KAPA‘A — Kaua‘i High School girls softball bats generated five home runs, four in Game 1, as the Red Raiders swept its double-header over Kapa‘a, 13-0, 11-1, Saturday at the New Kapa‘a Town Park. Kaua‘i shortstop Jessica Iwata, coming off
KAPA‘A — Kaua‘i High School girls softball bats generated five home runs, four in Game 1, as the Red Raiders swept its double-header over Kapa‘a, 13-0, 11-1, Saturday at the New Kapa‘a Town Park.
Kaua‘i shortstop Jessica Iwata, coming off a home run against Waimea Wednesday night, continued to go to the lumbershed as she added another homer in Game 1 and closed the series with a home run in Game 2.
Joining Iwata, Jori Jasper followed with a home run in the first inning of Game 1, Alyssa Carvalho homered to left field in the fourth inning, and catcher Carly Matsumoto boomed a solo shot to left-center in the third inning.
But the fireworks were not limited to just the Red Raider hitting as Iwata marked her third home run in three games.
“Her numbers are just off the wall,” said Michael Koerte, a Waimea parent who was watching the game. “Jessica and Wailana Borrero are the wrecking crew for Kaua‘i.”
Koerte said against Waimea, Iwata’s home run came on a pitchout with three balls already thrown.
When the fourth ball came in close, Iwata reached out and roped it.
“It was a ball, but she could reach and drive it,” Koerte said.
Iwata finished the first game with five RBIs, all coming in the first two innings of play, and ended the day with nine RBIs overall after marking four runs driven in during Game 2.
The shortstop, who has already signed a Letter of Intent to play softball at the University of Hawai‘i, finished 3-4 in Game 1, including a triple, and ended Game 2 with a 2-4 showing in the box. She also scored once in Game 1 and crossed the plate three times in Game 2.
Joining her, Borrero finished Game 1 with a 2-4 showing with five RBIs and scoring four times. She ended Game 2 with a 2-4 showing with an RBI, scoring three times.
Additionally, Borrero picked up the win on the mound with three hits allowed in Game 1 and just two hits in Game 2. She also struck out four in Game 1 with no walks allowed. In Game 2, Borrero finished with two hits allowed with two strikeouts, one walk and hitting two batters.
Reggie McCabe, getting first on a walk, scored in the fourth inning of Game 2, Borrero’s two hits coming in that frame as Larae Hoopii and Melina Obar both marked singles.
Obar, the Kapa‘a pitcher, gave up 11 hits in Game 1 and a dozen hits in Game 2.
Carvalho, finishing 1-3 in Game 1, finished with two RBIs and added another in Game 2. Jasper also finished the day with three RBIs, Matsumoto had two RBIs total along with Randee Layosa.
Kapa‘a next hosts Waimea in a single game Wednesday evening at the New Kapa‘a Town Park starting at 5:30 p.m.
