KAPAA — Menehune bats erupted in the rain showers Wednesday afternoon to help Waimea rally for a 13-9 win over Kapaa High School during Kauai Interscholastic Federation softball action at Kapaa High School facility.
Janessa Freitas led the seventh inning batting with a 2-RBI double, pushing Taira Abreu and catcher Aliyah Nordmeier-Kanahele, on board with singles, across the plate for the go-ahead in the frame that was interrupted by rain stoppage.
Overall, the Menehune had 10 hits, four in the seventh frame when the Menehune pushed six runs home.
“They did it,” said Waimea coach Teddy Perreira following the rain-peppered celebration that blemished Kapaa’s win string. “The girls worked hard through the entire game. They came from behind. The game went down to the wire. We’re a young team, and now they can see what happens when they believe in themselves.”
Kapaa, with two outs in the home half of the seventh, had an opportunity to answer when Shailee Telles-Kelekoma singled, but she was left stranded when the third out flied to rightfield to end the threat.
“This was a rough day at the office,” said Kapaa coach Francis Takasaki. “As I said previously, this is a very capable league, and every team has an opportunity to win. I have no excuses — Waimea did what it needed to.”
Overall, Kapaa picked up its nine runs on 14 hits, four coming in the opening frame led by the bats of pitcher Ini Marshall, Shaylin Rivera, and Tiana Kaui.
Those were answered in the third inning when Waimea scored Kiana Kaiwi, walking first, on an RBI triple from Taira Abreu.
The Warriors stoked their bats in the home half by scoring three runs on three hits led by pitcher Ini Marshall cranking to an RBI double to score Simons who earlier drove in Seijia Makanani who singled. Marshall scored on a Waimea error for the 6-1 lead.
Kapaa added three more runs on four hits in the fifth before Waimea started its climb out of the 9-4 hole. The Menehune churned three runs on two hits in the sixth, and pulled ahead in the seventh.
Marshall, getting three hits, drove in a pair of runs. Simons finished with four hits in four at-bats with one run driven in, and Kaui finished with a hit and two runs pushed home.
Freitas and Kalea Huihui Caberto had the hot bats for Waimea, both Menehune getting a pair of hits and each driving in three runners. Abreu finished with three hits and an RBI. Makeya Wishneski and Nordmeier-Kanahele each notched a hit with an RBI.
Nikayla Oyamot-Taniguchi picked up the win for the Menehune on the mound, running the complete game with nine runs allowed on 14 Kapaa hits with no walks or strikeouts.
Marshall and Makanani shared in the loss, Marshall starting and being relieved by Makanani after six and two-thirds inning. Makanani strained, and after allowing three runs, was exchanged with Marshall who finished the game.
Overall, Marshall was strapped with seven runs on six hits while walking seven, and striking out. Makanani was burdened with six runs allowed on four hits with four walking, and no strikeouts.
“We suffered a loss about the same time, last year,” Takasaki said. “We just have to go back to business, try to cork up the holes, and make some adjustments.”
Waimea next faces Kauai High School on Saturday in a doubleheader with the first pitch going at 3 p.m. at Isenberg Park.
Kapaa will host Kauai High School at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
