KAPAA — Despite threats of rain, week seven of the Kauai Senior Softball season rolled into Kapaa and Kaumakani for a pair of triple headers on Saturday.
Thirteen was the lucky number in Kapaa as all three winning teams posting the digit for the win. On the field, an unbeaten team went down in defeat, and a winless team captured their first victory in a stunning upset.
At the Bryan J. Baptiste Sports Complex the league leading Keonimana Gents hosted the day of games at the softball stadium. First match on tap was a battle of the undefeated with the Gents taking on the Ohana Rebels.
The Gents relentless offense held off the late Rebel charge for a 13-8 win. Keonimana remains on top of the standings handing the Rebels their first loss of the year. Two teams in the league remain undefeated through seven games.
West Kauai jumped back on track with their second win of the year, a 13-1 thrashing of the Hanamaulu Hillsiders. While the Hillsiders were able to crack a number of hits, their base runners kept getting stranded. Errors and strong hitting by West Kauai gave them all the scoring they needed to improve their record.
In the nightcap, Da Kruzers of Kilauea stunned with a 13-12 walk-off win in the bottom of the seventh inning over Barteks.
Tough pitching and timely defense throttled the normally powerful bats from Barteks and kept them from running up the score. All the while, Da Kruzers chipped away at the lead, keeping it close.
In the bottom of the seventh, Da Kruzers went for broke and stroked single after single to start a scoring spree. Then a long drive that ran through the gap gave new life to the Kilauea squad.
Outfielder Barry Toy hit a single to load the bases with one out, setting up the game winning hit that rolled through the hole at third, plating the walk-off run and the first win of the season for Da Kruzers.
Kuku’s Aces welcomed the rest of the day’s slate at their tropical paradise park home in Kaumakani. In the breakfast matchup, the Aces hosted the Islanders. It was worth the early trip to the crown jewel park of senior softball out on the Westside as the Islanders clobbered the Aces, 14-2.
The Rookies hammered the East Kauai Legends, 23-7, to keep pace with the Gents on top of the standings. Both teams are undefeated through seven weeks. The home team clubbed more than 30 hits in the game, rolling to their sixth straight win.
Ohana and Kawaihau got tangled up in a game that went down to the wire. Both lineups were loaded with good hitting veterans that will put a pitcher at a disadvantage.
That’s what happened with the game coming down to the final out. Ohana pulled out a hard-fought 11-10 win over Kawaihau to stay in the hunt for the league title.
In a makeup game from the early season rain out, Bartek and the Ace’s met on the Westside. Bartek’s cruised to a 19-5 conquest.
Results
At Bryan J. Baptiste Sports Complex
Keonimana Gents 13, Ohana Rebels 8; West Kauai 13, Hanamaulu Hillsiders 1; Da Kruzers 13, Barteks 12
At Kaumakani Senior Park
Islanders 14, Kuku’s Aces 2; Rookies 23, East Kauai Legends 7; Ohana 11, Kawaihau 10; Barteks 19, Kuku’s Aces 5 (make-up game)
