KAPA‘A — The Waimea Menehune pushed three runs acrross the plate on two hits in the seventh inning to cap a 4-0 win over the Kapa‘a Warriors Wednesday at the Kapa‘a High School softball facility. Waimea picked up its four
KAPA‘A — The Waimea Menehune pushed three runs acrross the plate on two hits in the seventh inning to cap a 4-0 win over the Kapa‘a Warriors Wednesday at the Kapa‘a High School softball facility.
Waimea picked up its four runs on 10 hits, led by Bailey San Agustine-Nordmeier and Ulu Matagiese, who each marked three hits apiece in the win.
Pitcher Deannalynn Tafiti picked up the win and went the distance while holding Kapa‘a to just three hits while striking out four batters, walking three and hitting one batter.
Kalia Kaui suffered the loss for Kapa‘a, allowing four runs on 10 hits while walking two and striking out six Menehune batters, three of the K’s coming in the first two innings where the Warriors held Waimea scoreless.
With one away, Waimea got its first of two hits in the first frame, but could not get on the board as its base runner was cut down at the plate for the third out.
Kapa‘a answered when Aliyah Cummings doubled to open its first inning, but left two runners stranded.
Bryanna Resquer-Yorkman opened the third frame for Waimea with a double and scored off San Agustine-Nordmeier’s sacrifice fly to centerfield for the first run.
The 1-0 edge stood until the seventh when Waimea pushed its final three runs across the plate.
With one away, Sienna Santiago walked and stole second base and got third on a San Agustine-Nordmeier bunt single. Santiago finished 1 for 4.
Alyssa Miyamoto got aboard on a fielder’s choice, which cut down San Agustine-Nordmeier between first and second while scoring Santiago.
Matagiese picked up her third hit of the game, a double, scoring Miyamoto, and after stealing third, scored the final run on a wild pitch.
Overall, Waimea stole five bags in the game, led by second baseman Saecha Oyamot, according to Michael Koerte, a longtime Waimea softball leader, who kept statistics.
Joining Matagiese and San Agustin Nordmeier, Waimea’s bats would sing for Santiago who singled and scored once, Oyamot, Tyrelle Unciano and Bryana Resquer-Yorkman, who all singled for the Menehune.
In addition to Cummings’ first-inning double, the Warriors picked up a single from Anuhea Huddy in the third and a single from Kaui in the sixth inning with two away.
But her hopes of scoring was cut short as Analeigha Carvalho-Toloai hit into a fielder’s choice, which took out Kaui and Carvalho-Toloai was left stranded.
In the third inning, Huddy singled, but Kaui grounded into a double play to end the threat.
Kelsie Gorospe-Kali‘ipuleole walked to open the seventh inning, but Tafiti struckout two batters and San Agustine-Nordmeier took care of one, unassisted.
With the win, Waimea next travels to Isenberg to take on Kaua‘i High School in a doubleheader.
Due to ACT testing, the first game will start at 1:45 p.m. followed by the second game after a 10-minute break between games.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
