LIHU‘E — The Waimea Menehune exploded for seven runs in the fifth inning and six runs in the sixth inning en route to a 20-8 win over the Kaua‘i Red Raiders in a marathon softball game, Wednesday night at the
LIHU‘E — The Waimea Menehune exploded for seven runs in the fifth inning and six runs in the sixth inning en route to a 20-8 win over the Kaua‘i Red Raiders in a marathon softball game, Wednesday night at the Isenberg Park.
With the win, Waimea improves to 3-0 on the season while Kaua‘i sits at 1-1 following its Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation win over Kapa‘a last Wednesday. Kapa‘a is 0-3.
Tauina Tafiti got the ball rolling for the Menehune in the opening frame. Facing a bases loaded situation, she cranked into a two-RBI double, scoring Krysta Kali, who had gotten aboard on a single, and Kawehi Ephan who walked.
Ulu Matagiese, reaching first on an error, came home when Fiare Moe walked in another bases loaded situation, Matagiese and Tafiti were joined on the path by Jacelynn Sabala-Rapanot who was hit by a pitch.
Kaua‘i answered the three-run inning with two runs of its own, Melia Aki and Adrianna Medeiros scoring for Kaua‘i.
The tight competition continued through four innings before things unraveled for the Red Raiders, Waimea scoring seven runs on just a one hit, and Kaua‘i coach calling on reliever Aniase Soltren to take over for an ailing Naja Pungan.
Soltren went until the seventh inning when Ka‘a La‘amea was called on to close.
Shelly Koerte went the distance to pick up her third win, allowing eight runs, three earned on seven Kaua‘i hits while walking one batter, striking out one and hitting two.
Pungan was strapped for the loss in four innings, being relieved after facing five batters in the fifth, giving up 11 runs, nine earned on six hits while striking out three, walking seven and hitting five. Soltren ended the night allowing nine runs, six earned, on five hits while striking out one, walking six and hitting three batters.
The Raiders paid attention to Ephan — who knocked a home run in each of two games, Saturday and Wednesday — holding the Menehune catcher to just one hit, walking her twice and striking her out once. She ended the night by scoring three times and had an RBI.
But following Ephan in the batting lineup, Matagiese led the Menehune bats with three hits including a single, double and a triple, scoring five times with two RBIs. Tafiti and Cassandra Dupree followed with two hits apiece, Tafiti with three runs and five RBIs and Dupree marking four RBIs.
Rapanot had one hit for two RBIs and Moe ended with a bunt single with three RBIs to round out the leaderboard for the 12 hits piled up by Waimea.
Waile‘ia Kaneali‘i banged into a triple, scored once and had an RBI. Malu Hornos, Pungan, Aki, Medeiros and Moana Waipa all posted hits for Kaua‘i.
Kaua‘i will host Kapa‘a in a doubleheader starting at 10 a.m. at the Isenberg Park, Saturday.
