KAPA‘A — Naja Pungan and Ka‘a Laamea each scored two runs in Central’s 12-0 shutout over Kapa‘a Wednesday. But the story goes deeper than runs, wins and losses. Playing under near-ideal conditions at the New Kapa‘a Ball Park, the contest
KAPA‘A — Naja Pungan and Ka‘a Laamea each scored two runs in Central’s 12-0 shutout over Kapa‘a Wednesday.
But the story goes deeper than runs, wins and losses.
Playing under near-ideal conditions at the New Kapa‘a Ball Park, the contest signalled the opening of the Junior Olympic softball program for girls 14 and Under.
As both teams battled through a 0-0 opening frame, Central bopped three runs in the second inning, two in the third, before adding another seven runs in the fifth inning in the six-inning affair under the lights.
“This is the first game of the season,” Kris Borrero, wife of Central head coach Darrell Borrero, said. “There’s three teams in this age group — Kapa‘a, Central and West Kaua‘i. But there are a whole lot of teams in the 10 and Under age group which starts in two weeks, and when the 18 and Under league starts, there will be three teams.”
Games for the 14U are played Wednesdays under the lights with double-headers Saturdays.
Additionally, there were a number of students from the high school teams that filled both dugouts as coaches and assistants.
On the Kapa‘a side, Jocelyn Enrique filled in the third base coaches box with Everett Awong doing the scoring and Hanalei Gomes bobbing in and out of the dugout on a variety of chores.
Wailana Borrero had a headache and hunger pangs, but never faltered in her scorekeeping chores for Central, getting help from Alyssa Carvalho in coaching the girls on their at-bats.
“This is just a nice way for the kids to give back to the community,” Kris said.
As the game wound down, Central also tallied scores from Brittany Ludington-Braun, Moana Waipa, Kawai Klattenhoff, Angel Camarillo, Randee Layosa, Aniase Soltren, Sunni Efhan and Emily Post.
