ELEELE — The Kauai Senior Softball League this week featured lots of offense at the Eleele Park and Bryan J. Baptiste Sports Complex softball stadium.
Ohana hosted the three-game fest at their home park in Eleele and opened the day in a slugfest with the Ohana Motors Rebels. The Rebels jumped out to an early lead matched by Ohana a few innings later. The home squad shut the Rebels down while building a 10-8 lead going into the final inning. The Rebels responded in the top of the seventh with a three-run home run followed by a solo round tripper and held on in the home half for a 12-10 win.
West Kauai, calling Eleele home as well, got their bats in order and put on a relentless attack. The home team had the advantage, knowing how to use the compact jewel of a park to their advantage. West Kauai shut down Kuku’s Aces with a stifling defense and went on to roll to a 17-3 victory.
The day wrapped up with two of the top teams in the league with Aloha Kia Lihue A’s taking on Barteks. Each of these teams feature a power-packed lineup with great hitting skills. Barteks prevailed and edged the A’s, 9-6. Barteks picks up their seventh win of the year, dropping Aloha Kia with their 4th loss.
The bright sun also made for a fantastic day of senior softball in Kapaa. Although from Kilauea, Da Kruzers count the stadium as their home field and hosted the three games slated.
Da Kruzers had their hands full, opening the day against the resurgent Islanders. After a slow start, the Islanders are coming on strong as the league nears the mid-point of the schedule. At the same time, Da Kruzers continue to show dramatic improvement every week and hammered out nine runs, but they could not hold off the onslaught of the Islanders as they poured it on for a 22-9 roasting.
Two veteran teams squared off in the middle of the triple header with the Hanamaulu Hillsiders up against Kawaihau. Kawaihau used timely hitting and good base running to pile up a 13-7 win over the Hillsiders.
The Keonimana Gents brought the fireworks to finish the day. The undefeated defending champions have outscored their 2018 opponents with more than 140 runs and held the other teams to under 40 total runs through nine games.
The results were the same as they faced the East Kauai Legends. The most runs the Gents have allowed in a game so far is 8. To close out the day they brought the heat and a smothering defense in the field to beat the Legends, 19-3.
The Keonimana Gents remain at the top of the standings with a half game lead over the Rookies as the west side squad was idle over the weekend. The Gents are 9-0 and the Rookies are 8-0 with a rained out game still to be made up.
Action continues Saturday with the games shifting to the Peter Rayno Softball Park in Hanamaulu and out west at the Wally Sonoda tropical park in Kaumakani. In town, the Hillsiders play host to the games and will take on the Aloha Kia Lihue A’s. The Islanders will go up against the Keonimana Gents, and the day will wrap with cross park rivals Kawaihau and the East Kauai Legends.
In Kaumakani, Kuku’s Aces will welcome the three games on their home field. The Aces open the competition with Da Kruzers. The mid-morning matchup features two big line ups as Barteks battles it out with Ohana. The final game will see the Rookies back in action taking on West Kauai. The Rebels will be idle this week.
