WAIMEA — Waimea High School took a 3-2 edge over Iolani on four hits in the first inning, but the Iolani Red Raiders answered with four runs in the fourth inning to take a 7-4 win during the second day
WAIMEA — Waimea High School took a 3-2 edge over Iolani on four hits in the first inning, but the Iolani Red Raiders answered with four runs in the fourth inning to take a 7-4 win during the second day of the Waimea Invitational Softball Tournament.
The host Menehune wahine came back to redeem that loss with a 15-6 win over the Campbell Sabers to finish pool play at 2-1-1 after two days of action.
Kaua‘i High School, the defending Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation champions and the Hawai‘i High School Athletic Association Division II state champions, finished with two wins, a 7-1 victory over Kalaheo followed by an 11-0 shutout over Kapa‘a, Friday.
This was a comeback from its two losses suffered on the opening day when Kaua‘i fell 12-1 to Mililani, the HHSAA Division I state champions.
“There’s a lot of talent here,” said Michael Koerte, an organizer with the tournament, while flipping burgers Thursday. “It’s like coach Jon (Kobayashi, the Waimea athletic director) always said, ‘If you’re going to dance, you dance with the prettiest girl.’ We have a lot of pretty girls here, and they can play softball!”
Kaua‘i finishes pool play 2-2 and will open today, the final day of the tournament, starting at 8:30 a.m. against Pearl City. A win in that game will advance Kaua‘i to the 11:30 match against the Campbell Sabers, who finish pool play 2-1-1.
Mililani opened the tournament with a 14-0 win over the Kapa‘a Warriors, who were playing with several players nursing injuries. The Trojans went on to finish pool play with a 4-0 record and will face the winner of the game between Pac 5 and Kalaheo.
Kapa‘a came back from the loss to the Trojans to edge Kalaheo 5-4, before falling to Mid-Pacific Institute, 14-0 and Kaua‘i, Friday for a 1-3 record after two days of play.
Waimea opens the final day of the tournament against the Mid-Pacific Owls with the winner advancing to the semifinals at 1 p.m. The Menehune’s first pitch is at 10 a.m. at the Waimea Canyon Park.
Kapa‘a also faces Iolani in a 10 a.m. game, the winner advancing to the semifinals.
Championship for the Waimea tournament starts at 3 p.m.
