KAPAA — Kawaihau Majors All Stars dropped a heartbreaker, Sunday, 4-2 to Kailua, but will return for another shot at the Little League District 1 tournament at 4 p.m. today against Kaneohe at the Main Diamond in New Kapaa Town
KAPAA — Kawaihau Majors All Stars dropped a heartbreaker, Sunday, 4-2 to Kailua, but will return for another shot at the Little League District 1 tournament at 4 p.m. today against Kaneohe at the Main Diamond in New Kapaa Town Park.
With the win, Kailua, undefeated following its 10-9 win Friday over Kaneohe, and its win Sunday, will advance to the District 1 championship game at 4 p.m. Tuesday.
Kawaihau, drawing a bye on Friday’s opening day, took a 14-0 win over Kahaluu Saturday to face Kailua on Sunday.
Kawaihau pitcher Noa Cardinez went the distance in the loss on Sunday, allowing four runs on seven hits, striking out 13 hitters, including three-up, three-down in the second and fifth frames.
Kailua opened strong.
Leadoff hitter Noa Larson singled on the third pitch and scored on an RBI single by Aka Kapono, whose smack ricocheted off the Kawaihau second baseman’s mitt.
Kailua iced the win in the fourth inning, scoring three runs on five hits highlighted by a 2-run single from Michah Tagupa that scored Kayke Dolan and Kapono. Noa Chung crossed on an RBI infield single from Izaiah Abordo for the final.
Host Kawaihau had its opportunities, facing a battery of pitchers from Kailua, but came away with just five hits to Kailua’s seven.
The home town team also left nine runners stranded compared with Kailua’s three.
Squeezing through three innings and facing a 1-0 deficit, Kawaihau was finally able to light up the scoreboard when Makoa Gorospe got aboard after being hit by a pitch with one out. Cole Frye got aboard on a fielder’s choice.
With two away, Kaimi Malina smacked a 2-run single that scored Gorospe and Frye for the 2-1 lead.
• In other action, a home run by Solomon Forley and doubles from Javyn Pimental, Ian Rivera and Koanni Gierv fueled a five-run first inning for Kaneohe who advanced with a 7-1 win over Kahaluu in the Sunday opener.
