Waimea sweeps Kapa‘a double-header

KAPA‘A — Ariel Mizumoto and Jazzelyn Bradbury both whacked multi-run in-the-park homeruns, and secondbase Krysta Kali had the hot bat with five RBI as Waimea swept its double-header, 23-4, 19-0 over the Kapa‘a Warriors, Saturday.

With Kali finishing 4-5 in the batter’s box in game one, the opener was a true slugfest as Mizumoto and Bradbury conked balls to leftfield for 2-run homers each, Mizumoto notching hers in the first inning with two outs and Bradbury getting hers in the second inning. Overall, Waimea piled up 21 hits for its 23 runs.

Kali, notching two singles and a triple, finished with five RBI followed by Mizumoto (2-5) with four RBI. Shortstop Kawehi Ephan doubled and had three singles in her 4-5 performance with two RBI to round out the leading Menehune hitters.

Kapa‘a finished with eight hits for its four runs with Marley Bukoski getting the only RBI for the Warriors with a single in the second inning.

Kori Kimura (1-3), Melina Obar (1-3), Leeanne Baltazar (1-3), Ta’ashi Napoleon (1-3), Reggie McCabe (1-3), Layna Christian (1-2) and Kanoe Marshall (1-1) all singled.

Shelley Koerte stepped up her performance on the mound for game two, allowing no runs and just two hits from Kapa‘a with no walks allowed and two strikeouts.

Offensively, the Menehune were led by Mizumoto who was hit twice by Kapa‘a pitches. She finished 0-4 but had 11 RBI, matching Ona DeFabian who finished 2-5. Tauina Tafiti finished 2-5 with a double and a single for 3 RBI. Kali ended the day 1-5 with three RBI and MarieBeth Watanabe (1-5), Kawehi Ephan (1-5) and Fiare Moe (1-4) each had two RBI apiece.

Overall, Waimea finished with 19 runs on nine hits as the Kapa‘a pitchers gave up 14 walks and hit five Waimea batters while striking out one batter.

With the dual win, Waimea hosts Kaua‘i in a single contest starting at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Waimea Canyon Park.