KAPAA — Alyssa Miyamoto whacked into a pair of triples and a single to lead the Waimea Menehune to a 23-8 win over the Kapaa Warriors Wednesday in a game shortened by the 10-run rule at the Kapaa High School
KAPAA — Alyssa Miyamoto whacked into a pair of triples and a single to lead the Waimea Menehune to a 23-8 win over the Kapaa Warriors Wednesday in a game shortened by the 10-run rule at the Kapaa High School softball facility.
“The girls were more relaxed today,” said Waimea coach Chico Lazaro. “It wasn’t a good taste, Saturday. But practice went well and that helped pick up the girls’ spirits.”
Miyamoto led the Waimea bats with her pair of three-baggers, finishing 3-for-4 and driving in four runs as the Menehune logged 23 hits in its win.
Waimea lost little time getting on the boards, driving five runs across on six hits, including a bunt single from Malisha Kali-Bagaoisan in the opening inning.
Kapaa responded in the second inning, taking down the Menehune in order and driving Selena Morita across the plate, Morita getting aboard on a double and scoring on an RBI single from Tiani Kaui for the 5-1 deficit.
“We had a rough day–again,” said Kapaa assistant coach Scott Kaui. “We have to keep working on everything.”
Kapaa picked up three runs in the third inning and pushed four runs across in the fifth, everything crossing on five hits, including doubles from Morita, Aulani Leipua Kaui, and Tiani Kaui.
Tiani Kaui, finishing with four RBIs, and Morita, ending with three RBIs, each added singles to round out the Kapaa hitting. Sabrina Telles-Kelekoma also marked an RBI.
“We needed to push four runs to play two more innings,” Coach Kaui said. “But we made errors. We gotta practice not to make errors, not to strike out. But I was proud of our girls because I didn’t see anyone give up. I like that. We just gotta work hard to find the recipe.”
Following its five-run opening inning, Waimea pushed two runs across in the third, 11 runs on 10 hits in the fourth, and five runs in the fifth frame.
Starlyn Ripley finished with a triple and two singles with four RBIs and Kali-Bagaoisan finished with a double and a single and a bunt single for two RBIs. Kiani-Lee Motooka finished with three singles, and Saecha Ann Padasdao-Oyamot ended with two singles and an RBI.
Brandy Domingo ended with three singles and two RBIs, Caysha Goias-Soares marked three singles with three RBIs, and Kacie Hesapene finished with two singles and four RBIs.
Shelbee Tavares, getting help from Padasdao-Oyamot with the final out, picked up the win on the mound while Leipua Kaui suffered the loss.
“We talked to everybody after Saturday,” Lazaro said. “Players, coaches, everybody. We talked about being more positive, and everyone worked hard.”
Kapaa next hosts Kauai on Saturday in a double-header with the first pitch going at 10 a.m. at the Kapaa High School field.
