WAIMEA — A Saturday sweep in the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation earned the Kaua‘i High School softball team the first round title at the Waimea Canyon Park. Holding off a strong comeback by the Waimea Menehune in the middle innings, the
WAIMEA — A Saturday sweep in the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation earned the Kaua‘i High School softball team the first round title at the Waimea Canyon Park.
Holding off a strong comeback by the Waimea Menehune in the middle innings, the Red Raiders escaped with a 13-12 edge and followed that with a 5-1 win to clinch the first round with a 5-1 record while Waimea drops to 4-2.
Entering the game, Waimea, undefeated at 4-0, needed just one win to clinch the round, but Kaua‘i had other plans.
Capitalizing on Ulu Matagiese who took the mound for Waimea, the Red Raiders piled up 10 runs on just two hits while holding Waimea to just two runs on one hit in the first two frames.
Daeja Cummings walked to first to open the game and advanced to second on a Naja Pungan sacrifice bunt. The Raider catcher continued her journey, advancing to third on a wild pitch.
With two outs, Ka‘a La‘amela was hit by a pitch followed by Melia Aki loading the bases after being hit by another pitch. Malu Hornos got aboard on a fielder’s choice with erros scoring Cummings and La‘amela.
A third hit batter saw Moana Waipa load the bases for the second time in the frame with two away. Adriana Medeiros was hit by Matagiese, the fourth batter in the frame to draw the ball, driving Aki home.
Kaua‘i’s final run came when Hornos crossed on a wild pitch before the frame ended with the Raider batter crossed out on an interference call.
But Waimea answered in the bottom when Krysta Kali walked, and with two away, Matagiese got aboard on an error, advancing Kali to third. Both runners scored on a Tauina Tafiti 2-RBI single to left field.
Cummings announced the 6-run second inning by opening with a solo homerun, and following a walk and another hit batter, Shelly Koerte took over mound chores, sending Matagiese back to centerfield.
But Koerte hit Hornos to score Kyana Hirokane, who walked courtesy of Matagiese. A Waipa sacrifice fly pushed La‘amela, hit by a pitch, across the plate, and an error off Wailea Kaneali‘i pushed Aki across the plate, and Cummings’ RBI single to left scored Hornos for the six runs.
But Waimea ignited the comeback rally in the fifth inning with five runs, Sienna Santiago getting hit by a pitch with one out and stealing second. Kali walked and Kawehi Ephan got aboard on a fielder’s choice that saw Santiago put out at third.
Matagiese followed with a three-run homer to clear the pads, Tafiti getting aboard on an error which advanced the Menehune first base to second.
Cassandra Dupree followed with a two-RBI homer, Waimea’s second in the frame to ignite the rally.
Waimea got life in the seventh frame when, with two outs, Alyssa Jardin walked and stole second. Fiare Moe got aboard after being hit by a pitch followed by Santiago nailing a ground-rule double to score Jardin.
Kali walked to load the pads, and when Ephan drew first on a walk, Moe crossed the plate, giving Waimea a one-run deficit with Matagiese in the box to face Pungan.
But Matagiese lined to second base to end the threat, and the game.
Overall, both team finished with eight hits apiece and committed a pair of errors.
Pungan picked up the complete-game win on the hill, allowing 12 runs, nine earned, on eight hits while striking out eight and walking seven.
Matagiese suffered the loss in one inning with nine runs crossing, five earned, on one hit while walking four and striking out one. Koerte finished in six innings, giving up four runs, three earned, on seven hits while walking two and striking out five.
Cummings led the Red Raiders with four hits, scoring four times and marked two RBI followed by Hirokane getting two hits and an RBI, scoring once. Pungan, scoring twice, and La‘amela, scoring twice, had a hit apiece, La‘amela finishing with an RBI.
Matagiese, despite suffering the loss on the hill, topped the Waimea bats with two hits, scored twice, and marked five RBI. Tafiti finished 2-5, scored twice and marked two RBI along with Dupree who was 1-4 and scored once.
The Red Raider hitting continued into Game 2 with five runs scored on 11 hits while committing two errors.
Waimea pushed one run on five hits and miscued five times.
Anise Soltren picked up the win for Kaua‘i in Game 2, giving up one run on five hits while walking five and striking out two.
Koerte suffered the complete-game loss, allowing five runs, three earned, on 11 hits while walking four and striking out one.
La‘amela topped the Kaua‘i hitting with three hits, scored once and marked two RBI followed by Cummings with a 2-5 showing and scoring once. Hirokane finished 2-4 and scored twice.
Santiago led the Waimea hitting with 2-4 in the box, scoring once. Matagiese, Jardin and Moe each had hits with Ephan marking an RBI.
With Kaua‘i pocketing the first round title, Round 2 begins on April 6 when the Red Raiders host the Warriors in a single game starting at 5:30 p.m. at Isenberg Park.
