KAILUA-KONA — Kamehameha-Hawaii defeated Kealakehe 10-0 over five innings in a game that resembled more of a pitcher’s dual than one-sided slugfest, which the final score indicated. The game, held at Waverider Field, was scoreless after three innings and the Warriors were up by only three heading into the fifth before blowing the game open with a seven run inning to close out the game early.
Kamehameha starting pitcher Justyce Ishii allowed only two hits in the victory, throwing four innings, while striking out one and walking one.
“Justyce kept us in the game early and threw a lot of strikes,” said Kamehameha head coach Andy Correa. “He had command of his curveball and fastball. I think he only walked one and limited the amount of pitches he had to throw.”
Ishii was backed by superb defense, led by shortstop Jaisten Cabatbat, who covered a lot of ground at his position, turning double plays, running in to scoop up short rollers, and moving either right or left with ease. He also showed a strong arm for the position with accurate throws to first base. A multi-talented played, Cabatbat went 3-for-4 at the plate with three singles.
“We made all the routine plays and some tough plays,” Correa said. “Playing at someone else’s park is not the easiest thing to do defensively but the team made the adjustments.”
For the Waveriders, Eli Lai was nearly untouched the first time through the Warriors’ batting order allowing only two hits through the first three innings. He finished the game allowing four runs off eight hits through four innings of work. He struck out three and walked one.
“Eli has been getting better and better all season,” said Kealakehe head coach Josh Hansen. “Since he has been here this is the best I have seen him go. He is a competitor.”
In the top of the fourth, the Warriors opened with three straight hits before the first out was recorded. The third batter, leadoff hitter Kyran Kai doubled to right-center, knocking in the first two runs of the game. Kai then came around to score for a 3-0 lead. Kai went 2-for-4 in the game with two runs and two RBIs.
Lai was pulled in the fifth, but his replacements, three different pitchers, struggled with their control, hitting batters and walking in runs, leading to a seven run inning and a mercy shortened game.
“The wheels kind of fell off and Kamehameha made a couple of hits when they had too,” Hansen said. “I like the way we competed, we just had that one inning.”
Konawaena 19,
Pahoa 0
The Konawaena baseball team cruised past Pahoa on Saturday at Gabby Inaba Field in Kealakekua.
Andrew Udac and Vohn Yamaguchi recorded two hits apiece, making up for half of the Wildcats’ eight hits. The offense also took advantage of four costly Pahoa mistakes and seven walks. Yamaguchi had a triple, a double and scored three times. He knocked in one run and walked once.
Bryce Dorvall picked up the victory on the hill. He threw three innings, allowing one hit and striking out eight. Brennan Ka’awa pitched the final inning, striking out two.
Waiakea 22,
Kohala 0
The Warriors banged out 22 hits and rode a pair of big innings to win in Kapaau.
Batting with the bases loaded in the first, Curren Inouye cleared them with a triple as Waiakea (9-0) scored nine runs, and Micah Chinen collected two of his three hits in the sixth as the Warriors tacked on 11 runs.
Cody Hirata got the win, allowing three hits and two runs – one earned – with six strikeouts and four walks in four innings.
Dreg’n Roque-Lewis drove in a run with a hit for the Cowboys (0-9), and Dylan Salvador was the losing pitcher.
Nathan Yoshida and Khaden Victorino each had two hits, two RBIs and three runs scored for the Warriors, Gehrig Octavio and Trayden Tamiya doubles, and Devin Midel was 2 for 2.
Softball
Kamehameha 15,
Kealakehe 7
The Warriors produced 14 hits, led by Taylor Sullivan, who went 4-for-5 with four runs and three RBIs in an away victory on Saturday. Kamehameha tried to give the game away, gift wrapping seven runs to the Waveriders on eight errors. Kealakehe recorded only one hit in the game.
Defense is a concern for the Waveriders. After a shaky defensive outing against Konawaena earlier in the week, the team committed four errors at very untimely moments against Kamehameha.
“Defensively, we could not pull off a lot of the routine plays,” said Kealakehe head coach Loni Mercado. “We will work on some defensive strategies and hopefully they can get their mind right after a day off.”
Konawaena 20,
Pahoa 0
Led at home by the unhittable Teizha Kaluna inside the circle, the Lady Wildcats needed only three innings to knock of Pahoa 20-0 on Saturday. Kaluna threw a no-hitter, while striking out six.
Offensively, Konawaena needed only seven hits as the Daggers hurt themselves with nine errors and 10 walks. Erin Kaimuloa Bates led the Wildcats at the plate, going 2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI. Shaylann Marie Grace only had one hit, but knocked in five runs, while also scoring three times.
Keaau 15,
HPA 5
Caitlyn Calhoun went the distance in the six-inning TKO victory, and she added two RBIs.
Jetta Silva also had two RBIs for the Cougars (4-4).
Hillary Connors took the loss for the Division II Ka Makani (1-6).