LIHU‘E — Hanapepe pitcher Michael Yaris allowed just one run, but his teammates came up with nine runs on 16 hits to lead the team to the championship of the Americans of Japanese Ancestry baseball league Sunday. Yaris, going the
LIHU‘E — Hanapepe pitcher Michael Yaris allowed just one run, but his teammates came up with nine runs on 16 hits to lead the team to the championship of the Americans of Japanese Ancestry baseball league Sunday.
Yaris, going the distance for the win, allowed just four hits while striking out nine.
After being held to just one hit through four innings, Hanapepe capitalized on a tiring Jason Nakata and opened with three runs on four hits in the fourth frame as Vince Nitta, Kito Nonaka and Quinten Natividad crossed the plate on RBI shots from Keith Nonaka, Natividad and Devin Yamase.
Makaweli, finishing the season in second place, answered in the bottom of the frame as Leighton Otoman singled to get on board and scored on an RBI double from Sean Jardin with no outs.
But the Indians went down in order leaving Jardin stranded.
With just one week remaining in the regular AJA season, Hanapepe claims the championship with an 8-1 record followed by Makaweli with a 6-3 standing.
Tom Shigemoto, president of the Kaua‘i AJA League, said the state championship will be played at the Les Murakami Stadium at the University of Hawai‘i on April 11-12.
In the earlier games Sunday, Waimea came up with five runs in the fourth inning, but Lihu‘e countered with four runs to preserve its early lead en route to a 14-11 win in the opener of the Vidinha Stadium double-header.
Entering Sunday, Kalaheo was in a position to tie Makaweli for second place, but following a 17-7 loss at the hands of the scrappy Kapa‘a team at Hanapepe Stadium, Kalaheo finishes in third place.
Natividad (2-5) led the Hanapepe bats with a triple and a single with two RBI. Devin Yamase (2-3) and Tyrus Matsumoto (2-6) finished with two RBI each and Keith Nonaka (5-5) had a double and four singles with an RBI.
Jardin (1-4) led the Makaweli bats with a double and an RBI.
Sunday’s final AJA games will have Makaweli opening against Lihu‘e in a double-header at Hanapepe Stadium.
That contest starts at 10 a.m. with Kalaheo taking on Waimea starting at 1 p.m.
The champion Hanapepe Rivermen meet the scrappy Kapa‘a team in a single game at Vidinha Stadium starting at 11 a.m.
Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com
