Kawaihau faces Kainalu

KAPAA — The Kawaihau Majors All Stars, led by coaches Andrew Lazaro Jr., Chad Delanoza and Kris Reynolds, held the Kaneohe All Stars to just two hits Saturday at the Hawaii Little League District 1 tournament at the Bryan Baptiste Memorial Sports Complex Main Diamond.

Anchored by TJ Ka‘auwai — who pitched two full innings and gave up a single to Kaneohe’s Brycen Tsukayama-Daniel — Kawaihau got help on the mound from Austin “Big Puppy” Lee who went one inning, and Anson Lazaro who closed with a full inning, allowing a two-run homerun to Tsukayama-Daniel.

Kawaihau went on to defeat Kanehohe, 16-2 in a match which was shortened to four innings on the 10-run ruling.

Offensively, Kawaihau piled up 11 hits, including homeruns from Chet Pimsaguan and Lazaro in the four-inning outing while holding Kaneohe to just two hits from Tsukayama-Daniel.

Kawaihau warmed up early, conking a single from Kade Erdmann, but left the runner after Kaneohe’s Kai Sanihira struck out back-to-back Kawaihau hitters.

The host team responded when Ka‘auwai struck out three Kaneohe batters in order, and opened the second inning with Chet Pimsaguan nailing a solo shot.

Kawaihau marked 10 runs in the inning on six hits with every player, but one on the lineup crossing.

The host team added three more runs on four hits in the third inning and three additional runs in the fourth inning.

Lazaro had the hot bat for Kawaihau with a homerun, double and a single. Pimsaguan finished with a homer and a single, and Kade Erdmann ended with a single and a double. Strylen Telles-Kelekoma marked two RBI on a double. Leadoff hitter Noah Delanoza, Haweo Akeo, Aukai Emayo, and starting pitcher Ka‘auwai each singled.

With the win, Kawaihau next faces Kainalu, winner of Friday’s second match against Kailua, in a 1 p.m. match today at the Bryan Baptiste Memorial Sports Complex Main Diamond.

The Hawaii Little League District 1 tournament continues through Tuesday afternoon.