KALAHEO — Kalawai Yankee pitcher Mikeo Rita threw a one-hitter to advance the Yankees Tuesday afternoon at the Kalawai Park. Rita went the distance in the Yankees’ 2-0 win over Waimea in the West Kaua‘i Youth Baseball Bronco playoffs to
KALAHEO — Kalawai Yankee pitcher Mikeo Rita threw a one-hitter to advance the Yankees Tuesday afternoon at the Kalawai Park.
Rita went the distance in the Yankees’ 2-0 win over Waimea in the West Kaua‘i Youth Baseball Bronco playoffs to shut down the Waimea bats.
He allowed no runs on just one Waimea hit while striking out 11 batters and walking one.
On the offense, the Yankees capitalized on Waimea errors to open the scorebook in the fourth inning with a run, and followed that with a run in the fifth for the final math.
Byron Freitas Jr. got first on a Waimea miscue, stole second base, and went on to cross the plate on a Jonah Malapit sacrifice bunt.
Rita netted the second score in the fifth inning when he singled to get first and advanced through second and third on Waimea errors before scoring on a fielder’s choice off Vaughn Thompson’s hit.
With the win, Kalawai faces Kekaha today at the Kalawai Park in a must-win situation.
A Kalawai loss to Kekaha will give Kekaha the West Kaua‘i Bronco title, and Kalawai will settle for second place.
However, a Kalawai win will force a playoff for the championship Saturday.
The first pitch is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. and there is no admission charge.
