HANAPEPE — The Menehune got two wins at home to start the second round of their season.
Waimea High School’s varsity baseball team defeated Kauai High School in both games of Saturday’s doubleheader at Hanapepe Stadium under a blue sky with little wind.
Waimea (4-3 KIF, 2-0 2nd round) beat Kauai in Saturday’s first game, 1-0, and then won again in the second game, 13-3.
Game 1: Menehune walk off
Waimea walked off to win Saturday’s first game, 1-0.
With the bases loaded and only one out, Menehune outfielder Reyden Rull reached first base on a fielder’s choice.
On the play, Waimea’s Kanaan Ephan ran toward home. While Red Raiders catcher Chayse Garcia received the ball for the putout, the home plate umpire called Ephan safe at home when Garcia failed to tag home plate.
Ephan’s game-winning run was officially scored as an error on Kauai. Rull got credit for an RBI.
In the top of the sixth, Waimea had a chance at a go-ahead run after designated hitter Tysson Unciano led off with a single to right field.
In the following at-bats, infielder Deiton Otoman flied out to right field, and infielder Kaikoa Perreira-Alquiza grounded into a double play to uncerimoniously end the inning.
Kauai (1-5-1 KIF, 0-2 2nd round) had the bases loaded in the top of the first inning after Waimea recorded two errors. With two outs and the bases loaded, outfielder Blake Probasco struck out swinging to end the inning.
Waimea totaled one run on three hits, left five runners on base and recorded two errors. Ephan was 1 for 3 batting and scored one run. Rull also was 1-3 with an RBI.
Waimea starting pitcher Kanalu Lazaro got the win for his squad. In seven shutout innings, Lazaro allowed zero runs on four hits and had six strikeouts and two walks.
Kauai got zero runs on four hits, left nine runners on base and recorded three errors. Red Raiders outfielder Lanakila Lovell-Obatake was 2 for 4 batting.
Red Raiders starter Jaden Domingsel was credited with the tough-luck loss. In seven innings, Domingsel allowed one unearned run on three hits and had two strikeouts and one walk.
Game 2: Waimea routs Red Raiders to end game early
The Menehune then won Saturday’s second game, 13-3. Play ended after five innings because of the 10-run mercy rule.
Waimea hit the ground running with seven runs crossing home plate in the bottom of the first inning. Menehune infielders Lazaro and Perreira-Alquiza each had two-RBI singles, and designated hitter Kristian Cardejon had an RBI single.
The Menehune scored four more runs in the second inning on a couple of Red Raiders errors.
Waimea then scored two more runs in the fourth inning to extend its lead to 10. Perreira-Alquiza and Cardejon both scored on wild pitches.
Facing a 7-0 deficit going into the top of the second inning, Red Raiders outfielder Keanu Silva scored an unearned run on a Menehune error.
The Red Raiders got two more in the third winning when infielder Nainoa Kane-Yates knocked a two-RBI double to right-center field.
Waimea got 13 runs on six hits, left six runners on base and recorded two errors. Perreira-Alquiza was 3 for 4 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Lazaro was 2 for 3 with a double, two RBIs and a walk.
Menehune starting pitcher Unciano got the win. In five innings, Unciano allowed three runs — one unearned — on six hits and had three strikeouts and two walks.
Kauai got three runs on six hits, left four runners on base and recorded five errors. Red Raiders infielder Tyler Oshima was 2 for 3 with one run scored and once reached first base on an error.
Oshima, who was the starting pitcher, took the loss. Oshima faced four batters in the first inning and allowed three runs on two hits before being relieved.
Kauai will play against Kapaa High School (4-1-1 KIF, 0-0 2nd round) at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Vidinha Stadium.
Waimea will next play Kapaa for a doubleheader on Saturday at Kapaa High School. The first game is scheduled for 10:30 a.m.
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Nick Celario, sports writer, can be reached at 245-0437 or ncelario@thegardenisland.com.
