KAILUA-KONA — There was no lack of drama in the BIIF Division I semifinal series between Kealakehe and Keaau, and there’s still more to come.
The teams split a double-header Friday afternoon as the Waveriders took Game 1, 2-1 in extra innings, and Keaau rallied late for a 5-4 victory to even up the series. The squads will face off Saturday at 1 p.m. at Kealakehe in a rubber-match to decide who advances to the BIIF D-I Championship Series.
The teams have played three times this season, and in each game a single run has been the difference. Expect Saturday’s matchup to be just as close.
“The boys competed until the end and are still hungry. I told them to keep this taste in their mouths, comeback tomorrow and see what we can do,” Kealakehe head coach Josh Hansen said. “It’s the first experience we have had hosting a playoff game since I’ve been here and it is really exciting, but makes for a long day. It really took a toll on everybody.”
Justin Quesada kept the Waveriders scoreless through five innings in Game 1, but just like they have all year, Kealakehe battled back. After a trio of singles from Keoki Meyers, Markus Degrate and Pohaku Dela Cruz in the bottom of the eighth, Hunter Cuaresma delivered a solid bunt that brought in Degrate for the win.
Thrilling comebacks and pulling out close games have been themes for the Waveriders this season.
“All year this team has been fighting,” Hansen said. “We have comeback during a bunch of games late this year. The boys never give up, regardless what the scoreboard says.”
Dela Cruz recorded the complete game victory to put Kealakehe ahead in the best-of-three series, striking out four while allowing just one hit and no earned runs. However, the most impressive part of his stat line was that he did not issue a walk.
“That was the best game I have seen Pohaku pitch,” Hansen said.
Quesada went the distance for Keaau but was the victim of timely hitting. He allowed six hits and four walks while striking out two over 7 1/3 innings of work.
Degrate went 2-for-4 at the plate and recorded the other RBI to go with his game-winning run for the Waveriders.
Leadoff hitter Byron Cachola had the lone hit for Keaau, which came in the first inning.
The Cougars didn’t dwell on the heartbreaker very long though. In Game 2 Keaau put Kealakehe in a hole early, scoring four runs in the first two innings. But the resilient ‘Riders were not ready to go quietly.
Nifty baserunning by Makana Kaluau got Kealakehe on the board to cut the deficit to three in the fifth inning, and the bats of Dustin Waiau and Degrate led a three-run rally in the sixth inning to tie the game.
Kealakehe held all the momentum after the rally, but nobody told Keaau.
Keian Kanetani singled to bring in Dathan Wong Chong in the bottom of the sixth to put the Cougars up 5-4, and it would be the difference.
Kealakehe threatened but failed to score a run in the seventh, which ended with Louie Garcia getting caught in a pickle after taking too large of a lead off second base.
“All year you stress the mental mistakes,” Hansen said. “As a coach, you can handle the physical mistakes, but the mental mistakes hurt us today. All we can do now is learn from it and move on to the next day.”
Kanetani recorded the win, pitching a complete game, striking out nine and allowing five hits.
Derek Kalani had a pair of singles for the Cougars and knocked in two RBIs.
Kaluau pitched 4 1/3 innings and took the loss for Kealakehe.
Game 1
Keaau 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0— 1 1 1
Kealakehe 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 — 2 6 4
Game 2
Kealakehe 0 0 0 0 1 3 0 — 4 5 2 Keaau 3 1 0 0 0 1 x— 5 7 5