WAILUA — After waiting patiently, the Kauai Senior Softball league played a full slate of games into the afternoon Saturday at the Wailua Houselots Garden Park and the Bryan J. Baptiste Sports Complex. With the expansion of the league, four games in Kapaa and three in Wailua were scheduled.
Sia Salausa had the Keonimana Gents up early polishing the Kapaa Softball diamond as hosts of the games. In the Houselots, Ernie Koerte and Kawaihau had the garden park in sterling condition.
League President Mike Curtis announced mid-morning that all games would proceed when reasonably possible, due to circumstances, allowing for a late start to many of the contests. The delay was good for hitters with six of the seven games delivering double-digit runs.
Kawaihau opened the day in a battle with Tom Christy’s Solid Steel. Both teams peppered the field with hits, tacking up double-digit runs. Kawaihau chalked up 11 runs but were out hit with Solid Steel taking a 15-11 win in their first game of the season.
Frank Bukoski has Ohana rolling along and got into a tangle with Barteks in the second game. Pat Baniaga’s Barteks squad ran into an Ohana buzz saw and fell, 14-10.
The day wrapped up with Dwight Fujii unleashing the Aloha Kia Lihue A’s on Kuku’s Aces. The A’s overpowered Frances DeCosta’s west side crew, 19-0, and an early end to the game.
Up the highway at the Bryan J. Baptiste Sports Complex, the Keonimana Gents and East Kauai Legends got underway as scheduled. Norman Holt had the Legends fired up and looking to pull off an upset over the defending champions. The veterans took Salausa’s Gents the distance before slipping on a 9-8 Keonimana victory.
Gary Yates got the Ohana Motors Rebels untracked behind a five-hitter from Larry Rego and a five-run sixth inning for a 13-1 six inning win over Peter Rayno’s Hanamaulu Hillsiders.
Neil Zaslow’s Hana Hou bounced back from an opening day loss with a hitting barrage and great defense against Al Mango’s West Kauai. Hana Hou jumped to an early lead and ran away with a 24-1 win.
The games concluded with Alan Horikawa’s Rookies up against Barry Toy and DaKruzers. Both teams were coming off opening day wins. Da Kruzers rallied at the start posting a couple of runs in the first inning to take a lead. The Rookies answered and kept the pressure on each inning highlighted by John Pimental’s three-run home run over the left field pavilion. The Rookies pounded their way to a 17-4 decision.
After two games, the league has six undefeated teams, six looking for their first win and three knotted at 1-1. This Saturday, the numbers will change as the games shift to the diminutive Eleele Stadium and the similarly compact Wally Sonoda Tropical Park in Kaumakani.
The Rookies will host the four-game schedule on the Sonoda Field taking on Hana Hou in the opener. Kuku’s Aces will go up against the Ohana Motors Rebels in the mid morning match. The Aloha Kia Lihue A’s will have their hands full when they face Ohana in the third game. Solid Steel will set their sights on the Hanamaulu Hillsiders in the finale.
West Kauai will entertain three games on their home diamond at the Plumeria surrounded Eleele Stadium. West Kauai has Barteks on the schedule in the early morning contest. The mid-morning game features the Islanders and the East Kauai Legends. And the Keonimana Gents and Da Kruzers take the long drive from the East to conclude the games in the lunch contest.
The games begin at 9 a.m., 10:15 a.m., and 11:30 a.m. The fourth game is set for 12:45 p.m.
Kuku’s Aces are coached by Francis, not Frances, DeCosta. Spelling of his name denotes his gender.