KALAHEO — Kekaha, tying with Kapa‘a 1-1 in a time-limit match Sunday, chipped out a 5-4 win over Hanapepe in Kekaha, Thursday in the Protect Our Nation’s Youth baseball league. Kapa‘a rolled over, Koloa 7-2, and Kalawai remains in the
KALAHEO — Kekaha, tying with Kapa‘a 1-1 in a time-limit match Sunday, chipped out a 5-4 win over Hanapepe in Kekaha, Thursday in the Protect Our Nation’s Youth baseball league. Kapa‘a rolled over, Koloa 7-2, and Kalawai remains in the lead of the league following an 11-8 win over Lihu‘e at Kalawai Park.
Vaughn Thompson had a pair of triples, one in the fifth and one in the sixth innings, to ice Kalawai’s come-from-behind win over Lihu‘e as darkness descended on Kalawai Park, Thursday.
Chasing a 8-5 deficit, Kalawai opened the fourth frame with back-to-back singles by M. Rita and Kendall Kaohi before catcher Travis “Cracker Jack” Soares reached on a Lihu‘e error that pulled Kalawai to an 8-7 deficit with no outs, Rita and Kaohi scoring on the play.
Designated hitter Kylie Perreira knotted the contest with an RBI single to right, scoring Soares for the tie.
After shutting down Lihu‘e in order in the fifth frame, Thompson opened with his first triple, and scored off a sacrifice bunt by Rita. Shosho Ogawa, walking to first, upped the ante by scoring on a Kaohi RBI single to right field.
Thompson capped the win in the sixth inning, scoring BJ Freitas, who gained first on a Lihu‘e error, with his second RBI triple to right field.
Lihu‘e was not done yet, as Erin Doi and first base man Iwai walked and were hit by a pitch, respectively. That opened the seventh frame, but with one out, Lihu‘e catcher Lucas Gushikuma hit into a double play to end the Lihu‘e hopes.
Kalawai opened the scoring with five runs coming on a triple, three doubles, a single and a walk, only to have Lihu‘e answer with five runs on five hits, one a double, in the top of the second with two outs.
Lihu‘e took the lead in the third and fourth innings, with two runs on one hit in the third and a run on two hits in the fourth before Kalawai knotted things up.
In the third inning, Iwai and Gushikuma walked, Iwai scoring on a Reggie McFadden RBI single to left field and Gushikuma scoring on a Kalawai error trying to pick off McFadden at first base.
With the win, Kalawai travels to meet Kekaha in a single game at the Kekaha field starting at 1:30 p.m. Sunday.
Lihu‘e will open a double-header at Hanapepe, against Koloa starting at 10 a.m., Sunday. That game will be followed by Kapa‘a taking on Hanapepe starting at 12:45 p.m.
Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com
