KEALAKEKUA — Konawaena fell behind, but not for long.
Bolstered by the top of the lineup, the Wildcats bounced back from an early 3-0 deficit to dominate visiting Honokaa 18-3 on Tuesday at Gabby Inaba Field.
The Dragons opened the game with three runs in the top of the first, but Konawaena answered with four runs in the bottom of the inning and then added six in the second to blow the game open.
The first four hitters in the Wildcat lineup all had multiple hits. Hitting out of the three hole, Vohn Yamaguchi had a monster game, going 3-for-3 with three RBIs and four runs scored.
Austin Ewing and Kolu Alani also had three hits apiece. Ewing, hitting second, went 3-for-3 with a triple, RBI and four runs. Alani, the cleanup hitter, was 3-for-3 with three RBIs. Leading off, Kaiya Leleiwi had two hits, scoring twice. AJ Allred also had two hits, with four RBIs.
“Everyone hit the ball really well today and stuck with the game plan,” said Konawaena head coach Adam Tabieros. “We had good quality at-bats and did not get cheated.”
Konawaena had a total of 15 hits in the four inning mercy shortened game. Honokaa’s defense helped out with five errors.
Alani started on the hill for the Wildcats. Despite his shaky start, he settled down, picking up the win while allowing three earned runs off six hits in four innings of work. He struck out one and walked none.
“He really settled in and gained his control back, working on his pitches,” Tabieros said. “No walks, which is exactly what we have been preaching.”
The game did not start well for the Wildcats, falling behind 3-0 in the top of the first when Honokaa’s Molina hit a three-run home run to left with one out. Alani allowed another hit after the home run, but settled down, forcing a flyout and a groundout to prevent any other runs from crossing the plate.
In the bottom of the first, Ewing singled with one out and Yamaguchi doubled to score the runner. After Alani was hit by a pitch, Kanai Rivera beat out a bunt for a single to load the bases. Stevie Texeira then hit a fly to center, scoring Yamaguchi on the sacrifice. AJ Alani followed with a double to left, scoring two runs to give Konawaena a 4-3 lead.
Kolu Alani threw a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the second. In the bottom of the inning, Tristan DeAguiar beat out a bunt single. Leleiwi reached on a fielder’s choice with DeAguiar called out at second. Ewing then tripled to right, scoring Leleiwi. Yamaguchi walked and Kolu Alani singled to center, scoring Ewing and Yamaguchi for a 7-3 advantage.
Rivera was hit by a pitch, and an error allowed Texeira to reach base and Boaz Ayers, the courtesy runner for Alani, to score. AJ Alani was also hit by a pitch and Jake Basque reached on an error, which scored Andrew Udac, who was courtesy running for Rivera. The run put the Wildcats up 10-3.
Konawaena added another two runs in the third. Yamaguchi knocked in Ewing on a single to left, moved around to third and scored on a passed ball.
The Wildcats put the game away in the bottom of the fourth with another six run inning.
“We got down early but we told the players there was a lot of game left to play and they did not give up,” Tabieros said. “Baseball is a finicky game and the momentum can shift at any time.”