KAILUA-KONA — Backed by a solid defensive performance, Kealakehe blasted their way past Hawaii Preparatory Academy Tuesday afternoon, 13-2.
Ka Makani (1-6) tried to take the advantage early in the game but clutch pitching by Keoki Meyers helped stop a potential multirun inning and allowed the Waveriders (4-2) to step to the plate and do their damage.
“I think the biggest difference in the game was that we played good defense,” Kealakehe head coach Josh Hansen said. “We made the plays when we had to and our bats came alive. We are swinging a pretty good stick one through nine, and going with the pitches. We had quite a few line drives up the middle and in the gaps.”
HPA’s biggest offensive opportunity came in the top of the first inning. Ka Makani loaded the bases with only one out, but Meyers minimized the damage, allowing only one run on a soft grounder to short that resulted in an out at second base. Jonah Hurney scored after leading off the inning with a double and moving over to third on a passed ball.
The Waveriders filled the bases in the bottom half of the first inning and took advantage against HPA pitcher Koa Ellis. Ellis hit Meyers to lead off the inning, Markus Degrate beat out an infield single, and Pohaku Dela Cruz reached on an error by the second baseman to load the bases.
Shaden Lewi singled to left, scoring Meyers and Degrate. Pulama Lewis knocked in two more with a triple into the gap between right and center. He scored on a single to left by Makana Kaluau, giving the Waveriders a 5-1 advantage.
Ka Makani added a run in the top of the second when Daniel Groves walked, moved to second on a poor pickoff throw, advanced to third on a sac bunt, and scored on a single to left by Harvey. Kealakehe matched the run in the bottom half of the inning. Bryton Lewi singled to center with one out and stole second. He scored on a Degrate single to center.
The Waveriders added six more runs in the bottom of the third inning. Shaden Lewi doubled into the gap in left-center. He scored on a single to center by Hunter Cuaresma. Dustin Waiau entered as a courtesy runner and moved to second on a wild pitch. He stole third and scored on a passed ball. Louie Garcia reached on an error by the left fielder, stole third, and scored on a single to left by Byrton Lewi.
Lewi’s hit ended the night for HPA’s starter. Ellis exited with two outs and two on in the bottom of the third
In relief, DJ Sekiya walked Degrate to load the bases. Dela Cruz beat out an infield single, scoring Meyers. Shaden Lewi followed with a double that bounced over the bag at third, scoring two runs. The first run ended the night statistically for Ellis. He was charged with 11 of the first 12 runs by the Waveriders.
Kealakehe added their final run in the bottom of the fourth off two walks, a hit batter and a wild pitch to go up, 13-2.
Meyers seemed to get stronger as the game went on, allowing only two runners to reach base in the final three innings to pick up the win. He allowed two runs off four hits, while striking out four and walking two. He struck out the side in the fourth inning.
“The kid is just a competitor out there,” Hansen said. “He doesn’t throw the hardest, but he competes. He threw first pitch strikes late in the game and is one of those kids where you wish every player you had, had his intensity. The guys fed off him.”
Hawaii Prep 110 00 — 2 4 3
Kealakehe 516 1x — 13 11 0