LIHUE — Kapaa High swept Saturday’s doubleheader at Vidinha Stadium against Kauai High, 8-3 in the first game and 7-6 in the second game, in Kauai Interscholastic Federation baseball games contested under cold, rain-peppered conditions.
The Raiders fell in the second game despite outhitting the Warriors 9 to 6.
Kapaa hurler Ezra Ibaan-Nesbitt got the final Raider hitter swinging, leaving two runners stranded, in the nightcap.
The Raiders entered the frame facing a 7-4 hole and were dampened when the match was suspended when a passing shower pelted the field following just one pitch to Jacob Borrero. Borrero welcomed the play resumption with a single to right, and after advancing on wild pitches, crossed on an RBI single by first baseman Keoua Sibayan with one away.
Sibayan crossed the plate with two away when Lanakila Lovell-Obatake, the Raider center fielder, whacked an RBI single before Ibaan-Nesbitt closed the book on the final out.
The Raiders finished the night with six runs coming on nine hits, led by Nainoa Kane-Yates going a perfect 4-for-4 with a triple, double and a pair of singles before being sent to the dugout following a seventh-inning defensive play that nailed a Kapaa batter at first base.
Kapaa, enjoying an earlier 8-3 win, opened strong, pushing five runs across the plate on just two hits — singles from AJ Lee and Kelsi Kimura-Masada — and capitalizing off Kauai pitchers who walked three, hit one, and uncorked wild pitches and passed balls.
Top bats for the Warriors included Noa Cardinez and Ka‘eo Kamau, both whacking doubles.
Kimura-Masada iced the first game with a two-RBI double, driving Kamau and L. Cummings across the plate with two outs for the 8-3 win that came on six Warrior hits. Kimura-Masada had a pair of doubles in the first game.
Kane-Yates was joined by Wailele Kane-Yates with triples to lead the Raider bats in the first game, where Kauai finished with three runs coming on five hits.
With the sweep, Kapaa next hosts Waimea in a single game Wednesday at Ron Martin Field starting at 3:30 p.m. to end the KIF first round.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
