LIHU‘E — Naja Pungan threw a two-hitter and Melina Aki had a single, scored once and drove in three runs to lead the Kaua‘i High School Red Raiders to an 11-0 shutout over Kapa‘a in cold, soggy conditions, Wednesday at
LIHU‘E — Naja Pungan threw a two-hitter and Melina Aki had a single, scored once and drove in three runs to lead the Kaua‘i High School Red Raiders to an 11-0 shutout over Kapa‘a in cold, soggy conditions, Wednesday at Isenberg Park.
The game almost became a victim of the weather, which had earlier forced suspension of the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation baseball game after two complete innings in Kapa‘a.
But the girls stayed put in the dugouts, fans waited patiently in their cars, and Chef Rafael Camarillo sold out of all his bento lunches as Ross Shimabukuro, the Kaua‘i athletic director, opted to wait until the scheduled 5:30 p.m. start time before making a decision.
Pungan, throwing for three complete innings, gave up just two hits — back-to-back singles by Kalia Kaui and Pricilla Lutz in the second inning — while walking two and hitting one batter in the game shortened by the 10-run ruling.
Shortstop Ka‘a La‘amea came in to throw a complete frame, giving up no hits while striking out the first two batters in the fifth inning to preserve the win.
Melina Obar suffered the loss for Kapa‘a, going for four innings and allowing 11 runs on seven hits while striking out one, walking three and hitting three batters. Ta’ashi Napoleon came in to finish the outing, facing just one batter.
Kaua‘i’s big inning came in the second frame when the Red Raiders pushed four of their five runs home with two away.
Moana Waipa got aboard after being hit by a pitch and Kyren Ishikawa, courtesy running for the catcher, stole second base. Daeja Cummings singled and both Ishikawa and Cummings scored on Pungan’s two-RBI shot.
Ka‘a La‘amea got hit by a pitch before Aki’s bases-clearing, three-run shot to right field.
Kaua‘i added four more runs on two hits including a Malu Hornos bunt in the fourth inning to shorten the game.
Top bats for the Raiders, who finished with 10 RBIs, included Hirokane belting a triple that scored a pair, as well as Cummings who scored three times, stole two bases and singled.
Pungan marked two RBIs on a single, La‘amea marked an RBI on a single, Aki marked three RBIs on a single, Hornos had an RBI on a bunt and Waipa had two RBIs on a single.
Kapa‘a next hosts Waimea, Saturday in a doubleheader at the New Kapa‘a Town Park with the first pitch going at 10 a.m.
Kaua‘i enjoys the weekend off before traveling to Waimea for a single game at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday.
