KAPAA — Kauai High School’s baseball team won both of Saturday’s games at Kapaa. The Red Raiders won the first game 9-3 and the second 4-2. “We hit the ball well most of the day,” said Red Raiders head coach
KAPAA — Kauai High School’s baseball team won both of Saturday’s games at Kapaa. The Red Raiders won the first game 9-3 and the second 4-2.
“We hit the ball well most of the day,” said Red Raiders head coach Greg Killeen. “At the end, we kind of got away from the good hitting. Our pitching in the second game was stellar.”
Both starting pitchers for Kauai, Nick Vallaatini and Tyler Manibog, threw all seven innings in the game.
“Both guys pitched complete games, which is big,” Killeen said. “Came in thinking we’re going to throw everybody … Now we’re in a good spot.”
Kauai (4-1) scored five runs in the second inning to take control of the game early.
Third baseman Micah Layosa added a solo home run in the fourth inning en route to the first victory of the day.
Catcher Cal Koga had three RBIs in the game.
“We were just feeling the bats today,” Koga said. “We were hitting good in practice.”
Kapaa (1-5) struggled on the mound in the first game. In addition to the nine runs allowed, the Warriors pitchers hit seven batters.
“You can’t walk guys, struggle in the strike zone and serve up pitches because a good team like Kauai High will take advantage of it,” said Kapaa head coach Bryan Aiwohi.
Kapaa starting pitcher Nakoa Ibaan said his pitching was “terrible” during the game.
“I didn’t feel it. I was thinking too much out there,” he said.
Though Ibaan had a hard time on the mound, he was productive on offense. He had two hits and had all three of the teams RBIs in the game.
“I was seeing it deep. Just watching it,” Ibaan said.
In the second game, the Red Raiders scored two runs in the fourth and sixth innings.
“It’s just how the game works. You don’t make the plays, they’re going to score the runs,” Aiwohi said. “We needed more hits. We got some, but we needed more with runners in scoring position. So, we’re going back to work on that for the next round and turn things around.”
Kauai has a chance to win the first round outright on Wednesday against Waimea.
Killeen said he is “90 percent” certain Koga will start on the mound for Kauai on Wednesday.
“That’s what we’re looking for,” Killeen said. “(We have to) play some good defense … Waimea likes to hit. They’re a good hitting team.”
With his team out of contention in the first round, Aiwohi said he hopes his pitchers, specifically Rashaan “Turtle” Kuhaulua and Nick Tabura, will be healthier and help make a run for the second round of the season.
“We’re definitely going to be rehabing arms this week,” Aiwohi said. “(Kuhaulua and Tabura) wanted to throw a little today, so we let them and they did OK.”
The first game was brought to an end during the seventh inning for players’ safety when thunder sounded. After the first game was called, more than an hour past before the umpires decided to continue with the second game.
