KAPA‘A — The third-ranked Yankees churned five runs on one hit in the fourth inning and eventually took the title of the Kawaihau Community Little League Minors’ division with a 10-4 win, Monday at the New Kapa‘a Town Park Main
KAPA‘A — The third-ranked Yankees churned five runs on one hit in the fourth inning and eventually took the title of the Kawaihau Community Little League Minors’ division with a 10-4 win, Monday at the New Kapa‘a Town Park Main Diamond.
Advancing to the championship by defeating the second-ranked Dodgers to a 10-2 tune, Saturday, the Yankees faced the top-ranked Astros for all the marbles before a fully supportive crowd punctuated with signs dancing in the stiff breezes blowing down the Kawaihau slopes.
Dreyden Iwamoto, getting one of six hits culled by the Yankees in their win, opened the fourth inning with a single.
But the Yankees’ pitching faltered and the mound issued three walks and a hit batter, as Astros coach Mikey Cardinez visited the mound twice in the frame.
Following a put out, Braden Watanabe got aboard on a fielder’s choice before Kystin Alfiler was hit by a pitch to load the pads with just one out.
Elvis Park got aboard on a called interference to push Iwamoto across the plate, unraveling the Astros even further.
But the pitcher got tough and the second out came on a swinging strikeout.
Brent Terada pushed Watanabe home on an infield play to further dismantle the Astros with two away. Jai Alapai got aboard on a fielder’s choice, scoring Alfiler to knot the game at 3-3.
Edward Bernabe and Keison Scalzo walked to score Park and Terada before the inning was called on the five-run ruling with two outs.
The Astros battled back in the bottom of the fourth with a run on one hit to make the game interesting.
“We have a game, folks,” Wilson Moniz, the announcer of the day, said above the winds.
With one away, Isaac Nagahisa singled to right field and crossed the plate on a Cade Halemanu shot that coupled with a Yankee miscue for the 5-4 score, the Astros leaving Halemanu and Kymani Counts, who had walked, stranded.
The Astros had their opportunities, leaving three runners on base twice, and stranding two runners twice in the matchup.
Taking its 5-4 margin, the Yankees pushed three more runs on two hits in the fifth and graced the victory with two more runs on one hit in the sixth for the victory.
The Astros started strong with Leipua Kaui handling the mound chores against the boys. He also smacked back-to-back doubles in the first and third innings.
Kaenen Lacaden got aboard on a walk and advanced into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by Makoa Gorospe, setting the stage for Kaui’s first double. Kalena Harder got aboard on a Yankee miscue to load the pads before Nainoa Cardinez’s fielder’s choice drove Lacaden home. Nagahisa walked to score Kaui, and with two away, another walk, this time to Pono, scored Harder for the 3-0 lead.
The Yankees’ pitching staff, working the pitch counts, held the Astros to just four hits in the outing, and one of its rare losses in the season.
“We started building from early in the season, and played our best ball in the last four games,” said Marvin Terada, head coach of the Yankees. “Our team played good against the Dodgers, Saturday. The Astros really deserved to win, but it was tough luck their pitching gave out. They are really good players.”
Team members include Jai Alapai, Kystin Alfiler, Chayse Basuel, Edward Bernabe, Robert Ali‘i Brown, Ashley Contrades, Dreyden Iwamoto, Elvis Park, Keison Scalzo, Caden Shimabukuro, Brent Terada, Coen Tone, Braden Watanabe amd Titus Nainoa Workman.
Joining Marvin as head coach are assistant coaches Roland Park, Dustin Alfiler, Byron Tone, Sterlyn Shimabukuro (who kept the players pumped throughout the game) and Jason Scalzo.
Moniz said following this Minors division championship, the Kawaihau Community Little League will meet to formulate the Minors All-Stars to represent Kaua‘i at the District tournament.
