Waimea High School’s varsity softball team advanced to the fifth-place game at the 2019 DataHouse Softball Championships-Division II state tournament.
Waimea — Kauai Interscholastic Federation runner-up — defeated Radford High School of the Oahu Interscholastic Association, 14-3, in a consolation game Friday at the Patsy T. Mink Field in Kahului, Maui. Play ended during the bottom of the fourth inning because of the 90-minute time limit for consolation games.
“The girls, their bats started working a little bit better today,” said Waimea head coach Teddy Perreira in a phone interview Friday. “And the pitcher, she threw really good today.”
Waimea will play against Honokaa High School of the Big Island Interscholastic Federation in the fifth-place game at 2 p.m. today. Honokaa defeated KIF’s Kapaa High School on Friday in a consolation game, 4-0.
“We got to swing the bat. We got to put the ball in play,” Perreira said of the upcoming game against BIIF’s Dragons. “Honokaa has got a pretty decent pitcher, too. So, we just got to swing the bat.”
On Friday, the Menehune scored seven runs in the bottom of the first inning. Menehune first baseman Kieren Henderson knocked a three-RBI triple to right field, and catcher Aliyah Nordmeier-Kanahele hit a two-RBI single to right field in the inning.
Waimea followed up with five more runs in the second inning. Menehune right fielder Leiko Yamauchi hit a two-RBI single to left field and later scored a run on a Radford error, and left outfielder Taira Abreu grounded to second base to drive in a run from third.
“I don’t know. Maybe because (yesterday) was a night-time game. It was 7 o’clock. It was dark. It makes a difference when you play late,” Perreira said, referencing the team’s 9-2 loss to No. 1 seed Kamehameha Schools-Hawaii of the BIIF in the quarterfinals on Thursday. “And, Kamehameha-Big Island got a pretty good pitcher.”
Radford opened the game with two runs scored in the top of the first inning. Rams shortstop Nohea Akaan stole home plate from third, and designated player Mahealani Hetrick hit an RBI single to left field.
The Rams got one more run in the top of the third inning on an RBI single by starting pitcher Kenci Faith.
Waimea got 14 runs on seven hits, left seven runners on base and recorded two errors. Henderson was 1 for 3 hitting with the three-RBI triple, once reached on a fielder’s choice and scored two runs. Designated third baseman Kiana Kaiwi was 1 for 2 with a double, was once walked and scored two runs.
Menehune starting pitcher Nikayla Oyamot-Taniguchi got the win for Waimea. She pitched all four innings and got four strikeouts.
Radford got three runs on eight hits, left seven runners on base and recorded three errors. Rams third baseman Selina Tavarez was 2 for 3, once reached first base on an error and scored two runs.
Faith took the loss for Radford. She went 3 1/3 innings and got two strikeouts, seven walks and five hit-by-pitches.
Friday’s Division II results
Game 10 (consolation): Molokai (MIL) 11, Nanakuli (OIA) 1, 4 innings
Game 11 (consolation): Honokaa (BIIF) 4, Kapaa (KIF) 0, 6 innings
Game 12 (consolation): Waimea (KIF) 14, Radford (OIA) 3, 4 innings
Game 13 (semifinals): Kohala (BIIF) 6, No. 2 Waialua (OIA) 5
Game 14 (semifinals): No. 1 KS-Hawaii (BIIF) vs. Saint Francis (ILH), not available by press time
Info from Hawaii High School Athletic Association.
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Nick Celario, sports writer, can be reached at 245-0437 or ncelario@thegardenisland.com.
