Kamehameha pitcher Tai Atkins’ final stats didn’t look dominant, but his pure stuff (late-action moving fastball, big-bending curveball, deceptive changeup) worked all day long against Konawaena, which just couldn’t get clean swings against the hard-throwing freshman left-hander.
The lanky 5-foot-10 Atkins fired six strong innings as the Warriors defeated the Wildcats 6-2 to sweep the BIIF Division II championship series on Saturday at Wong Stadium, where Kamehameha’s strength of pitching provided a definitive advantage. Brandyn Lee-Lehano fired an eight-hitter in a 10-1 win in Game 1.
“For a ninth grader, he has overpowering stuff and has good poise and demeanor on the mound,” Kamehameha coach Andy Correa said. “He has three pitches, fastball, curveball and changeup, and can pretty much throw all of them for strikes.”
Atkins did a solid for everyone: He was the pilot behind the team’s fifth straight BIIF Division II title, cemented fellow pitcher Lee-Lehano’s legacy as a senior championship ace by making quick work of Konawaena.
The quick game allowed Kamehameha’s seniors and juniors to head out early to get ready for the school’s prom. That was a reason the BIIF championship game was moved up two hours. The finale lasted exactly two hours.
In six innings, Atkins allowed two runs on five hits and two walks and whiffed three. Through five innings, Atkins subdued the Wildcats and held them scoreless. Daylen Calicdan, one of four starting seniors, closed shop with the final frame. The other starting seniors are Lee-Lehano, who played Game 2 as the DH, third baseman Makana Aiona and center fielder Baron Victorino.
“I felt like today was the best pitching performance I had all year,” Atkins said. “My curveball was really working, and my change of speeds was big. I feel honored to do this (pitch in the BIIF championship). Not every freshman gets to play. I try to work as hard as I can.”
Konawaena scratched Atkins for two runs in the bottom of the sixth with three seeing-eye singles and a walk. Logan Canda, the No. 2 batter, singled up the middle, and Tyler Kitaoka walked. After Tevin Canda hit a 9-iron chip shot to left for a single to load the bases, Vohn Yamaguchi dumped a bloop two-run single to right field.
Logan Canda was the only one to pair hits for Kona, which left just four on base.
Kamehameha (16-1) and Konawaena (11-7) both have berths to the HHSAA Division II state tournament, which will be held May 5-7 at Wong Stadium.