HANAPEPE — Kapaa High School’s varsity baseball team won both games of Saturday’s doubleheader against Waimea at Hanapepe Stadium. With both wins, Kapaa (7-5 KIF, 4-2 2nd round) stays in contention for the Kauai Interscholastic Federation season’s second round with
HANAPEPE — Kapaa High School’s varsity baseball team won both games of Saturday’s doubleheader against Waimea at Hanapepe Stadium.
With both wins, Kapaa (7-5 KIF, 4-2 2nd round) stays in contention for the Kauai Interscholastic Federation season’s second round with Kauai High.
The KIF baseball regular season concludes on Wednesday when Kauai (8-3 KIF, 3-2 2nd round) hosts Waimea (2-8 KIF, 1-4 2nd round) at 5 p.m. at Vidinha Stadium.
If Kauai wins Wednesday, Kauai and Kapaa will be tied in the second round at 4-2 and will play a playoff game at a date and location to be determined.
If Waimea wins, Kapaa will be awarded the second round and the Red Raiders — winner of the season’s first round — and Warriors will play one game for the KIF championship at a date and location to be determined.
Warriors score 2 runs in 7th to ice 6-2 win in Game 1
Kapaa opened up with three runs in the first inning en route to a 6-2 win over Waimea to start Saturday’s twin bill.
Warriors freshman starting pitcher Nainoa Cardinez, senior infielder Leighton Moniz and junior catcher Chayse Basuel each had an RBI in the opening frame. Cardinez hit a double, and Basuel knocked a triple.
Kapaa scored one in the second inning, an RBI double by sophomore infielder Levi Cummings, and then score two insurance runs in the seventh.
Moniz hit an RBI double, and then he crossed home plate off a Menehune error.
Waimea got one run in the first. Menehune senior outfielder Waika Corr hit an RBI double to bring home senior catcher Caleb Ephan from second base.
The Menehune score one more in the third. Sophomore starting pitcher Reyden Rull crossed home plate off a Warriors error.
Kapaa scored its six runs on 10 hits, left five runners on base and had one error. Moniz was 3-3 with an a double, two RBIs and a walk.
Cardinez was the winning pitcher. He threw all seven innings, striking out seven and walking four.
Waimea had two runs off four hits, left five runners stranded and recorded two errors. Corr was 1-2 with the RBI double in the first.
Rull took the loss. He, too, went all seven innings. He had two strikeouts and four walks.
Warriors plate 5 in 5th; Menehune score late to avoid mercy rule
After an early three-run lead, Kapaa scored five in the fifth inning en route to a 10-1 win in Game 2.
With the bases loaded, Waimea gave up three of those runs in the fifth off two hit-by-pitches and a walk. Later in the inning, Warriors junior infielder Ekolu Rivera knocked a 2-RBI double.
Kapaa got one more in the sixth off an RBI single to center field by sophomore outfielder Cole Frye.
Down 10 going into the bottom of the sixth, Waimea got one run to avoid the 10-run mercy rule. Menehune junior infielder Keaka Wisneski hit an RBI single to bring Ephan home from second.
Kapaa totaled 10 hits off seven hits, left seven runners stranded and had two errors. Rivera was 2-6 with two hits, two runs, two RBIs and a walk.
Basuel was the wining pitcher, going 6 2/3 innings before being relieved because of reaching the 110-pitch count limit. He had seven strikouts and three walks — one was intentional.
Waimea got one run off three hits, left seven runners on base and had five errors. Rull was 2-4 with a pair of singles.
Menehune freshman starter Tysson Unciano took the loss. He gave up three runs in three innings, struck out two and walked three.
Saturday was Waimea’s senior day. Six Menehune were recognized following the doubleheader — Corr, Ephan, Koby Blackstad, Tayedyn Francisco, Eli Nishihira and Storm Costales.
