Gents top Ohana, Rookies roll on in Senior Softball

WAILUA — The Kauai Senior Softball League packed another eight exciting games into their season schedule with games in Hanamaulu and Wailua.

The league got back on schedule with the final rained out make-up game. Kawaihau did another sterling job in preparing their home garden park in the Wailua Houselots for four games. The Islanders were up early grooming their home diamond at the Peter Rayno Softball Stadium in Hanamaulu for the other four games including the make-up contest.

In Wailua, Kawaihau got the day started with a down to the wire battle with Da Kruzers. Duane Girard got another great performance from his team coming up with timely run scoring hits to put Kawaihau on notice. Henry Hee knows how to come up with something special from Kawaihau (including a 9 man victory) and grabbed the lead going into the late innings. Kawaihau hung on to thwart Da Kruzers and capture and exciting 10 to 8 victory.

The Ohana Motors Rebels squared off with Barteks in the second game with a lot on the line. Barteks has been climbing up the standings with the Rebels slipping lately. Both teams took the field with loaded lineups able to post runs at will. Defense played an important role as Gary Yates had the Rebels put a lid on the vaunted Bartek hitters limiting them to a half dozen scores. The Rebels were able to come up with big rallies to get out to a 12 run advantage and take the game with an 18 to 6 win.

The Keonimana Gents and Ohana faced each other in the late morning game. Frank Bukoski got another great performance from Ohana looking to hand the Gents their second loss from his team. The Gents have responded to every challenge since that first loss in the first round of play and battled right back to keep their hold on the league standings. The Gents hitting proved to be the difference as they worked their way to knocking off Ohana 14 to 12 in a close game.

The Wailua morning wrapped up with Solid Steel taking on Hana Hou in a game between the two new teams in the league. Both clubs are off to winning records in their inaugural seasons with 15 wins each.

Tom Christy has Solid Steel powdering the ball with a hard hitting offense and Neal Zaslow has Hana Hou hitting, running and being aggressive on the bases. The Houselots gardens proved to be the perfect hitting zone with offense taking the day.

Hana Hou ripped the ball putting together the big innings while shutting down the power hitting long ball from the Steel. Hana Hou grabbed the upper hand in the standings with an impressive 18 to 5 knockout.

The Islanders took on Kuku’s Aces to get the games underway at the Peter Rayno Softball Stadium. The Aces have found ways to put runs on the boards in the second half of the season and continued their good hitting. Joe Bertucci has the Islanders in a fight for State competition seeding and looked to make a move.

Kuku’s Aces had other plans and headed right into the spoiler role knocking the ball around the challenging field. The Aces had another big day at the plate scoring their second highest total of the year with 12 runs. The Islanders used their home field surroundings to answer the call and get out to a comfortable lead. The home team wrapped up an 18 to 12 victory to get the day started.

The East Kauai Legends were home to the Hanamaulu Hillsiders in the second game. Good pitching and handy defense kept the scores down for the hitters. Skippa Holt continues to get clutch hits in key moments from the Legends and took control of the game. The Hillsiders managed to get runners but couldn’t find the plate while the Legends pulled off a tight 6 to 3 win.

The Rookies travelled to Hanamaulu to take on West Kauai in the late morning contest. Alan Horikawa has the Rookies sailing through the second half of the season on a hot streak. West Kauai ran straight into the juggernaut at full force. The Rookies were unstoppable at the plate and scorched the bases for double digit runs keeping their second round undefeated streak alive. The pitching and defense matched the other side of their game as they teamed up on a 17 – 0 shutout victory.

The Islanders and the Hanamaulu Hillsiders remained at the ballpark to make up a rained out game and get their schedules back on track.

The Hillsiders found their offense and hammered out 8 runs. The Islanders came back with several rallies that gave them a solid lead going down the wire. The Islanders picked up their second win of the day behind a solid 15 – 8 conquest.

The League Champion Keonimana Gents cruise along with a 25 and 1 record on the year. The Rookies are in second place playing with a 22 and 4 record. The Gents and Rookies remain the only undefeated teams over the second round of play. The Ohana Motors Rebels are in third at 22 and 5.

There is a three way tie at 17 and 9 between Barteks, Aloha Kia Lihue A’s and Ohana. For league standings a formula of “runs for” and “runs against” between the three opponents would determine the final placing. Hana Hou and Solid Steel are neck and neck in 7th and 8th. The Islanders and Kawaihau are tied at 11 and 15 with a one-run differential in head to head competition. Da Kruzers and the East Kauai Legends are knotted at 7 victories. The Hanamaulu Hillsiders come in next followed by Kuku’s Aces and West Kauai.

With two weekends left in the season the league returns to the 7 game format and will move to Isenberg Softball Stadium and an a return to the gardens at the Wailua Houselots. The Hanamaulu Hillsiders will be the hosts for the four game slate in Lihue at Isenberg. The East Kauai Legends will have their fine home park in shape for a triple header at the Houselots.

The Hillsiders will open up with Barteks at Isenberg. Kawaihau will be the home team to the Aloha Kia Lihue A’s in the second match. Solid Steel will take on the Ohana Motors Rebels as the games continue. The final encounter will feature Kuku’s Aces going up against Hana Hou.

In Wailua the Legends begin the day with West Kauai. Da Kruzers and Ohana will take the field in the mid-morning game. And, the triple-header concludes with the Islanders trying to stop the Rookies win streak.