WAIMEA —Kapa‘a freshman Ta’ashi Napoleon was out of her comfort zone, but someone had to do the job. “Melina (the starting pitcher) was out on a field trip, so I had to pitch,” Napoleon said following their 13-2 loss at
WAIMEA —Kapa‘a freshman Ta’ashi Napoleon was out of her comfort zone, but someone had to do the job.
“Melina (the starting pitcher) was out on a field trip, so I had to pitch,” Napoleon said following their 13-2 loss at the hands of Punahou during the opening day of the Waimea Invitational Softball Tournament at the Waimea Canyon Park.
Kapa‘a, the first of three Kaua‘i teams participating in the 10-team field, actually opened the scorebooks with a run against the BuffnBlue before Punahou unlocked the gates, scoring 10 runs in the first frame.
When Melina Obar, the Warrior starting pitcher arrived, Napoleon was relocated to first base, her preferred position, but Kapa‘a could only generate one run before time ran out on the time limit match.
Kaua‘i took the field against a tough Mililani squad that had earlier posted a 13-1 win against Sacred Hearts.
Despite a tough infield and a veteran pitcher, Carly Matsumoto made her debut as catcher for the Red Raiders and Mililani handily downed Kaua‘i 17-1.
Waimea, the tournament host, opened against Mid-Pacific who chipped out an early lead against the Menehune.
“These are all tough teams,” said former Menehune coach Albert Soto who watched the action from the shade of a poinciana tree near the food booth. “It’s good they (the Kaua‘i teams) get to play all the tough teams up front. That way they know what they need to work on.”
Pool play continues Friday with Kaua‘i opening against Punahou starting at 10 a.m. and Kapa‘a faces Mililani starting at 11:30 a.m.
Waimea opens against Leilehua starting at 2:30 p.m.
Tournament play continues through Saturday afternoon and the public is invited to view the competition at no admission charge.
There is a food booth available to whet appetites between games.
