KAPA‘A — After putting themselves back in position to force a first-place tie on Wednesday, the Kaua‘i Red Raiders completed the task with a sweep of the Kapa‘a Warriors, Saturday at the Ron Martin Field in Kapa‘a. Kaua‘i (4-1-1) took
KAPA‘A — After putting themselves back in position to force a first-place tie on Wednesday, the Kaua‘i Red Raiders completed the task with a sweep of the Kapa‘a Warriors, Saturday at the Ron Martin Field in Kapa‘a.
Kaua‘i (4-1-1) took the doubleheader by scores of 7-1 and 8-1 to move even with the Waimea Menehune (4-1-1) and force a playoff game for the first-round title.
Waimea had a chance to clinch the first round Wednesday, but Kaua‘i came through with a 7-6 win over the Menehune in eight innings to keep its hope alive. The Raiders have won four straight games.
Now Kaua‘i and Waimea will play Wednesday at Vidinha Stadium to determine the first-round winner. First pitch is set for 3:30 p.m.
Kaua‘i pitchers held Kapa‘a (0-6) to just five hits in the two Saturday games, as Erin Doi went the full seven innings in the opener, giving up one run on three hits, walking three and striking out two.
Jensen Koga was 2 for 4 with a triple and a run scored for the Red Raiders, who also got one hit apiece from Hank “Kawika” Ibia, Travis Koga, Austin Oshiro, Doi and Bryton Lumabao. Oshiro and Lumabao each collected an RBI.
Dreyke Smith-Butac scored a pair of runs as a courtesy runner, while Ibia, Doi, Kellen Aquino and Shea Shimabukuro all crossed the plate once.
Kapa‘a’s Kalen Iwai got the start and threw a complete game, taking the loss while giving up seven runs — though just one was earned — on seven hits and three walks.
Iwai had one of the three Kapa‘a base hits, as did Robert Soares and Kekoa Alfiler, who had an RBI single in the fifth to score Atta Vinhaca.
Scoreless through three innings, Kaua‘i scored a pair in the fourth, added one in the fifth and brought four across in the sixth.
Now needing a second victory to even the standings, Jensen Koga started the afternoon game and went the first three innings. He gave up no runs, one hit and a walk while striking out four Warriors.
Travis Koga then came on and finished the game, getting the win over the final four innings, giving up just one unearned run on one hit with four strikeouts.
Oshiro was 2 for 4 with two runs and two RBIs in the game, while Kawika Texeira was 2 for 4 with a run and two stolen bases.
Aquino was 1 for 3 with an RBI. Matthew Ebueng was 1 for 3 with a run scored and a stolen base, while Cody Juarez was 1 for 2 with a run.
Courtesy runner Stephen Perreira stole five bases in the game.
Alfiler was 1 for 3 and scored the lone Kapa‘a run, coming home when Zavier Cummings was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded for an RBI. Kysen Lopez had the other Warrior hit, a fifth-inning single.
Nick Tabura took the loss, going five innings and giving up five runs (two earned) on three hits, walking five and striking out two. Lopez threw the final two innings, surrendering three runs (two earned) on four hits and walking four.
The Raiders jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first as Aquino singled home Doi for the third score. They added unearned runs in the second and fifth, then brought home three in the sixth to create the final tally.
After Wednesday’s playoff game, the second round will begin Saturday when the Red Raiders host the Warriors for a doubleheader at Vidinha Stadium. The first game is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m.
