KAILUA-KONA — Solid defense overcame offensive production Wednesday evening as the Kealakehe defeated visiting Waiakea 4-3 on a walk-off double in a BIIF contest that left many fans, players and coaches scratching their heads.
Tied 3-3 heading into the bottom of the seventh inning, Kelina Palmer singled to right with one out. The next batter, Breianna McLeod, hit a rope over the centerfielder’s head. The ball rolled under the fence for what should have been a ground-rule double to put runners on second and third. However, after Waiakea’s Tierra Teves threw her hands up to call for the ruling, she elected to retrieve the ball as Palmer crossed the plate. Because she did not wait for the umpire to come and check on the obstruction, the run was counted.
It was a big win for Keakakehe, who had not beaten the Warriors in some time, according to Waveriders coach Wesley Takemoto, though he could not remember exactly how long.
“I have to give it to our defense,” Takemoto said. “Our shortstop (Tavian Taketa) did most of the work and she came through big time.”
Taketa recorded more outs than anyone else in the game, and in the top of the seventh inning, she carded all three Kealakehe putouts on hard grounders hit her way.
The battery of pitcher Kiara Cantiberos and catcher Leisha Nakagawa were a able to limit the damage done by the hard hitting Waiakea lineup. Nakagawa helped call the game, blocked balls in the dirt and also made a tough diving play on a pop up in the top of the fifth, cushioning the ball with her bare hand to end the inning. Cantiberos picked up the victory, She allowed two runs off four hits, while striking out two and walking two.
“Kiara struggled for the first couple of innings but then she settled down,” Takemoto said. “Defense is usually our problem. We had two errors today but that is better than the five or six we usually have.”
On the flip side, errors cost Waiakea the game after going up 2-0 in the third inning. The Warriors scored their first run when Taylor Nishimura singled to right, moved to second on a sac bunt and scored on an Alyssa Hara single to right.
Waiakea went up 2-0 in the top of the third. Brandee Chinen reached on a single to center and stole second. She later scored on a throwing error by the pitcher on a ground ball hit by Hara.
The Waveriders tied the game in the bottom of the inning, scoring two runs without recording a hit. Verly Decasa led off with a walk. She moved to second on a groundout and took third on a wild pitch. She scored when Taketa grounded out to the pitcher. McLeod reached when the Waiakea third baseman and shortstop collided trying to field a pop-up. She moved to second on a poor pickoff attempt by the catcher and advanced to third on a wild pitch. She scored to tie the game on a groundout by Palmer.
Hara took the loss inside the circle. She allowed four runs off four hits. She struck out two and walked three. Waiakea committed five errors in the game.
Waiakea 101 100 0 — 3 4 5
Kealakehe 002 100 1 — 4 4 2