The Waimea Tsunami came up with five runs in the sixth inning, but fell short 10-8 against the Hanapepe Rivermen, Sunday. That effort came on the opening day of the Kaua‘i Americans of Japanese Ancestry baseball league that celebrated the
The Waimea Tsunami came up with five runs in the sixth inning, but fell short 10-8 against the Hanapepe Rivermen, Sunday.
That effort came on the opening day of the Kaua‘i Americans of Japanese Ancestry baseball league that celebrated the start of its 80th anniversary with three games being played at Vidinha Stadium.
Following the opening contest, the Makaweli Indians pushed 10 runs across the plate in the first inning en route to taking an 18-9 win over the fledgling Kapa‘a team, the newest member of the Kaua‘i AJA league.
The Lihu‘e Builders broke in their bright blue new uniforms by roping nine runs in the first inning en route to holding the Kalaheo Kaneshiro Farms to a 12-7 edge in the finale.
Jordan Kitabayashi came up with a 2-RBI bang to start the fireworks for the Tsunami in the final game of Game 1, getting help from Kevin Agena who scored Kitabayashi. Agena crossed the plate on a fielder’s choice miscue and Ian Imamura capped the Tsunami effort with a 2-RBI shot that crossed Kalani Fernandez and Ahren Kaneshiro.
The Rivermen, taking a 6-0 lead after three innings were led by Tyrus Matsumoto who finished 3-3 with 3-RBI followed by Wendall Nonaka 0-2, but driving in 2 runs. Kelly Robinson (1-1), Ula Nakamura (1-3), Vince Nitta (1-1) and Quinton Natividad (0-2) each had RBI in the win.
Kitabayashi (2-3) topped the Tsunami effort with 3 RBI followed by Imamura (1-2) driving in a pair of runners.
Sean Jardin (2-3) paced the Makaweli bats with 5 RBI on a pair of doubles and scoring once in the Indians’ win over Kapa‘a.
Ikaika Pezario, named the league’s MVP and batting leader, (2-3) and Kaylen Wakumoto (1-3) each drove in 4 RBI in the win.
Micah Furtado had a single, double, triple and a homer to lead the Kapa‘a effort, scoring twice and driving in 5 RBI for the newest team in the league.
Hau Torio (2-2) drove in two runs on a pair of singles in the effort.
Darren Sakai (1-2) paced the Lihu‘e bats with three runs driven in, and scoring once. Curtis Sadamitsu (1-3) followed with two runs driven in and scoring once0.
Gerren Itamura (1-4) paced the Kalaheo effort with 2 RBI on a double.
He also scored twice. Brandon Ishibashi (1-4), Kaina McCallum (1-3), Keola McCallum (1-3), Tommy Cox (1-1) and Zoom Bukoski (1-4) each carded RBI.
