LIHU’E — Hanapepe took over sole possession of first place in the Kaua’i Americans of Japanese Ancestry Baseball League by beating Kalaheo 9-6 last Sunday at Vidinha Stadium. It was Kalaheo’s first loss of the year. In another game last
LIHU’E — Hanapepe took over sole possession of first place in the Kaua’i
Americans of Japanese Ancestry Baseball League by beating Kalaheo 9-6 last
Sunday at Vidinha Stadium.
It was Kalaheo’s first loss of the year.
In
another game last Sunday, Lihu’e edged Kapa’a 6-3.
The top three teams form
a tight-knit group — Hanapepe at 4-1, Kalaheo at 3-1-1 and Lihu’e at
3-2.
Hanapepe 9, Kalaheo 6
Scott Yamase rapped a triple and two
singles, and he drove in four runs for Hanapepe.
Other big offensive
contributors were Kelly Robinson with a double, two singles and two RBI,
Wendall Nonaka with a double and two singles, Vince Nitta with a triple, Dean
Nonaka with two sacrifices, and Len Nitta with two hits.
For Kalaheo, Liko
Pereira smacked two doubles and a single, while Troy Kaneshiro doubled and
singled twice.
Duane Miyasato helped out in a losing cause with three hits.
Other big Kalaheo hitters were Kalani Salazar with a double and Jason Koga with
a double and a single.
Robinson, in relief of Wendall Nonaka, was the
winning pitcher. Pereira took the loss.
Hanapepe led 5-2 after four
innings, but Kalaheo came back to take a 6-5 edge after five
innings.
Hanapepe rallied four a run in the seventh and three more in the
eighth for the victory.
Lihu’e 6, Kapa’a 3
Dave Bukoski kept up his hot
bat by slamming a two-run triple for Lihu’e.
Also helping out offensively
in the victory were Mike Cardinez with an RBI hit and Shane Sadamitsu with a
triple and three runs scored.
Kapa’a’s Allen Mundon clobbered a two-run
home run onto the highway, while pinch-hitter Jay Gatiuan socked a single and
drove in a run.
Barry Kawamura, the Lihu’e starter, was the winning
pitcher. He got relief help from Cardinez.
Owen Koishigawa, who was
relieved by Mundon, was sacked with the loss.
Next Games
The
league shifts to Hanapepe Stadium this Sunday. Makaweli plays Hanapepe at 10
a.m. in the opener, and Kapa’a challenged Kalaheo at 1 p.m.