HANAPEPE — Though not the way a team typically likes to script a baseball game, the Waimea Menehune came back from an early 6-0 deficit to win their season-opener against the Kaua‘i Red Raiders, 7-6, Wednesday afternoon at Hanapepe Stadium.
HANAPEPE — Though not the way a team typically likes to script a baseball game, the Waimea Menehune came back from an early 6-0 deficit to win their season-opener against the Kaua‘i Red Raiders, 7-6, Wednesday afternoon at Hanapepe Stadium.
Waimea pitcher Kalani Fernandez was in the middle of all the action, coming away with a complete-game victory and scoring the go-ahead run in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Mana Perreira-Alquiza had what proved to be the game-winning at-bat, scoring Fernandez from second base on an error after the pitcher hit a two-out double to right-center.
Kaua‘i started the game in an ideal fashion, as six of its first seven batters reached base safely, including a grand slam from first-baseman Travis Koga that gave the Raiders a 5-0 lead.
Kellen Aquino had the first RBI for Kaua‘i, plating Dalston Miyasato on a double.
Fernandez set the Raiders down in order in the second, then gave up his sixth run when Jamen Kealoha-Albarado singled and scored on a Travis Koga ground-rule double to left-center field in the third inning.
Perreira-Alquiza made a key play to limit the Raiders’ output in the third, coming up with an Austin Oshiro line drive and then firing to first base to double off Jensen Koga for the inning-ending double play.
Trailing 6-0, the Menehune got going in the bottom of the third. Three straight singles to start the inning brought up bases loaded with no outs, but a Perreira-Alquiza double-play grounder seemed to limit the threat, though it did plate one run.
Gavin Jardin stepped in and smacked a double to center field, scoring Fernandez. He was then knocked in on a triple by Paul Correa and the Menehune trailed 6-3 after three full innings.
Fernandez struck out two Raiders in the fourth without giving up a hit before Kaua‘i pitcher Shea Shimabukuro settled back down in the bottom half, allowing one base hit but no further damage.
The Menehune continued their comeback in the fifth, as Fernandez got things going with a single. Perreira-Alquiza reached on a costly error, setting up a two-RBI, ground-rule double by Jardin.
Shimabukuro got the next two batters and still held a one-run lead, but Dylan Isihara knocked in Jardin with a single to left, knotting up the game at six runs apiece after five.
Kaua‘i was again set down thanks to a 5-4-3 double play to end the top half of the sixth.
The first two Menehune batters failed to reach in the bottom half, but Fernandez kept the inning going with a double to right-center.
Perreira-Alquiza again put the ball in play and again reached safely thanks to a Kaua‘i fielding error, which also allowed Fernandez to score the go-ahead run from second base.
The pitcher quickly dusted himself off and went out in the seventh to finish the job. He got Aquino to ground out to shortstop, then got Lanan Rice-Kashima on a comebacker to the mound before finishing in style with a strikeout of Travis Koga.
Fernandez went the distance for the win, giving up six earned runs on five hits and striking out seven. He also went 3 for 4 at the plate with a double, two singles and three runs scored.
Shimabukuro took the loss for Kaua‘i, going six innings, giving up four earned runs on 12 hits and striking out four.
Waimea (1-0) will be back on the diamond at 10 a.m. Saturday to take on the Kapa‘a Warriors (0-2) in a doubleheader at Ron Martin Field. The second game will start 30 minutes after the completion of the first.
Kaua‘i (2-1) has the weekend off and will face Kapa‘a at 3:30 p.m., Wednesday at Ron Martin Field.
