LIHU‘E — The first round title is still up in the air as Kaua‘i and Waimea High Schools split their doubleheader, Saturday at the Isenberg Park. Facing a 6-0 deficit after the first inning of Game 1, the Raiders responded
LIHU‘E — The first round title is still up in the air as Kaua‘i and Waimea High Schools split their doubleheader, Saturday at the Isenberg Park.
Facing a 6-0 deficit after the first inning of Game 1, the Raiders responded with nine runs in the frame en route to a 17-11 win in the opener. But in the second game, Kaua‘i fell behind 2-0 in the opening inning and could not recover, dropping the game, 5-4, against Waimea.
A Raider sweep, Saturday would have clinched the first-round title for the redshirts, but with the split, Waimea, hosting Kapa‘a in a single game, Wednesday, needs to win the game to clinch the first round.
A Warrior win, Wednesday, would force a playoff for the title between Kaua‘i and Waimea.
In the first game win, Kaua‘i picked up 17 runs on a dozen hits including triples from Tia Obrero, Kyana Hirokane and Ka‘a La‘amea.
Waimea finished with 11 runs on eight hits including a home run from Cassandra Dupree.
The pendulum swung for Game 2 with Waimea taking five runs on 12 hits including another home run, this time from freshman Ulu Matagiese, playing center field, in the third inning, and a triple from Kawehi Ephan.
Matagiese also doubled in the first inning and singled in the fifth frame.
Kaua‘i chipped back with 11 hits for its four runs, including a double from Hirokani in the sixth frame where the Raiders pushed two runs across the plate and left two stranded.
The Raiders also had an opportunity in the seventh frame of Game 2 for the go ahead, leaving the tying run at third and the go-ahead runner at first base before flying out to Matagiese to end the game, coming up just one run short.
Waimea bats were primed for Game 1, Ephan opening with a triple followed by back-to-back doubles from Matagiese and Ona Defabian.
Menehune second base Krysta Kali also smacked a two-bagger in the sixth inning, but her value came in initiating a pair of double plays, which effectively stifled the Raiders’ challenge.
Naja Pungan went the distance for the Raiders in both games while Shelley Koerte did mound duties for Waimea in both games.
Wednesday’s game starts at 5:30 p.m. at the Waimea Canyon Park against Kapa‘a.
