KAPA‘A — The Kaua‘i Senior Softball went to the opposite end of the island with the weekend games in Kapa‘a and Kaumakani. It was another action-packed Saturday that brought four games at the Bryan J. Baptiste Sports Complex, and triple-headers were on tap at the Wally Sonoda Softball Park. In all of the games, the victorious team scored double-digits while their opponent was held to a single-digit score.
Gents, Rookies rise to the top
The Keonimana Gents and Rookies, the league’s undefeated leaders, ran away with their games and had a substantial lead in the league standings through five games.
The three games in Kaumakani made short work of the contests with three consecutive blowouts. The Rookies and Kuku’s Aces were matched up in the early morning game. The Rookies went at it, with a relentless offensive attack.
The defense was smothering and would not let the Ace’s up for air. In a five-inning game, the Rookies knocked out Kuku’s Aces 20-0.
Steel topples Hillsiders
Solid Steel and the Hanamaulu Hillsiders went after it in the second game in another wild one. The Hillsiders mounted rallies topping the scoreboard with six runs. The Steel hung out the big bats and hammered their way to a decisive 19-6 knockout victory.
Lihu‘e A’s top Aloha Kia
The Aloha Kia Lihu‘e A’s were pitted against West Kaua‘i to bring the day to a close. West Kaua‘i was in search of a win in the early, while the A’s are one of the league’s elite. Aloha Kia got on the scoreboard from the start and did not let up.
West Kaua‘i plated a pair of runs, but it was not enough for the run-scoring outbreak from Lihu‘e. The A’s put a tight grip on West Kaua‘i ran away with an 18-2 win.
Bartek’s triumph over Ohana
At the Bryan J. Baptiste Sports Complex Softball Stadium, the Barteks took on Ohana in the early morning game. The two clubs kept it close over the first three innings. The Barteks kept dropping hits and finally took the lead.
Ohana rallied but saw the opposition pull away. The Barteks line-up proved to be too much as they knocked in double-digit runs keep Ohana at bay. Bartek’s improved their record with a solid 18-9 win.
Ohana Rebels dominate East Kaua‘i Legends
The Ohana Motors Rebels faced the East Kaua‘i Legends in the second game. This game went five innings before reaching the 12-run advantage. The Rebel’s defense tried to smother the Legends with a shut out, but the veteran club rallied for a run in the fourth inning. Ohana Motors got three straight hits in the home half of the fifth to knock in the game-ending run and a 13-1 win.
Gents roll over Kawaihau
The Keonimana Gents and Kawaihau faced off in a battle of two of the league’s top teams in the third game. Henry Hee got great results in the early goings from Kawaihau headed into this big game. The Gents took care of business with efficiency. Both clubs began the game with clutch hits producing a few runs. Sia Salausa continues to have the Gents pushing their offense with each trip to the plate. The strategy creates scoring opportunities and notches on the scoreboard.
Keonimana slugged out an impressive 16-3 victory.
Da Kruzers rally to beat the Islanders
The Islanders faced Da Kruzers in a wild affair in the day’s finale. Da Kruzers turned in their best-combined effort of the season with a double play, shutting the door in five of the seven innings, and tossing a rare strikeout from the mound. The Islanders were shut out for the first three innings before breaking out with a five-run rally in the fourth to cut the lead in half at 9-5. Da Kruzers exploded at the plate for 23 hits to build the lead. They matched five runs over the final three innings and surrounding three in the bottom of the seventh to hold on for a big 14-8 triumph.
One for the books
With just over a month on the books, the Keonimana Gents and the Rookies continue to pace the league with 5-0 records. There is a three-way log jam in third place at 4-1 with the Aloha Kia Lihu‘e A’s, Barteks, and the Ohana Motors Rebels. Kawaihau drops a game with a record of 3-2, tied with Solid Steel. The win pulled Da Kruzers even with Ohana at 2-3. The East Kaua‘i Legends, Hanamaulu Hillsiders, and Islanders have a single success with Kuku’s Aces and West Kaua‘i in search of their first victory.
On the road again
The league is on the move still, splitting the island with seven games having a triple-header on tap at the Wailua Houselots Gardens and a four-game bonanza slated for the Pat Baniaga Softball Park at Hanapepe Stadium. Solid Steel will face on the Ohana Motors Rebels in the early morning match on the East Side Garden Park. The East Kauai Legends will meet Ohana for the second-consecutive meeting.
The morning will conclude with the Rookies crossing the island to go up against the Islanders.
West Side Action
Out on the west side, the games get underway with Da Kruzers tangling with Kawaihau. The stands will be full when Barteks and the Aloha Kia Lihu‘e A’s go head-to-head in the second game. West Kaua‘i will have Kuku’s Aces in the third contest. The Hanamaulu Hillsiders will face the Keonimana Gents to bring the days’ games to a conclusion.
