LIHU‘E — The Lihu‘e Bronco All-stars jumped on West Kaua‘i for three runs on just one hit in the opening frame en route to a 6-2 win, Thursday at the Lihu‘e County Park. The win moves Lihu‘e to the Hanapepe
LIHU‘E — The Lihu‘e Bronco All-stars jumped on West Kaua‘i for three runs on just one hit in the opening frame en route to a 6-2 win, Thursday at the Lihu‘e County Park.
The win moves Lihu‘e to the Hanapepe field starting at 10 a.m. when the second game of the Bronco Sectionals take place in the best-of-three series. The overall winner of the series will represent Kaua‘i at the state tournament.
In the win, Lihu‘e tallied seven hits for its six runs while the West Kaua‘i Bronco All-stars finished with nine hits for its two runs.
Drayden Compoc-Banisihan suffered the loss for West Kaua‘i on the mound, throwing for two innings but giving up five runs on five hits and striking out one. Acetyn Emayo went on to close, allowing just two hits with no runs while striking out four batters.
Tyler Manibog picked up the win for Lihu‘e in five innings, giving up no runs on six West Kaua‘i hits. He struck out three WK batters before Darren Leanio-Balagat came in to close, giving up two runs on four hits and striking out one.
John Dumlao, scoring twice for Lihu‘e, finished 1-2 with a hit to lead the Lihu‘e bats. La‘akea Iseri-Carvalho (1-4), Kanoa Iwasaki (1-2), Manibog (1-2), Kurt Rapozo (1-2) and Leanio-Balagat (1-3) scattered the hits for Lihu‘e.
Iseri-Carvalho, Iwasaki, Nicholas Vallatini and Leanio-Balagat each scored runs for Lihu‘e.
Brayden Silva, in the WK lead-off slot, Rylan Naka‘ahiki-Torries, and Javan Torres each had two hits to lead the West Kaua‘i offense. Torres also scored a run.
Justin Silva finished 1-3 and scored once.
After shutting down West Kaua‘i in order, including two swinging strike-outs, Lihu‘e opened up the books with one away as Iseri-Carvalho singled to right-centerfield and advanced on a fielder’s choice on a Dumlao smack.
With two outs, Vallatini walked to load the paths and when Manibog was hit by a pitch, Iseri-Carvalho marked the first run that was followed when an error off Cal Koga’s bat drove in two more runs for the early 3-0 bulge.
Iwasaki finished with a two-RBI single to drive Leanio-Balagat and Dumlao across the plate for the 5-0 lead that was not answered until the fifth inning when Torres, singling up the middle, scored on an RBI single from Brayden Silva.
Justin Silva, singling in the sixth inning with one away, advanced on a Rylan Naka‘ahiki-Torres double and scored on Devin Vidinha-Lazaro’s put-out.
Defensively, West Kaua‘i came back with a strong pitching performance by Emayo who was able to take out two Lihu‘e base runners on back door plays at second base.
If Lihu‘e takes the game this morning in Hanapepe, the series will be over with Lihu‘e advancing to the state tournament.
However, if West Kaua‘i takes the win, a third game will be played Monday afternoon starting at 4:30 p.m., the site to be determined by a coin flip.
