KAPAA — An overnight rain storm left the two Kauai Senior Softball diamonds in muddy and sloppy conditions. The wily seniors showed their legendary experience and were able to compete in six slippery games and play remarkably well in the sludge. It just goes to show you can’t stop a determined group of makule ball players.
The defending league champion Keonimana Gents hosted a triple header at the Bryan J. Baptiste Sports Complex. They brought out the big lumber in clobbering Kilauea’s Da Kruzers 24-6 in a game halted early by the 12-run mercy rule. The Gents’ 24 runs were put up in 5 innings, just one short of the maximum possible score in that time due to the five-run rule applicable in all but the last inning. Da Kruzers put up a good fight, plating six runs to show their improvement headed into the 2018 season.
West Kauai also showed their off-season improvements with a power packed line-up and shellacked Kawaihau 15 to 2 to even up their league record. The Eleele-based club served notice that they will figure into the league standings at the end of the year.
Barteks continued to roll with an impressive 19 to 8 win over the East Kauai Legends. The Legends have a skilled veteran team that challenges in every game, but the loaded roster of Barteks is too much to handle when they are on the attack.
The Ohana Motors Rebels hosted the other half of the day’s schedule at their home Puhi Park. The all-grass field absorbed most of the storm but the base circles remained a quagmire of mud and sand. Slipping and sliding was evident in each of the games in the massive park despite the drying conditions.
The Rebels slammed the Islanders 12 to 4 to keep pace with the league leaders. The home team put together two, five-run innings to take control of the game while shutting down the Islanders over the final three innings.
Two former league champion powerhouses squared off in the middle game and put on a great show for the capacity crowd. The Rookies outlasted the Aloha Kia Lihue A’s 15 to 11 after putting up a five-run fifth inning. The A’s rallied in the final inning but fell short in their last at bat.
Ohana closed out the day by knocking off Kuku’s Aces 14 to 4. The Aces made a game of it, pushing Ohana through all seven regular innings, but could not match up to the black and gold’s run-scoring machine.
Currently the Keonimana Gents, Barteks, Ohana, Rookies and Rebels are tied atop the standings at 2-0 early in the 24-week season. Aloha Kia Lihue A’s and West Kauai are a half game back at 1-1. The East Kauai Legends, Hanamaulu, Islanders, Kawaihau, Kuku’s Aces and Da Kruzers are in search of their first wins of the season.
Action will continue this Saturday with three games scheduled at Peter Rayno Park in Hanamaulu beginning at 9 a.m., with the Islanders taking on Barteks, Da Kruzers facing off with Kawaihau, and the host Hanamaulu Hillsiders squaring off against the East Kauai Legends.
Three big games are slated at one of the gems of the west, Eleele Park. Fireworks are expected early when Aloha Kia Lihue A’s and West Kauai tangle on the manicured field carpet in the opener. Kuku’s Aces will look for an upset when they square off with the Rebels, and the night-cap will feature an undefeated battle royale when the Rookies and Ohana collide.
Games are scheduled for 9, 10:15 and 11:30 a.m.
