Konawaena picked up its second win in the Keaau preseason tournament Friday night with a dominating six inning, 15-5 victory against the Keaau Cougars.
The Wildcats took advantage early. After a 1-2-3 inning by pitcher Kolu Alani in the top of the first, Konawaena’s Tyler Kitaoka led off the bottom of the first with a double to left. He scored on a Phillip Grace single to right. Skye Suzuki walked and Grace moved to third and scored on a wild pitch. Suzuki scored on a throwing error. Kelsey Katayama scored the final run of the inning when he walked and scored on a Koa Basque double to right-center for a 4-0 lead.
Konawaena chased the Cougar starting pitcher Riley Costa from the game in the second inning.
After putting two runners into scoring position, Alani scored on a Kitaoka ground out. Shelton Grace doubled to center, bringing home Vohn Yamaguchi. A single by Phillip Grace scored Shelton Grace, ending the day for Costa.
After the change, Suzuki reached base and both he and Phillip Grace scored on a chopper over third base by Katayama, Katayama stole second and third and scored on a Dominic Dela Cruz single up the middle. Konawaena led by 10.
Keaau scored a run against Alani in the top of the third when Anson Kauwe picked up an RBI single. it would be the only run he allowed in the four inning win. Konawaena added two runs in the bottom of the third. Kitaoka provided the highlight with an in-the-park home run. The Wildcats scored their 13th run of the game off a Stevie Texiera solo shot to right in the fourth inning.
Texiera took the hill in the top of the fifth inning and allowed four runs thanks to sup-par defense.
After a scoreless bottom of the fifth by Konawanea and top of the sixth by Keaau, the Wildcats pushed two runs across the plate to end the game.
Keaau 0 0 1 0 4 x x —5
Kona 4 6 2 1 0 2 x —15