LIHUE — West Kauai Mustang All-Star Kainalu Lazaro roped a three-run double in the fourth inning to break a 6-6 tie. Lazaro had one of three hits in an inning where five runs came across the plate. West Kauai took
LIHUE — West Kauai Mustang All-Star Kainalu Lazaro roped a three-run double in the fourth inning to break a 6-6 tie.
Lazaro had one of three hits in an inning where five runs came across the plate. West Kauai took an 11-6 lead over the Lihue Baseball Mustang All-Stars en route to a 13-7 final Tuesday at the Lihue County Park.
Tysson Unciano whacked a 2-RBI single to centerfield in the first inning to give West Kauai an early 3-0 lead. Lihue went on to erupt for five runs on six hits in the second inning to take a 6-4 lead behind two RBIs from Dawson Kalapaca.
Overall, Lihue outhit West Kauai eight to seven, but errors cost Lihue who finished with six. Four came in the sixth inning, which gaveWest Kauai two runs.
Trailing 6-4 in the fourth, Tevin Shigematsu walked to open the inning, which prompted a Lihue pitching change. Taylor Apilado came in in relief of starting pitcher Ricky “Malu” Ralston.
Unciano picked up his second hit of the day, singling to right field followed by Kristian Cardejon singling to center, which loaded the bases with no outs.
Conner MacKenzie drew a walk that scored Shigematsu.
With bases loaded, Lazaro cleared the bases on a hit to deep right field.
With one away, Lazaro came home on a Sean Mullikin ground out to the shortstop.
Apilado stiffened and struck out the final batter, his only K in relief.
Lihue was able to answer with a run in the bottom of the fourth when Jaistin Medeiros walked, stole secondbase, and scored on a West Kauai error for the 11-7 deficit.
West Kauai pitcher Degan Davis struck out the final batter, his third strikeout in the six-inning victory.
With two innings left, Davis allowed just two Lihue hits, a double from Isaiah Matsumura in the fifth, and a single by Jaden Domingsel, pinch-hitting for Apilado in the sixth, and West Kauai committed no errors to preserve the win.
Davis picked up the win, going the distance and allowing eight hits while striking out five and walking four.
Lihue shared mound duty between Ralston and Apilado, Ralston gave up four hits while striking out one and walking six.
Apilado allowed four hits while walking one with no strikeouts.
Lazaro had the hot bat for West Kauai with three RBIs. Unciano added a double and single for two RBIs, while Mullikin doubled and Ephan and Ottoman both singled.
Kalapaca led the Lihue bats with two singles for two RBIs, Matsumura had two hits, a single and double and Brandson Hirokane singled and scored once.
The West Kauai Mustang All-Stars will attempt to close out the Lihue Mustang All-Stars Thursday at the Hanapepe Soto field adjacent to the Hanapepe Neighborhood Center.
A third game, if needed, is scheduled for Saturday with details to be determined Thursday.
The winner of the best-of-three series will advance to the PONY Mustang state tournament on the Big Island, June 28-July 2.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
