LIHUE — Headed into the third month of play, the Kauai Senior Softball League enjoyed not only great weather but another high-scoring weekend with action-packed games at the Isenberg Ballpark in Lihue and the softball stadium at Puhi Park.
The Aloha Kia Lihue A’s did a masterful job of maintaining their spacious home turf at Isenberg for four games. The diamond yielded three games with a team scoring more than 20 runs. Solid Steel welcomed a triple-header in their first-ever assignment hosting games at their home field at Puhi Park.
The Aloha Kia Lihue A’s opened up the busy Isenberg schedule taking on Da Kruzers. Duane Girard had Da Kruzers up for the challenge as they pounded away for 14 runs. The A’s were also firing on all cylinders, running away with a 22-14 win. The A’s were the only home team at the Isenberg games to come away with a win.
Alan Horikawa brought the Rookies into town for a match with the Hanamaulu Hillsiders. Peter Rayno had the Hillsiders playing well but still searching for victories. The Rookies went to work early and slugged their way to a 21-3 knockout.
The third game with Neil Zaslow’s first-year Hana Hou going up against Barteks coached by Pat Baniaga was the closest of the day with a 31-run affair. Both sides took turns flexing their bats and posting runs in a full seven-inning contest. Barteks relied on their veteran skills and outlasted Hana Hou with an 18-13 victory. The win pulls the two teams even on the league standings.
Isenberg wrapped up with the Keonimana Gents continuing to roll on with an impressive win over Kawaihau. Kawaihau found the formula for scoring against the Gents, racking up 13 runs in another game going the full distance. The Gents were relentless with their pressure with the ability to almost score at will on their way to an impressive 21-13 win. Keonimana remains atop the league as the only undefeated team.
Tom Christy anxiously opened the all-turf Puhi Softball diamond tucked away at Puhi Park hoping for a great day of softball as Solid Steel took their first turn at hosting a day of games. They also got the honor of the first game of the morning taking on the Islanders. Joe Bertucci had the Islanders on the offensive early and the teams traded runs for seven close innings. Solid Steel took the lead headed into the final inning and held off a furious Islander rally in the seventh to capture a 10-8 victory.
A battle royale broke out when West Kauai went up against Kuku’s Aces in the mid-morning game. Kuku DeCosta got the Aces into an early lead and they tried to hold on for the distance. West Kauai ran wild on the bases to rally for a 13-8 pasting.
The Puhi day wrapped up with the East Kauai Legends and the Ohana Motors Rebels. Norman Holt got some great defense in the Legend outfield to stymie a few Rebel rallies. But the rallies came too often and Ohana Motors ran away with an 18-4 decision.
Action moves to the Westside this weekend with games at the Plumeria-shrouded Eleele Senior Softball Diamond as well as the tropical and equally compact Wally Sonoda Softball Park in Kaumakani. Ohana will pick up the tab on the games at their home in Eleele with a busy agenda of four games, and Kuku’s Aces will be putting on a doubleheader at the games in Kaumakani.
Kuku’s Aces will start the day taking on the Rookies in the early morning game. Da Kruzers will go up against the Ohana Motors Rebels in the other game.
At the all-grass diamond in Eleele, the two teams calling the field home will square off in the opener as Ohana will face West Kauai. Hana Hou will have a serious challenge on their hands as they are pitted against the Aloha Kia Lihue A’s. The brunch contest features the Keonimana Gents and the Hanamaulu Hillsiders. The fourth late morning game will have West Kauai and the Hanamaulu Hillsiders in a make-up game from a previous postponement.
Results
At Isenberg: Aloha Kia Lihue A’s 22, Da Kruzers 14; Rookies 21, Hanamaulu Hillsiders 3; Barteks 18, Hana Hou 13; Keonimana Gents 21, Kawaihau 13
At Puhi: Solid Steel 10, Islanders 8; West Kauai 13, Kuku’s Aces 8; Ohana Motors Rebels 18, East Kauai Legends 4
Standings
Keonimana Gents, 9 wins, 0 losses
Ohana Motors Rebels, 8 wins, 1 loss
Rookies, 7 wins, 2 losses
Aloha Kia Lihue A’s, 6 wins, 2 losses
Ohana, 6 wins, 2 losses
Barteks, 6 wins, 3 losses
Hana Hou, 5 wins, 3 losses
Solid Steel, 5 wins, 3 losses
Kawaihau, 2 wins, 5 losses
East Kauai Legends, 2 wins, 6 losses
Da Kruzers, 1 win, 6 losses
Islanders, 1 win, 7 losses
Kuku’s Aces, 1 win, 7 losses
West Kauai, 1 win, 7 losses
Hanamaulu Hillsiders, 0 wins, 7 losses
