Nakata strong in Makaweli AJA win
Jason Nakata, pitching for the Makaweli Indians, helped himself in the first inning as Makaweli went on to take a 17-7 win over the Lihu‘e Builders, Sunday afternoon.
Tyrus Matsumoto, starting for the Hanapepe Rivermen, gave up 10 hits, but allowed no runs in Hanapepe’s 12-2 win over the Waimea Tsunami in the day’s second contest in the Americans of Japanese Ancestry baseball league.
In a game which was delayed slightly due to a change of venue because rain on the Westide forced the relocation of the game to Vidinha Stadium, Lihu‘e got its first run when Darren Sakai whacked a single to rightfield.
With two outs, Sakai scored on a Curtis Sadamitsu RBI to centerfield to open up the scoresheets.
That was the only run Nakata gave up in four innings of pitching, allowing just two hits in his mound appearance. He also struck out seven Lihu‘e batters, including three in the first inning.
Nakata got help on the mound from Owen Koishigawa and Trey Shimabukuro, each reliever going two innings. Koishigawa was strapped with four runs on four hits while striking out one and walking two while Shimabukuro finished with no runs or hits allowed while striking out two and walking one.
In the batter’s box, Nakata came up with an RBI single in his opening at-bat, driving home one run en route to Makaweli taking a 9-1 first inning en route to its victory.
Ikaika Pezario, in the leadoff hitting slot for the Indians, finished 4-5 including a triple, drove in two runs and scored four times in the win. Cody Dotario (2-4) had an RBI and scored three times to lead the Indians lumberyard. Russell Ijima (2-5) drove in two of his three RBI in the opening inning and finished scoring twice, along with firstbaseman Brad Chiba (1-4) who finished with an RBI and scoring twice.
Lihu‘e catcher Curtis Matsumura scored twice for the Builders with Sakai having the hot bat at 2-4 and driving in one run while scoring once. Micah Hee (1-5) and Shane Sadamitsu (1-5) each had an RBI apiece.
Tyrus Matsumoto had a good day on the mound as well as in the batter’s box for the Rivermen.
Matsumoto went seven innings on the mound with no runs allowed while giving up 10 hits and striking out one and walking no Waimea batters.
But in the batter’s box, Matsumoto’s bat led the Rivermen with two singles and a pair of two-baggers in five at-bats. That generated two RBI while the pitcher went on to score twice in the win.
Davin Yamase (3-5) had an RBI and scored twice along with Dean Nonaka (2-5) and Leroy Nonaka (0-4). Leroy finished the day with three RBI. Brandon Hashimoto (1-5) had two RBI and scored once. Brock Santiago (1-4) and Mason Lorenzo (1-5) each had an RBI, Santiago also scoring once in the win.
Ahren Kaneshiro topped the Tsunami bats with two singles on three at-bats and scoring once.
Braden Hiraoka doubled in his only at-bat, and Jayrold Watanabe, coming off a strong showing at the Waimea Town Celebration’s 3-on-3 basketball tournament, finished 1-2 while scoring once.