KAPAA — Kauai pitcher Kailee Nii may have gotten more work than she wanted to Saturday against the Kapaa Warriors at the Kapaa High School facility. Nii went the distance in the dual Red Raider wins, 8-6 and 12-7, the
KAPAA — Kauai pitcher Kailee Nii may have gotten more work than she wanted to Saturday against the Kapaa Warriors at the Kapaa High School facility.
Nii went the distance in the dual Red Raider wins, 8-6 and 12-7, the second game going into extra innings.
“The Lady Warriors had an opportunity to win,” said Greg Gonsalves, the Kapaa athletic director. “In the eighth inning, our lead-off batter, Aliyah Cummings tried to steal second base and was cut down. All season, she’s been successfully stealing, and in this game, she was put out.”
Kauai settled down, and in the ninth frame, pushed five runs across on six hits to close the regular season on a winning note.
Elena Kealoha, the Kauai coach, said the game was a tough one.
“I don’t know how many hits we had,” said Penny Vess, a Kauai coach. “The bats finally came alive in the ninth inning and we had enough to drive the runs across.”
During the opening match which was delayed due to SAT testing, Kapaa posted its six runs on eight hits, including long balls from Tyra Alao, conking a triple and a single with an RBI, and doubles from Sabrina Telles-Kelekoma who punched two RBI and pitcher Leipua Kaui who had an RBI. Shaniece Banasihan singled and drove a run in along with Jazmin Kaleiohi who singled with an RBI.
Kauai posted its eight runs on eight hits, being limited to just one double from Hilarie Marcelino in the first inning. Aleigha “Red” Scovel was 2-for-3 with singles and three RBI, Marcelino added two singles with two RBI, Shanie Quereto, taking over catching duties in Game 1, added a pair of singles and an RBI.
The Raiders broke a 3-3 deadlock in the fourth inning, churning up three runs on three hits as Kaylee Braun, pinch running for Marcelino, Quereto and Kiki Pagador, getting first after being hit by a pitch, scored.
Kapaa answered the 8-3 deficit in the bottom of the seventh, driving in three runs on two hits, Kaleiohi walking first, Cummings getting first on a fielder’s choice, and Telles-Kelekoma, singling first, all scored with just one out on a Kauai double.
“Again, we’re almost there,” said Scott Kaui, a Kapaa coach. “I didn’t want a duck egg, but I’m happy the girls were in it until the end. They never gave up, and played hard until the last out.”
For Kapaa the season comes to a close, but for Kauai, holder of the first round title, a playoff for the Kauai Interscholastic Federation title looms Tuesday against Waimea, holder of the second round title, starting at 5:30 p.m. at the Isenberg Park in Lihue.
“We’re having a car wash Sunday,” Kealoha said. “This is in the event we make it to states. Following the Waimea game Tuesday, there is a play-in game against the Interscholastic League of Honolulu later in the week. We’re having practice following the car wash.”
