Everyone worked on the opening day for the American of Japanese Ancestry’s 73rd season, Sunday. Leighton Otoman, the Makaweli Indian shortstop, was 0-for-2 in the batter’s box, but with one away, cranked into a fielder’s choice to drive home the
Everyone worked on the opening day for the American of Japanese Ancestry’s 73rd season, Sunday.
Leighton Otoman, the Makaweli Indian shortstop, was 0-for-2 in the batter’s box, but with one away, cranked into a fielder’s choice to drive home the winning run, his second RBI of the day, as Makaweli edged Hanapepe 8-7 in seven innings.
“This is real good baseball,” said Tom Shigemoto, president of the Kaua‘i AJA league as well as scorekeeper and announcer for the day. “Hanapepe never gave up, and you can see what happens even if a team has a 5-run lead.”
Justin Ganaden, leadoff hitter for the Hanapepe Rivermen, had just one hit in four at-bats, but that was the one that counted as Ganaden whacked into a base-clearing 3-RBI triple to deep centerfield to pull Hanapepe to within striking distance in the top of the seventh frame.
Earlier, Makaweli built up a 6-2 lead in the fourth inning when the Indians drove in four runs on four hits.
That sent Makaweli coach Mel Nishihara to his bench where he relieved starting pitcher Jason Nakata with Owen Koishigawa who got strapped with the Ganaden triple. Trey Shimabukuro finished the contest for the save.
Additionally, Jason Miyazaki, pinch-hitting for Kyle Romano, figured in the Makaweli go-ahead in the bottom of the seventh, hitting into a fielder’s choice that moved lead hitter Kainoa Pezario through the basepads.
A sacrifice bunt by Shea Shimabukuro moved Kainoa through the paths with all Hanapepe Rivermen eyes on the lead runner.
A walk to Ikaika Pezario filled the bags to set the stage for Otoman’s game-winning fielder’s choice RBI.
Ikaika Pezario topped the Makaweli hitting with two singles on three at-bats and scoring twice as the Indians picked up their win on 6 hits.
Kainoa, in addition to scoring the winning run, also crossed the plate in the second inning on one of brother Ikaika’s hits.
Otoman, Brad Chiba, Romano and Cody Dotario scored for the Indians, with Sean Jardin, Travis Shigeta, Chiba and Dotario chalking up hits.
Time was running out for Hanapepe in the top of the seventh. Faced not only with an impending time limit on the game, the Rivermen faced a 7-2 deficit with two outs before Ganaden’s base-clearing shot.
Kevin Suga, hit by a Koishigawa pitch, Vince Nitta, singling to rightfield, and Scott Yamase, walking to fill the bags, all scored for the 7-5 deficit.
But Makaweli could not close the door as Davin Yamase came up with an RBI single too short to score Ganaden, and the deficit grew smaller.
A sacrifice fly by Wendall Nonaka to deep left field tied the contest as Davin Yamase stepped across the plate to complete the inning.
Ganaden, 1-5, was the Rivermen’s batting leader with a triple and four RBI while scoring twice.
Davin Yamase, 2-4, finished with two RBI and scored once, and Vince Nitta, 2-3, scored twice.
Kelly Robinson, 0-4, finished with an RBI.
Keith and Wendall Nonaka shared mound duties for Hanapepe.
2007 MVP Kaleo Saiki combined with the McCallum brothers Kaina and Keola to drive eight of Kalaheo’s 10 runs in the defending champions’ 10-4 win over Lihu‘e in the nightcap.
Saiki finished with a double and a single and drove a pair of runs while Kaina, last year’s RBI champion, was 2-for-2 with three runs driven in. Keola, 2-for-3, also finished with two singles and three runs driven in.
Dave and Zoom Bukoski, each finishing with a single, each chalked up one RBI.
Kainoa Santos had the strong bat for Kalaheo with a pair of doubles and a single. Brandon Ishibashi finished with a pair of singles and Kendrick Caspillo rounded out the Kalaheo bats with a single as the Kaneshiro Farmers wrapped up their game with 15 hits.
Isea Horner paced the Lihu‘e bats with a single that drove three runs across the place. Shane Sadamitsu also finished with a single and a run driven in.
Allen Mundon, Stanley Morinaka, Curtis Sadamitsu and Mikey Cardinez each singled for Lihu‘e.
