By Kevin Jakahi
Hawaii Tribune-herald
KEAAU — Sometimes, the strike zone just isn’t tall enough or wide enough, release points can’t be repeated and any sort of pitching rhythm decides to take an extended break.
Stuff happens.
Keaau didn’t really need to swing the bats to beat Kohala 11-5 in a BIIF season-opening game on Saturday at the Cougars Field, where a cold, blistering wind was a permanent annoying presence.
Senior left-hander Justin Quesada pitched six innings for the win. He allowed five runs (three unearned) on six hits and two walks, and struck out six. Keian Kanetani mowed the grass in the seventh, and whiffed two.
The Cowboys ran out four pitchers — Truce Yangson, Steven Medeiros, Austin Salvador and Joey Salvador — who combined for 10 walks, and six of those free passes came around to score. Oh, and two runs scored on wild pitches.
Yangson pitched 2 2/3 innings, Medeiros faced three Cougars and left, and Austin Salvador tossed 2 1/3 innings and got stuck with the loss. Joey Salvador took care of the sixth.
Kohala coach Pono Nakamura aged about 10 years in the bottom of the third, when the Cougars scored four runs on just two hits, but helped big-time by six walks, including three with the bases-loaded.
“That’s what hurt us,” Nakamura said. “Our weak link is more the pitching part. We put the ball in play, and for the most part, aside from the pitching, everything was above what we expected.”
Riley Costa, Bronson Pili and Ian Bowman stood at home plate, and walked with the bases packed to each pick up an easy RBI. Actually, it was four consecutive free passes; Erik Arnold walked right before Costa.
Anson Kauwe batted 2 for 2 walked twice and had an RBI, Kanetani went 2 for 3 with an RBI and Byron Cachola was 2 for 4 to lead the Division I Cougars (1-0).
Joey Salvador batted 2 for 3 with an RBI, and Dregn Roque-Lewis also went 2 for 3 and scored a pair of runs for the Division II Cowboys (0-1).
The basketball Cowboys — Chance Pang and brothers Kainalu and Kama Emeliano-Solomon — joined the team on Monday. They had just five days of practice to get their arms in shape, and should be ready to pitch a bit this week.
“We’re a young group,” Nakamura said. “We only have four seniors and two returning four-year guys in catcher Willy Perez — he’s our main frame — and outfielder Dayln Kupukaa. Truce moved from Alaska, but his family is from Kohala. He wanted to play with his friends.
“Chance, and the Emeliano-Solomon brothers are a big part of our pitching staff. But from our young guys I liked what I saw.”
Kohala 011 300 0 — 5 6 2
Keaau 004 132 x — 11 8 4
Waiakea 6, Kealakehe 5
Dillon-Jon Gabriel drove in Nathan Minami with the winning run in the bottom of the seventh, and the host Warriors survived an error-filled opener.
The teams each committed four errors as the Waveriders’ Pohaku Dela Cruz and the Warriors’ Makoa Andres took a pitchers’ duel to the late innings. The game was tied 2-2 entering the bottom of the sixth until fielding miscues led to a pair of three-run rallies.
Bryce Felipe led off the bottom of the sixth with a hit, and two errors and a David Nakamura RBI single handed Waiakea a 5-2 lead.
The Warriors promptly made two errors in the top of the seventh. Shaden Lewi extended the game with a single and Markus Degrate’s hit cut Kealakehe’s deficit to 5-4. An error allowed Lewi to score the tying run.
Minami led off the bottom of seventh with a single, moved to third on a sacrifice and an error, then scampered home with the winning run on Gabriel’s one-out grounder.
Calvin Uemura got the win wby the securing the final out of the top of the seventh. Andres struck out seven in six innings and allowed four hits and two runs – one earned – with two walks.
Dela Cruz worked 6 1/3 innings and allowed six hits and six runs – one earned – with four walks and a strikeout.
Lewis and Degrate each had two hits and an RBI for Kealakehe.
Kealakehe 002 000 3 – 5 6 4
Waiakea 010 103 1– 6 6 4
Kamehameha at Honokaa
The Division II game was postponed by rain and will be made at 3 p.m. Monday at the Dragons’ field.