HANAPEPE — A six-run surge in the bottom of the sixth inning lifted the Hanapepe Rivermen to win the Kauai AJA baseball league championship game on Sunday. The Rivermen defeated the Kapaa Homesteaders 11-5 at Hanapepe Stadium. “It was just
HANAPEPE — A six-run surge in the bottom of the sixth inning lifted the Hanapepe Rivermen to win the Kauai AJA baseball league championship game on Sunday.
The Rivermen defeated the Kapaa Homesteaders 11-5 at Hanapepe Stadium.
“It was just a matter of time if we do come around or not,” said Hanapepe manager Leroy Nonaka. “We always going to hit the ball. Just a matter of time if we can get the timing right.”’
During the sixth inning run, Hanapepe’s Wendall Nonaka hit a two-run homer to give his team an 8-5 lead en route to the victory.
“It felt good. It was good timing,” Wendall said about the homer. “Just swing and hope for the best.”
The Homesteaders were leading before Hanapepe seized control of the game.
Starting pitcher Travis Shigeta hit a three-run jack in the top of the third inning to give Kapaa a 5-1 lead.
“Just kind of picking up on his pitches,” Shigeta said about hitting his home run. “I was seeing that he was dropping down and he was trying his sliders and curves.
“Pitch was right there. Can’t really predict it. Just got to react,” he added.
Kapaa manager Ikaika Pezario said mistakes led to Hanapepe’s offensive wave in the sixth inning.
“We couldn’t make the routine plays,” he said. “They bunted the ball and executed. Their batters came up clutch and scored the runs.
“We stuck together and played hard. We left it all on the field. Just mistakes usually kill you,” he added.
Despite the loss, Shigeta said he enjoyed playing this season in the Japanese-American league.
“It was a good season. A lot of fun,” he said. “Best of luck to Hanapepe in the state tournament, and I can’t wait to play ball again next year.”
Hanapepe will represent Kauai in the AJA state tournament that will take place on the island in April.
“It’s been over 30 years, I think, Kauai didn’t take the state championship,” said Hanapepe’s Dean Nonaka who also scored a run in the sixth inning for his team. “We have to turn it around one day. Hopefully, (it will be) this year because we’re on Kauai.”
