HANAPEPE — Both Kauai and Waimea each held off late rallies to come away with victories Saturday afternoon at Hanapepe Stadium. The Red Raiders won the first game 12-7 and the Menehune won the second 7-6. “The first game, we
HANAPEPE — Both Kauai and Waimea each held off late rallies to come away with victories Saturday afternoon at Hanapepe Stadium.
The Red Raiders won the first game 12-7 and the Menehune won the second 7-6.
“The first game, we executed. We hit line drives and ground balls. Kept the ball moving and kept it in play,” said Kauai head coach Tom Vallatini. “Waimea’s a tough team. You can’t expect to beat them just scoring two runs.”
In the first game, Kauai (2-1) had a 6-1 lead after the top of the fourth inning. Waimea then scored five runs in the following two innings and brought the score to 7-6.
Kauai’s offense turned on again in the last two innings and scored five more runs to seal its victory in the first leg of the doubleheader.
Junior catcher Cal Koga and senior first baseman Tyler Manibog led the Red Raider offense. Each had four hits, two runs and two RBIs.
“I saw the ball good. Just thinking to get a base hit up the middle,” Manibog said.
In the second game, Waimea (2-2) had a 7-1 lead going into the top of the seventh inning.
Kauai rallied to score five runs, but couldn’t come up with one more run to tie the game.
“It’s been an issue with us this year, with our arms,” said Waimea head coach Larry Ephan. “We ran into trouble and hit four guys in the last inning. We put ourselves in a situation where one big hit for them could have tied the game.
Like I said earlier, there’s not enough Advil. This year, it’s going to be a tight season,” he added.
Senior right fielder Justin Silva was the hot bat for Waimea in the second game. He hit an RBI triple and scored a run in the fourth inning.
He then hit a solo home run during the sixth inning.
“When I’m in the box, I just think, ‘Watch the ball,’” Silva said.
In a strange turn of events, the first game suddenly ended after the sixth inning.
After the 30-minute break, the team then finished the final inning and then played straight into the second game.
“In our book, we had the sixth inning. Then the umpires called game and walked off,” Vallatini said. “It was interesting. I’ve never seen that happen before.”
Despite the mishap, both coaches said it didn’t do anything to change their plans going into the second game.
Waimea will play Kapaa on Wednesday at Hanapepe Stadium. The game will begin at 3:30 p.m.
Kauai will play another doubleheader on Saturday at Kapaa High School. The first game will begin at 10 a.m.
