KAPA‘A — It was a day of big, early innings for Waimea High’s boys baseball team, and a day when Kapa‘a High was forced to play a lot of defense.
Waimea High journeyed to Kapa‘a’s Ron Martin Athletic Field for the first two games of the second round of Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation boys baseball season Saturday, and roughed up the Warriors.
The Menehune led from the start of the second inning in the first game until the end of the second game, taking the first game, 9-5, behind a 4-run second inning, and winning the second game in five innings, 11-1, thanks to a seven-run first inning barrage.
In game one, Robert Perreira, Michael Acoba and Isaa Horner each had two hits, with Perreira and Kalani Fernandez knocking in two runs each. Paul Correa, Micah Rita and Fernandez each had one hit, and Correa and Rita added an RBI each. Waimea ended with 10 hits, and benefited from six Kapa‘a errors in the first game.
Andrew Ouderkirk was the winning pitcher, and Brehdan Kamibayashi took the loss.
Mick Voight provided much of the Warriors’ offense, with two doubles and two RBI. Kapa‘a’s runs came on nine hits, helped out by three Waimea errors. B.J. Aiwohi, Ekolu Lam, Kamibayashi, Tanner Shigeta, Kekoa Alfiler, Kysen Lopez and Bronson Aiwohi all had one hit, and Alfiler was credited with an RBI.
After game one, Waimea moved to 1-0 in the second round and 6-1 overall, while Kapa‘a fell to 0-1 in the first round and 1-6 overall.
In between games, Waimea Head Coach Michael Rita talked about his team’s first game since the Monday funeral of Max Agor, the starting second baseman who was batting nearly .500.
“Our team is getting back to being a team. It all has to do with practice,” said Rita, adding that the team sometimes has had trouble focusing at practices. “I told the team they going make errors today, and they did. They just gotta get back to playing ball.”
Playing ball is what they did in game two, jumping on the Warriors for seven runs in the top of the first inning off starter Shigeta and reliever Lopez, and cruising to an 11-1 victory in five innings behind a three-hitter tossed by Steven Werner.
Waimea went down in order only once during the first game, and started the second game in an offensive manner, scoring seven runs and chasing starter Shigeta in the top of the first inning before he could even retire one batter.
Perreira was busy again, with two hits, one run scored, a stolen base and a walk. Kapa‘a pitchers hit five Menehune batters, including Perreira once in that long top of the first inning. Correa had the game-winning hit in that frame, a single that knocked in two.
Pinch hitter Chysen Soares hit once, a two-RBI single, Dillon Ishihara had two hits and scored two runs, and designated hitter Shylen Keuma, Acoba and Rita collected one RBI each. Rita, Horner, Acoba and Correa all scored runs as well.
“We were hitting at the right time, with runners in scoring position,” in game two, Coach Rita said, adding that it is good for his team’s confidence to end the game early.
“My philosophy is game by game,” and with school back in session Monday, practice will be in preparation for Kaua‘i High, he said. Waimea hosts the Raiders at Hanapepe Stadium Wednesday at 3:30 p.m.
Stevie Lutz led Kapa‘a in game two with two hits, scoring the Warriors’ lone run on an RBI double by Kamibayashi.
Gordon Muramaru, Kapa‘a head coach, preferred to talk about both games after the second game ended, and then wanted to speak mostly about his team.
“They’re still battling until the end,” working hard both on the field and in the weight room during spring break, and with a break here or there will be in some ball games during the second round, he commented.
“The kids worked really hard over the break. The outcome didn’t go our way,” but he is pleased with his team’s continued progress. “They keep getting better and better,” said Muramaru, adding that the competition in the KIF is keen this year.
“Waimea High School with Michael Rita and Kaua‘i High School with Hank Ibia are two well-coached teams. They (the coaching staffs) do a terrific job,” Muramaru said.
“It’s a battle. We’re battling.”
After Saturday’s play, Waimea is 2-0 in the second round and 7-1 overall, while Kapa‘a fell to 0-2 in the second round and 1-7 overall.
