KAPA‘A — The Kaua‘i Red Raiders bested the Kapa‘a Warriors for the third time this season with a 12-2 five-inning win, Wednesday afternoon at Ron Martin Field in Kapa‘a. Kaua‘i (3-1) took advantage of opportunities with runners on and used
KAPA‘A — The Kaua‘i Red Raiders bested the Kapa‘a Warriors for the third time this season with a 12-2 five-inning win, Wednesday afternoon at Ron Martin Field in Kapa‘a.
Kaua‘i (3-1) took advantage of opportunities with runners on and used an eight-run second inning to create the one-sided final score.
The big inning was again costly for Kapa‘a (1-4), which gave up 12 runs in one inning in an 18-1 Saturday loss to Waimea (2-1).
Lanan Rice-Kashima was 2 for 3 with a home run, two runs and three RBIs, adding a walk to his total for the Raiders.
Kellen Aquino scored three runs for Kaua‘i, which saw pitcher Dalston Miyasato grab the victory.
Kapa‘a’s Brehdan Kamibayashi took the loss for the Warriors, who managed just two hits against Raider pitching.
Neither team got on the board in the first inning, but the Raiders came on strong in the second, loading the bases for leadoff hitter Taran Tani. The senior drew a walk to plate the first run, which was followed by another hitless score when Aquino was hit by a pitch to score Shea Shimabukuro.
Rice-Kashima drew another walk to give Kaua‘i a 3-0 advantage.
The Raiders started to put their bats to work for multiple runs, as Kalen Iwai, Travis Koga and Miyasato unloaded three consecutive doubles, the first two plating two runs apiece and the final shot giving Kaua‘i an 8-0 lead.
Neither team plated a run in the third, but Kaua‘i got back on the board in the top of the fourth.
Aquino led off the inning with a walk, followed by a two-run blast from Rice-Kashima to open up a 10-0 Raider advantage.
After an Iwai strikeout, Travis Koga was hit by a pitch, followed by a Miyasato single. Shimabukuro was also hit to load the bases for Austin Oshiro.
Oshiro hit a comebacker to the mound, which scored Koga on a fielder’s choice.
Trailing 11-0, the Warriors got back two runs in the bottom half to extend the action. A hit-by-pitch for Aiwohi and a walk to Mick Voigt created first and second with no outs.
A pitch in the dirt sent Aiwohi sprinting for third, but he was gunned down for the first out as Voigt moved to second.
Randall Jacinto hit a chopper to shortstop, which resulted in Voigt also being thrown out trying to advance to third.
The base-running mistakes proved costly when Jonathan Yam cranked a two-run double to make the score 11-2.
Kaua‘i got a one-out double from Aquino in the top of the fifth, with the infielder scoring two batters later when Jamen Kealoha-Albarado reached on an error.
Needing a run to prolong the game and avoid the 10-run rule, the Warriors were set down in order in the bottom of the fifth. Jordan Cummings, Kamibayashi and Bronson Aiwohi all grounded out to end the contest.
Action will continue Saturday morning with a doubleheader beginning at 10 a.m. at Vidinha Stadium as the Raiders will host the Waimea Menehune. The second game will begin 30 minutes after the conclusion of Game One.
Kapa‘a hits the road Wednesday for a single game against Waimea beginning at 3:30 p.m.
