WAIMEA — Waimea churned up seven runs on five hits and a pair of Kaua‘i miscues to erase an 8-2 deficit and chip out a 9-8 win, Wednesday at the Waimea Canyon Park. The Menehune, playing in still, humid air
WAIMEA — Waimea churned up seven runs on five hits and a pair of Kaua‘i miscues to erase an 8-2 deficit and chip out a 9-8 win, Wednesday at the Waimea Canyon Park.
The Menehune, playing in still, humid air before a large home crowd that ringed the fencelines, chalked up nine hits — one fewer than Kaua‘i — in its comeback win. The bats were fueled by leadoff batter Sienna Santiago, who finished with two hits, scored twice and marked two RBIs. Her second hit and RBI came in the bottom of the seventh when she singled to center field with one out to drive in Fiare Moe, who had singled to short. That was the first of seven runs scored in the last frame.
Santiago scored her second run in that inning with two away on a Kawehi Ephan RBI double.
That opened the floodgates for the Menehune when Ulu Matagiese followed in the lineup and walked to load the basepads, which set the stage for Tauina Tafiti, who laced a single to center field, scoring Ephan.
Kaua‘i’s pitching mound was already being worn down and a wild pitch moved Tafiti to third as Matagiese crossed on a wild pitch.
The mound coughed up another walk to Cassandra Dupree, who promptly stole second base and advanced to third on a Kaua‘i error, eventually scoring on another Kaua‘i error along with Tafiti to force another pitching change.
But the bleeding didn’t stop as Jazzlyn Bradbury walked to load the bags for the second time, and when Santiago was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, the crowd went wild as Bailey Nordmeier, pinch running for Alyssa Jardin, crossed the plate for the go-ahead win.
Following Santiago, Ephan scored once, had one hit and an RBI. Tafiti scored twice, marked one hit with an RBI, while Jardin chalked up two hits and an RBI. Moe scored once with two hits.
Kaua‘i surged to its 8-2 lead with five runs on four hits and two Waimea errors in the top of the seventh. Shortstop Ka‘a La‘amea had two of the team’s 10 hits, also scoring twice and picking up an RBI.
Leadoff hitter Daeja Cummings scored twice and had two hits, Malu Hornos finished with two hits, starting pitcher Naja Pungan scored once, marked one hit and had an RBI along with Melia Aki. Adriana Medeiros finished with one hit and an RBI.
Shelly Koerte picked up her seventh win with a complete-game performance on the mound, allowing eight runs — six earned — on 10 hits while walking two and striking out one.
Kaua‘i’s Anaise Soltren picked up her first loss of the season, coming on in relief for Pungan and throwing 2.2 innings with seven runs allowed — five earned — on five hits while walking three and striking out one.
Pungan went four innings with two runs allowed — one earned — on four hits while walking two, and La‘amea closed, facing two batters, walking one and hitting the other.
With the win, Waimea improves to 7-2 on the season while Kaua‘i drops to 6-2.
Kaua‘i will travel to the New Kapa‘a Town Park Saturday for a doubleheader against the Kapa‘a Warriors starting at 10 a.m.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com.
