KAPAA — The Kauai Senior Softball League brought six ball games to the diamonds on Saturday with a triple-header at the Bryan Baptiste Sports Complex in Kapaa and the Peter Rayno Softball Stadium in Hanamaulu. The Keonimana Gents hosted the game in Kapaa while the Islanders opened their house in Hanamaulu for another three games.
KAPAA — The Kauai Senior Softball League brought six ball games to the diamonds on Saturday with a triple-header at the Bryan Baptiste Sports Complex in Kapaa and the Peter Rayno Softball Stadium in Hanamaulu. The Keonimana Gents hosted the game in Kapaa while the Islanders opened their house in Hanamaulu for another three games.
Sia Salausa’s Gents continue to steamroll through the league with another win. The day started taking on Da Kruzer’s out of Kilauea. The recent addition to the league remains in the improvement mode and gaining in their hitting. The visitors rang up four runs but could not stop the hitting prowess of the Gents. Keonimana blasted their way to a striking 16-4 win to keep pace at the top of the standings.
Norman Holt and the East Kauai Legends came up in a big showdown with Bartek’s in the mid morning matchup. Pat Baniaga’s squad rolled into town on the wings of a big win a week ago. Barteks struggled at the plate while the Legends erupted in friendly backyard confines. East Kauai put on a hitting display and took advantage to rally for a shocking 12-6 drubbing of Barteks.
In the final game of the three West Kauai showed they are a team to be dealt with as they brought their big bats to play along with some stingy pitching and defense to pound out a 9-3 victory over the veteran line-up of Ernie Koerte’s Kawaihau.
Down the road in Hanamaulu, the Islanders prepared the Peter Rayno Park for three very competitive contests. Joe Bertucci had the Islanders motivated and looking for an upset in the early encounter with the Ohana Motors Rebels. The day started with a bang as the Islanders jumped out to a lead but could not hold off the steady charge of Gary Yate’s hitters. The Rebels rallied and held on for a 12-9 win in an entertaining game.
Frank Bukoski’s Ohana took care of business in their game against Kuku’s Aces. Frances DeCosta’s bunch offered up a few mistakes to open the gates as Ohana put up runs in every inning. Ohana improved their record as they ran away with a 16-3 win.
The marquee match-up of the day pitted Dwight Fujii’s Aloha Kia Lihue A’s with the Rookies. Both teams are battling to stay in the top of the league race just a couple games off the lead. Alan Horikawa’s Rookies were playing with an adjusted line-up as the two squared off with solid defensive play and great pitching from Myles Tone on the mound for the A’s and Ronnie Matsumura for the Rookies.
The A’s defense came through and stopped the normal barrage of Rookie hits in without surrendering runs. At the same time, Fujii’s fighters delivered with some clutch hits in the allies to escape with a narrow and well earned 8-6 conquest.
There will be more action this Saturday when senior softball moves to the stadium at Isenberg Park in Lihue and out west at the compact Hanapepe Stadium softball diamond. The Lihue A’s will try to continue their climb in the standings hosting the three games. They will open the day against hot hitting West Kauai. The East Kauai Legends will tangle with the Hanamaulu Hillsiders in the mid morning contest. And the triple header wraps up with two west side teams when Ohana faces the Rookies in a must win challenge.
Barteks will try to get back on the winning track as they welcome three games at their home park in Hanapepe Stadium. The Islanders will be in town to take on Barteks with both teams looking for an important win. Da Kruzers continue to make the long drive to the west side as they come in to battle with Kawaihau. The day will end up with the Ohana Motors Rebels visiting Kuku’s Aces. All games are slated to begin at 9 a.m., 10:15 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.
