WAIMEA — Kiani Kamakea had a chance to spread her wings on the mound Wednesday. Kamakea, the No. 2 pitcher for the Waimea Menehune, threw a one-hitter against Kapa‘a, going the distance in a 12-2 win at the Waimea Canyon
WAIMEA — Kiani Kamakea had a chance to spread her wings on the mound Wednesday.
Kamakea, the No. 2 pitcher for the Waimea Menehune, threw a one-hitter against Kapa‘a, going the distance in a 12-2 win at the Waimea Canyon Park which was rimmed with spectators enjoying the clear Westside evening.
“Coach wanted to give her a chance,” said Jonel Tafiti, mother of Menehune freshman hurler Deannalynn Tafiti who occasionally sojourned out of the dugout for a drink at the fountain, unaccustomed to having to sit the game out.
Kamakea, in addition to the one-hit allowed to Kapa‘a centerfielder Nahea Quereto, finished with three strikeouts while walking four batters and hitting three batters in a game shortened by the 10-run ruling, picking up her first win of the season.
In her two-run homer coming in the second inning, the ball glanced off Quereto’s mitt before coming to rest beyond the outfield fence.
Ulu Matagiese, the Waimea centerfielder led the offense, conking one of two homeruns chalked up the the Menehune, driving home three runs and finishing two-for-three in hitting.
Kawehi Ephan, the Waimea catcher, nailed the second homerun which sailed clearly over the left-centerfield fence and bouncing beyond the row of spectators seated in the outfield.
The homer was her only hit, but Ephan scored twice, getting aboard in the first inning on a Warrior miscue and driving Sienna Santiago, bunt singling, across the plate for one of two RBI in the game.
Joining the leaders, Waimea got a bunt single from Santiago, a single from Krysta Kali, a single from Bailey San Agustin-Nordmeier and a single from Jessica Tangalin.
Waimea struck in the first inning, chalking up six runs on three hits, added two runs each in the second and fourth frames before ending the game with two runs in the fifth.
Kapa‘a marked its two runs in the fourth inning when Keisha Aki, walking first, scored on a play by Ka‘anoi Marshall who got first on an error. Marshall crossed on Quereto’s RBI single.
Kapa‘a next hosts Kaua‘i High School, Saturday in a double-header at its new softball field, the first pitch going at 10 a.m.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
