HANAPEPE — The Hanapepe Rivermen rallied for 11 runs on nine hits in the eighth and ninth innings to settle the championship for the Kaua‘i Americans of Japanese Ancestry baseball league Sunday. Kelly Robinson, finishing 4-7, paced the Rivermen hardware
HANAPEPE — The Hanapepe Rivermen rallied for 11 runs on nine hits in the eighth and ninth innings to settle the championship for the Kaua‘i Americans of Japanese Ancestry baseball league Sunday.
Kelly Robinson, finishing 4-7, paced the Rivermen hardware with seven RBI and almost hit for the cycle with a home run in the sixth, two doubles and a single in Hanapepe’s 20-14 win for the title.
“They’re going to hit,” said Kalaheo pitcher Kaleo Saiki, who was watching the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation baseball game in Kapa‘a Saturday.
That prophecy came true as Hanapepe piled up 20 runs on 21 hits, including nine in the two explosive final innings.
The Kalaheo Farmers scored their 14 runs on a dozen hits.
With the win, the Rivermen defend their Kaua‘i AJA Championship and now face the task of forming the Kaua‘i All-Stars, which will face competing teams from the Outer Islands during the state AJA tournament scheduled for early April at Vidinha Stadium.
The fireworks started early, with Hanapepe scoring two runs on two hits with one away. Mason Lorenzo scored on a Robinson RBI double to right field and Robinson scored on a Tyrus Matsumoto RBI double to leftfield. Matsumoto finished the game with a pair of doubles and a single with one RBI.
But Kalaheo answered, capitalizing off Hanapepe pitcher Kito Nonaka with four runs on just one hit. Nonaka gave up five walks, two of which drove runs across the plate.
That warmup stiffened as Kito allowed just four hits until the sixth inning, when he was replaced by his dad Wendall, who closed. He also gave up only one other walk in the sixth before retiring.
The 4-2 Kalaheo lead after the first inning was short-lived, as Hanapepe battled back to tie the game when Davin Yamase doubled to left to open the second inning and scored on an RBI single by Justin Ganaden and Robinson drove in Lorenzo.
Troy Yamase singled to open the fourth and scored with two outs on another Robinson RBI single for the go-ahead.
But with Kito tiring, Kalaheo regained the lead in the sixth, finishing the inning with six runs on just two hits.
Kalaheo leadoff hitter Saiki smacked into a two-RBI double to leftfield, scoring Zoomie Bukoski and Brandon Ishibashi, walking and singling, respectively.
Kainoa Santos walked to reload the pads and a clonk to Tuki McCallum’s helmet drove Duane Miyasato home. Jason Koga walked to drive Saiki home and a Kaina McCallum two-RBI single to centerfield completed the fireworks as Kalaheo took a 12-9 lead.
Ganden (2-7) finished with four RBI on a single and a double, Vince Nitta added an RBI on a triple, a double and a single, Robbie Correa drove two runs on a double and two singles and Davin Yamase marked two RBI on a double and three singles to round out the Hanapepe batting leaders.
Kaina McCallum paced the Kalaheo bats with three RBI on a double and two singles, Saiki ended with two RBI on a double and single and Tuki McCallum added two RBI on a single.
Brandon Ishibashi, the Kalaheo catcher, finished with a single, but added two RBI on a pair of sacrifice flies.
