O‘AHU — Makalapua Vidinha-Rivera came in to do a “fabulous” job on the mound in the Kawaihau Minors All-Stars’ tough 8-7 win over the Kaneohe Americans, Saturday afternoon. Akala Aiwohi said Vidinha-Rivera took over for Kurt Napoleon who started, and
O‘AHU — Makalapua Vidinha-Rivera came in to do a “fabulous” job on the mound in the Kawaihau Minors All-Stars’ tough 8-7 win over the Kaneohe Americans, Saturday afternoon.
Akala Aiwohi said Vidinha-Rivera took over for Kurt Napoleon who started, and went until Boogie Yam shut the door, Vidinha-Rivera having to retire on pitch count.
Kawaihau battled the Americans through the fifth inning at a 4-4 stalemate until the Americans pushed three runs for the 7-4 bulge.
But Kawaihau answered with two out in the bottom of the frame with four runs on nice hitting, Aiwohi said.
“It was nice how the boys fought back,” Aiwohi said. “From there, it was an 8-7 ball game and all they had to do was defend.”
Kawaihau opened the Minors District Tournament, Friday with a 13-4 win over the Kaneohe Nationals behind an inside-the-park home run by Les Aki.
With the wins, Kawaihau faces Kainalu starting at 4 p.m. today on O‘ahu.
If the Kawaihau Minors win that matchup, their next game will bethe championship game, set to be played on Wednesday.
“The good thing if we can win, is that on Wednesday, whoever we face has to beat us twice,” Aiwohi said.
Six teams began the Minors tournament on Friday in O‘ahu to determine who will represent the district in the state tournament.
In the Minor league division, the state tournament is the highest level of competition a team can achieve because there is no national tournament, like there is for the Majors.
