After getting the first couple innings off, the Kaua‘i Red Raider regulars propelled the team to a comeback victory, Wednesday afternoon at the Ron Martin Field in Kapa‘a. Trailing 4-1, Kaua‘i put together a seven-run fourth inning and went on
After getting the first couple innings off, the Kaua‘i Red Raider regulars propelled the team to a comeback victory, Wednesday afternoon at the Ron Martin Field in Kapa‘a.
Trailing 4-1, Kaua‘i put together a seven-run fourth inning and went on to pick up a 9-4 victory to get to 2-3 in the season’s second round.
Austin Oshiro and Shea Shimabukuro led off the fourth with back-to-back singles, before Kellen Aquino walked to load the bases. Hank “Kawika” Ibia had a bloop drop for a single that scored two runs, cutting the deficit to one run at 4-3.
After an intentional walk to Erin Doi again loaded the bases with one out, the ball was put in play with the throw coming to the plate. Aquino collided with Kapa‘a catcher Kysen Lopez, knocking the ball loose and forcing it to roll all the way to the backstop. The Warriors had trouble locating where the ball had gone and Ibia came home to put Kaua‘i ahead 5-4.
The Raiders moved it to 6-4 on a squeeze bunt that plated Doi from third, before Oshiro came up with his second hit of the inning, a two-run single that brought across Stephen Perreira and Travis Koga for an 8-4 Raider lead.
Aquino made it a 9-4 game with an RBI sac bunt in the top of the seventh, which scored Oshiro.
Jensen Koga picked up the victory for Kaua‘i, entering the game in the second inning. The bases were loaded with one out when he took the mound, holding a 1-0 lead, but Justyn Nagahisa immediately stole home to even the score at 1-1. With two on and two out, Bronson Aiwohi laced a drive to left-center field and cruised into third with a stand-up triple, picking up two RBIs on the play and giving Kapa‘a a 3-1 lead.
He then scored on an error to put the Warriors ahead 4-1, before Koga picked up his second strikeout of the inning to end the frame. That was all the pitcher would surrender the rest of the afternoon, as he retired the final 15 hitters of the game. In total, he went 5.2 innings and gave up one unearned run on one hit, while walking none and striking out six.
Aiwohi pitched well in relief, going the final 3.2 innings for Kapa‘a and giving up one run on three hits, walking one and striking out one.
Oshiro finished the day 2 for 2 with two runs and two RBIs and a walk. Shimabukuro was 2 for 3 with a run scored and Ibia was 1 for 3 with a run and two RBIs.
Kapa‘a’s Aiwohi was 1 for 3 with the triple, one run and two RBIs. Kekoa Alfiler went 1 for 3 with a stolen base. Nagahisa was 1 for 3 with a run and a steal, while AJ Cummings and Rashaan Kuhaulua each scored a run.
After the game, which was the final home game for Kapa‘a this season, both teams’ seniors were announced by Kapa‘a High School Athletic Director Greg Gonsalves and then ran the bases individually, before receiving a lei once they crossed home plate.
The win puts the Red Raiders, who were the first-round champions, at 2-3 in the second round, while the Warriors fall to 1-2.
The Waimea Menehune sit at 2-0 and will face Kapa‘a in a doubleheader Saturday at Hanapepe Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 10 a.m. in the opener.
The single game between Kapa‘a and Waimea that was rained out on April 6 may still need to be played, depending on the results of the next week’s games.
