HANAPEPE – On Thursday, the Kaua’i baseball team made too many costly mistakes in dropping a 6-0 decision to Leilehua in the opening round of the Waimea baseball tournament in Hanapepe. Friday was a completely different story for the Red
HANAPEPE – On Thursday, the Kaua’i baseball team made too many costly mistakes in dropping a 6-0 decision to Leilehua in the opening round of the Waimea baseball tournament in Hanapepe.
Friday was a completely different story for the Red Raiders.
Kaua’i pitcher Kirby Yates was dominant and the defense behind him made all the plays it needed to make.
Yates and teammate Shawn Ogata combined to pitch a no-hitter and Titus Hori drove in a run to help the Red Raiders shutout Kahuku 2-0.
Yates struckout nine batters and allowed a walk in the second inning.
A Kahuku batter also reached base on an error in the third inning.
The Red Raiders’ hurler seemed to get stronger later in the innings when he fanned the side in the fifth and then added two more strikeouts in the sixth inning.
Ogata came on in the seventh to close the deal for Kaua’i.
The Red Raiders pushed across the first run of the game as Kahuku pitcher Kaipo Souza hit a Kaua’i batter with the bases loaded.
In the top of the fourth inning, the Red Raiders added an insurance run thanks to Hori’s RBI double to center field.
Hori attempted to turn the hit into a triple but was thrown out at third base.
Kahuku never mounted an offensive threat against Yates who kept the opposing hitters off balance all day.
In other action in Hanapepe, Waimea continued its winning ways with a 1-0 shutout of Kahuku.
The Menehune are 2-0 and have not allowed a run in their tournament games.
At the Waimea field, Kapa’a swept its two games on Friday. In the 1 p.m. contest, the Warriors downed Waianae 6-2.
In the second game, Kapa’a defeated Leilehua 15-5.
