KEALAKEKUA — “Super interesting.”
That’s how Konawaena head baseball coach Adam Tabieros described the finale of a best-of-three BIIF Division II semifinal series against Hawaii Preparatory Academy on Saturday.
That was probably the nice way of putting it, as the Wildcats held off Ka Makani 14-10 in an error filled game that saw more unearned runs than earned on both sides.
“We just couldn’t play good, fundamental baseball,” Tabieros joked. “We had to make it interesting, but we battled and I was happy to come out on top.”
Konawaena and Hawaii Prep combined for 13 errors, leading to 14 unearned runs. The Wildcats ended up with twice as many runs as they had hits (8), while Ka Makani batters, with six hits, nearly did the same.
“We were trying too hard and the pressure was getting to us,” Tabieros said. “Baseball is a mental game and sometimes, when you try to do too much, it backfires. In this case less is more. You have to play relaxed.”
But in playoff baseball, a win is all that matters and the Wildcats will now head to the BIIF championship series for the second time in three years. However, they will face a buzz-saw team in Kamehameha-Hawaii when they get there.
The Warriors took out Honokaa in two games, winning 11-0 in six innings and 15-6. In two meetings against the Wildcats, Kamehameha has won 12-1 and 6-0.
“They can really hit the ball well and they play good fundamental baseball. They also have great pitching,” Tabieros said. “If we come around, if we peak, if we make fewer errors, we have a shot. But we cannot beat ourselves because Kamehameha likes to put the pressure on.”
Against Hawaii Prep, it was Konawaena who put the pressure on early, taking a 7-1 advantage after the second inning. The Wildcats scored six runs in the second inning off two walks, a pair of singles and two errors by Ka Makani.
However, Konawaena nearly gave the lead right back in the following frame when they allowed Hawaii Prep four runs in the top of the third.
The Wildcats regained a comfortable lead by the sixth when they went up 14-7, a Bronson Rivera home run serving as the catalyst.
“Even if Bronson doesn’t get on base he always has a quality at-bat,” said Tabieros, who moved Rivera to the leadoff spot for the third game. “He makes a pitcher work and the team feeds off his confidence and swagger.”
Hawaii Prep managed three runs in the seventh inning but Rivera — who took the hill in relief of starting pitcher Andrew Udac in the previous inning — closed out the game.
Udac picked up the victory. In 5 1/3 innings, he allowed seven runs — one earned — off three hits. He struck out five and walked five. Rivera threw the final 1 2/3 innings, allowing three runs off three hits. He also struck out three.
Sheldon Aribal took the loss for Hawaii Prep. He managed to go 1 1/3 innings, allowing seven runs — one earned — off three hits. He walked three and struck out one.
Michael Hughes threw the middle innings, going 3 2/3. He allowedthree earned runs off two hits, while walking five and striking out four. Skyler Roque-Sunahara threw the final inning, allowing three runs, including two earned off three hits. He walked two and struck out one.
Jake Basque continued his hot hitting in the series, going 2-for-2 with two walks. He scored three times for the Wildcats.
“Jake is back to doing what he is good at,” Tabieros said. “It is a good time for him to peak.”
Stevie Texeira showed patience at the plate, walking three times in a 1-for-2 performance, with two RBIs. Rivera finished with four runs and two RBIs. Boaz Ayers also had a good day at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a double and two walks. He knocked in one and scored twice.
Jonah Hurney led the offensive for Hawaii Prep, going 3-for-5 with a triple. He scored once and knocked in a run.
The BIIF Division II championship series will start on April 27 at 1 p.m. when Kamehameha hosts Konawaena at Wong Stadium. The second game will take place April 28 at 3 p.m.
Kamehameha 15, Honokaa 6
Bula Ahuna and Tai Atkins homered to pace a 15-hit attack at Honokaa, and the Warriors swept their way into the finals as they vie for a seventh title in a row.
Ahuna hit a solo home run to lead off the third and finished 3 for 3 with two RBIs, Kyran Kai collected three hits, including an RBI single, and Kekona Naipo-Arsiga had a two-run single among his two hits and drove in three.
Atkins, a left-handed ace who won Friday’s Game 1, hit a solo home run in the seventh.
Zakaia Michaels pitched three scoreless innings of one-hit ball with three strikeouts for Kamehameha (13-1). Kai pitched the final 2 2/3 innings.
It was an error-filled game with 13 errors, seven by the Warriors.
Canen Perreira pitched four innings for the Dragons (3-11) and allowed 1o runs, but only five earned.
Kalae Pauli finished 3 for 4, singling in the fourth and scoring Honokaa’s first run, and he drove in a run in the fifth with a hit as the Dragons scored five times. Canen Perreira was 2 for 3, including a run-scoring hit.
Division I
Hilo 8, Kealakehe 0
The easiest way to win a series? Don’t let the other team score.
The Vikings completed their second shutout in as many days against the Waveriders, using a six-inning outing from Ocean Gabonia to pick up the semifinal clinching victory.
Hilo advances to face Waiakea in the D-I championship at Wong Stadium, staring April 27.
Gabonia recorded the win, allowing just five hits against Kealakehe, striking out a pair. Jantzen Kahe’e pitched one inning of relief, letting up just one hit.
After scoring just a single run in the opener on Friday, Hilo got to work in a hurry in Game 2. In the first inning, leadoff hitter Micah Bello got on base with a single and Pu’ukani De Sa was able to knock him in with a line drive to right field.
The Viks added four more runs in the second inning, the highlight being a two-run triple from Logan Respicio.
Tupu Toafili took the loss for the ‘Riders, allowing five hits and five earned runs over two innings. Toby Estrella tossed five innings, allowing three earned and striking out four.
Kalani Piltz had a perfect 3-of-3 day from the plate, but Kealakehe could not turn his efforts into any runs.
Waiakea 12, Keaau 1
Bryant Respicio-Mercado’s infield single in the bottom of the fifth proved to be the only hit Waiakea’s pitchers allowed in a two-game sweep.
In six-inning TKO game played at Kamehameha’s field, Stone Miyao slapped a triple among his three hits and scored twice, Kala’i Rosario hit a run-scoring double with two hits and two RBIs and Brandon Nakayama was 2 for 3.
Cody Hirata struck out seven in 4 1/3 innings, yielding only a hit and a run with five walks. Ty Honda and Cody Min combined to go 1 1/3 hitless innings after David Nakamura tossed a five-inning no-hitter in Friday’s Game 1.
Edward Oguma pitched four innings and took the loss for the Cougars, who finished 1-12.
The Hawaii Tribune-Herald contributed to this report