PUHI — For a second weekend in a row, half of the Kauai Senior Softball circuit was washed out because of continuing rain storms. Half of the schedule was slated for the Wailua Houselots Garden Park, but the non-stop rains made the field unplayable. Those games will have to be made up.
The other half was able to get their games in the books due to a remarkable effort by the volunteer ground crew in preparing the lush all turf softball grounds in Puhi — that and a tenacious bunch of kupuna athletes.
The Ohana Motors Rebels maintains the largest stadium complex in the eight-field league and played host to the three games Saturday morning. With a steady rain underway at game time, both the Rebels and Barteks looked forward to play once the umpires deemed the field acceptable for play.
Both pitchers fired brilliant games dealing with the slick conditions. Each side was backed up by error free defense. Barteks tied the game at 3-3l in the second inning and trimmed the score to 6-5 after the top of the sixth inning. The Rebels rallied for one more run in the home half and held on in the seventh with the tying run at the plate to walk off with a 7-5 win.
The Rookies, coming off their only loss of the year, never noticed the weather as they took on Da Kruzers. Da Kruzers are packing an improved line up and are putting runs up on the board early in their game. This time, the Rookies unleashed a relentless attack mounting several shortened five-run innings and kept it up. The persistent inning-after-inning stinging line drives overwhelmed the visitors, and the Rookies got back on the winning track with a 17-3 victory. They improved their record to 9-1 and will close out the first half with games against the Gents and the Rebels remaining.
Once the third game between Ohana and the Hanamaulu Hillsiders got underway and the rain had yet to let up, the Rebel ground crew was called upon to repair the home plate area. With dry conditions returned for a while the game re-started.
The Hillsiders were playing a bit shorthanded and moved several player positions as they stood up to the early challenge with the big hitting lineup of Ohana. Ohana leader, Frank Bukoski, pitched a stellar game in picking up the win and put the contest away late in the match with a monstrous blast to the right field wall for a stand up triple and a universal standing ovation from the crowd. Using several hitting streaks over seven innings, Ohana powered to an 11-3 win over the Hillsiders.
Kauai Senior Softball heads into the final weekend of the first regular round schedule despite most teams having rained out makeup games to complete. The Aloha Kia Lihue A’s will host a triple-header at their home diamond at Isenberg Park. The A’s will square off with the Islanders in an even matchup of hitting and fielding in the first contest. Kuku’s Aces will make the long drive to take on Kawaihau, and the morning will wrap up with a game between Ohana and the East Kauai Legends.
Out west at the Wally Sonoda tropical softball park in Kaumakani, the Rookies will be have an early morning showdown with the Keonimana Gents. The Gents will put their undefeated record on the line. The Rebels will be back in action up against the Hanamaulu Hillsiders, and the final game of the day will feature West Kauai and Da Kruzers. All games are scheduled for 9 a.m., 10:15 a.m, and 11:30 a.m.
