LIHUE — Warriors senior starting pitcher Keoki Planas threw all seven innings in a 3-1 win over Kauai High the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader at Vidinha Stadium. In the final inning, Planas had two swinging strikeouts, a hit by
LIHUE — Warriors senior starting pitcher Keoki Planas threw all seven innings in a 3-1 win over Kauai High the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader at Vidinha Stadium.
In the final inning, Planas had two swinging strikeouts, a hit by pitch and a flyout to end the game.
“I felt pretty good. I was just throwing strikes and the defense was backing me up,” Planas said about his outing on the mound.
Leading 2-1, Kapaa scored an insurance run in the top of the seventh inning. Red Raiders junior third baseman Pat Esteban made a throw to first base for a putout attempt, but the ball sailed high.
The erroneous throw allowed Kapaa junior courtesy runner Matt Schmidt to round third base for the score.
“Getting that insurance run, (Planas) could go up there and focus on getting the batters one-by-one,” said Kapaa head coach Bryan Aiwohi. “We still made mistakes running the bases and missing signals, but the boys came through with the bats. That was the key.”
Warriors freshman designated hitter Ekolu Rivera hit a sacrifice bunt to bring home senior shortstop Keola Lutz from third in the fourth inning for Kapaa’s first score. Freshman outfielder Kalena Harder got the team’s second run in the sixth, crossing home plate as Kauai senior catcher Cal Koga threw to second to pick off a Warriors base runner.
Kauai sophomore infielder Sam Nakata got an RBI single in the home-half of the sixth inning to bring home junior relief pitcher Micah Layosa from second base for the team’s only score.
Though the team was able to cut the deficit, Red Raiders head coach Hank Ibia said the error in the seventh took away any momentum they had.
“I think we’re capable of scoring more than one run. We’re just not doing it,” said Red Raiders head coach Hank Ibia. “You practice every day and they see what we see. They can envision what’s going to happen, but it doesn’t happen.”
Kapaa scored those three runs off seven hits and left seven runners on base. Kauai also had seven hits and left four runners stranded.
Kauai won the second game, 7-6.
Red Raiders senior outfielder Johnny Dumlao scored the walk-off run off a Kapaa error. He hit four singles, had one RBI and two runs.
Senior infielder DJ Lacaden was 1-2, hitting a single and a sacrifice fly for three RBIs.
Kapaa (5-5 KIF, 2-2 second round) will play Waimea (3-6 KIF, 1-2 second round) at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday at Hanapepe Stadium.
Kauai (6-3 KIF, 2-1 second round) will host Waimea for a doubleheader Saturday at Vidinha Stadium. The first game will begin at 10 a.m.
