Kaua‘i, the only league champion without a seed and a first round bye, is out to get some R-E-S-P-E-C-T today, as the HHSAA/Wally Yonamine Foundation State Baseball Championships kicks off at Les Murakami Stadium, with the Red Raiders battling Pearl
Kaua‘i, the only league champion without a seed and a first round bye, is out to get some R-E-S-P-E-C-T today, as the HHSAA/Wally Yonamine Foundation State Baseball Championships kicks off at Les Murakami Stadium, with the Red Raiders battling Pearl City (8-5) at 2 p.m.
“We’ve played them in the preseason and they also beat us in last year’s state tournament, so we kinda know what they have to offer,” Kaua‘i pitching coach Lance Higashi said.
For the Red Raiders (11-1), who are three-time KIF champions, respect will come with a high finish in this year’s championships.
“This has to change, but it gives us motivation to show the rest of the state that we’re worthy of seed and that first round bye,” Higashi said.
Maui High School dropped out of the tournament and the Maui Interscholastic League (MIL) has chosen not to send a replacement team, HH-SAA executive director Keith Amemiya said.
As a result, the 47th annual tournament will proceed with 11 teams instead of the usual 12.
The losers’ bracket game scheduled Thursday at 9 a.m. will not be played and the loser of the Kaua‘i vs. Pearl City game will move directly to the consolation final Saturday at 12 noon.
If the Red Raiders defeat the Chargers, Punahou, the number one seed, will be waiting for them at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday.
