pitcher to shortstop to first.
But Mizumoto’s bat sang in the seventh to score Mata for the 7-7 tie and Tatum Gonsalves’ infield fly fell between three Raiders to push Yadao across the plate for the 8-7 go-ahead.
That brought up the Menehune leadoff hitter Moani Durant who drove Mizumoto home for the 9-7 lead.
The Winter Ball had to wait. Carvalho and Jasper drew back-to-back walks to open the Kaua‘i seventh. A Shereen Doi sacrifice bunt moved both runners into scoring position for Iwata’s bat that drove Carvalho home.
But the Raiders still needed a run to tie and Borrero laced a high 2-RBI single that soared above the skying Durant at thirdbase to score Jasper and Iwata for the final math.
With the win, Kaua‘i will travel to the New Kapa‘a Ball Park for a single game against Kapa‘a Wednesday. The first pitch is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
