HANAPEPE — Despite being held hitless over their final four innings at the dish, the Waimea Menehune took advantage of early opportunities for a 7-1 win to open up the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation baseball season, Wednesday at Hanapepe Stadium. Getting
HANAPEPE — Despite being held hitless over their final four innings at the dish, the Waimea Menehune took advantage of early opportunities for a 7-1 win to open up the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation baseball season, Wednesday at Hanapepe Stadium.
Getting all five of its hits in the first two innings, Waimea scored three runs in the first and three more in the second to jump out to a 6-0 lead and kept Kapa‘a off the scoreboard until the final stages of the game to start the season in the win column.
Shylen Keuma went 2 for 3 with three runs scored, an RBI, two steals and reached once on a hit-by-pitch.
Mikeo Rita followed suit with his own 2 for 3 day, collecting two RBIs, stealing a base and also was hit by a pitch.
Jordan Kamakea went 1 for 4 with a run scored for the Menehune.
The Warriors had four hits on the day, with Bronson Aiwohi collecting two of them. His second hit came in the top of the seventh inning and brought home Kysen Lopez for Kapa‘a’s lone run of the game. Lopez had reached on an error to start the inning.
Rashaan Kuhaulua and Jonathan Yam each picked up base hits for Kapa‘a.
Chyson Soares got the start on the mound and the win for Waimea, going 3.1 innings and surrendering one hit while walking three and striking out three. He came out of the game after hitting a pair of Warrior hitters early in the fourth.
Mikeo Rita came on in relief and went the final 3.2 innings, giving up one unearned run on three hits, while striking out five.
Kalen Iwai got the start for Kapa‘a, lasting 1.1 innings and giving up six runs on five hits.
Nick Tabura came on and did a stellar job in relief, going the final 4.2 innings without giving up a hit, walking one and striking out seven Menehune hitters.
Kamakea started things with a one-out single in the bottom of the first, which was followed by a bloop single to left from Keuma. Kamakea scored the game’s first run on a passed ball and was followed home by Keuma on a single to left from Mikeo Rita. Chyson Soares made it 3-0 Waimea when he scored on a wild pitch.
Alika Emayo and Kaimana Perreira-Alquiza each walked to start the second, and each was in scoring position with one out when Keuma laced a single to left field to bring home both runners.
After Chyson Soares was hit by a pitch, Mikeo Rita made it 6-0 by knocking home Keuma with a single to left.
The Menehune’s final run came in the bottom of the fourth, though they did not record a hit. Keuma reached on an error to start the inning, stole both second and third base, then scored on a wild pitch for a 7-0 lead.
With two outs in the top of the seventh, Aiwohi’s base hit brought in Lopez for Kapa‘a, creating the final math.
Waimea (1-0) will hit the road Saturday for a doubleheader with the Kaua‘i Red Raiders (0-0) at Vidinha Stadium beginning at 1 p.m. The start time is later than usual to accommodate the SAT testing occurring Saturday.
Kapa‘a (0-1) is back in action Wednesday for a single game against Kaua‘i at Vidinha Stadium, first pitch scheduled for 3:30 p.m.
