KAILUA-KONA — Led by the hot bat of Breianna McLeod, the Kealakehe offense slugged its way to an 11-7 victory over visiting Konawaena Thursday evening. McLeod capped off a five run second inning with an a 2-run inside-the-park home run to lead the Waveriders to victory over their westside rival.
“Bre is solid and goes 1-for-2, 1-for-3 every game,” said Kealakehe coach Wesley Takamoto. “She is a good hitter and is only a sophomore. She has nice speed and runs the bases well.”
Kealakehe (4-1) scored early and often off Wildcat starting pitcher Shyla Victor. After falling behind 1-0 in the top of the first inning when Konawaena (2-3) pushed across a run on two errors and a single, the Waveriders took the lead in the bottom of the inning and never looked back.
Tavian Taketa led off the inning with a single to center. Leisha Nakagawa reached on an error by the centerfielder. The ball got behind the fielder and both runners scored.
Kealakehe broke the game open in the bottom of the second inning. With out one, Hua Deuz-Haleamau singled to right and Lusia Singh beat out a slow infield grounder. Verly Decasa laid down a perfect bunt that rolled slowly down the third base line, loading the bases. Taketa singled to left, scoring Haleamau, but Singh was thrown out at the plate. Nakagawa then picked up a ground rule double on a line drive to left-center, which scored two runs. McLeod followed with her in-the-parker for the final two runs of the inning and a 7-2 advantage.
The Waveriders added to their lead with one run in the third, two in the fourth and one in the sixth.
“I like how we played the first three or four innings,” Takamoto said. “The girls hit really well and it is nice for them to bounce back from the loss we took the other day.”
Up 11-2 heading into the final half inning, Kealakehe led down its guard, allowing Konawaena to cut into the deficit.
Bethany Batangan led off the top of the seventh inning by reaching on an error by the first baseman. After a single to center by Kiersen Kawehi Kahele, Victor hit a shot to left for a ground rule double. One run scored on the play.
A walk to Teizha Kaluna — the first of the game for Kealakehe starter Kiara Cantiberos — loaded the bases, and a second walk, this one to Rachel Sato, pushed another run in.
The Waveriders picked up a couple of outs when Sierra Amor hit into a fielder’s choice and Kaimana-Joy Manzano grounded out to first, but runs scored on each play to make it an 11-6 game. Lihue Wessel then doubled in another run to cut the deficit to four. Cantiberos escaped the inning by striking out Precious Transfiguracion.
Cantiberos picked up the victory. She allowed seven runs off nine hits, in a complete game performance. She struck out three and walked two. Victor took the loss, allowing 11 runs on 11 hits, while striking out three and walking one.
Defense struggled on both sides with each team committing five errors.
Konawaena 101 000 5 — 7 9 5
Kealakehe 251 201 x — 11 11 5