The Big Island Interscholastic Federation (BIIF) spring sports season continued to kick off Wednesday with matchups across the isle in baseball, softball and boys volleyball. Judo, track and flag football are set to begin competition this weekend. Follow the paper all of next week to read the results.
Kealakehe 17, Kona 10
Defending BIIF DI champion Kealakehe softball opened its season on a high note, beating crosstown rival Konawaena 17-10 at home. The Lady Waveriders logged an impressive 20 hits to the Lady Wildcats’ three
Infielder Freeeda Tosie, who played a pivotal part in Kealakehe’s 13-2 season in 2024, led the Lady Waveriders with four hits and three RBI, including a double in the bottom of the first inning that scored the first run of the afternoon. Teammate Zuleika Isiisaki smacked an RBI single a few batters later, driving in two additional runs.
Hi‘iaka Alapai and Rihanna Joaquin scored two more runs for Kealakehe in the second inning, but the offensive avalanche began in the third. After an error scored the first run of the inning, Joaquin, Tosie and Saige Telles added RBI singles that combined for five runs.
The blue and white scored their final sixth runs in the bottom of the fifth, as Telles, Jaxton Lindsey, Jaida Valeho and Alapai logged RBI singles.
Lindsey earned the win for the Lady ‘Riders in the circle, pitching for 3.6 innings while allowing one hit and five runs while striking out four. She also walked six Kona batters. Joaquin additionally pitched 3.3 innings, allowing two hits and five runs while walking eight.
While Jerzie Lopez, Leilani Lebrun-Ward and Sunny Taketa produced the Wildcats’ only hits, the green and white got most of their offense by playing smart at the plate by forcing walks and stealing the bases. They got walked 17 times while stealing 10 bases.
Lebrun-Ward was Kona’s lone pitcher in the circle.
Now at 1-0 in the early season, Kealakehe’s next matchup is to be announced. The Wildcats’ (0-1) next game is also to be determined.
Kona 6, Kealakehe 0
Konawaena and Kealakehe also matched up in baseball at Kealakehe High School, with the Wildcats winning 6-0 to improve to 2-0 on the season. For the Waveriders, it was their season-opening game.
Both teams remained scoreless until the third inning, when Kona produced five runs. It added its final run in the sixth.
The Wildcats logged six hits with Maika Akamu, Armenio Blanco, Jaeden Mayers, Travis Fediuk and Aycen Blanco with one each.
Koa Nakagawa was the game’s winning pitcher, throwing for 5.0 innings while allowing three hits, no runs and striking out four. Bullpen teammate Kahiau Rivero closed the game by pitching over the final two frames, allowing one hit across 26 pitches.
On Kealakehe’s side, Kaeden Telles, Alson Ioseph, McKade Westlund and Kelen made up the team’s four hits. Rome Jaoquin was the ‘Riders’ primary pitcher.
Next up, Konawaena will travel to the opposite end of the island to face Kamehameha Schools Hawai‘i at 1 p.m. Saturday in Kea‘au. Kealakehe’s next game is to be determined.
Waiakea 3, Kea‘au 1
Waiakea boys volleyball stayed unbeaten in the early season after a four-set win over Kea‘au on the road. The Warriors improved to 2-0, while the Cougars remained winless at 0-5.
Waiakea won the first set 25-15, but Kea‘au responded with an impressive 25-15 second-frame win. However, the Warriors soon adjusted and came out firing on all cylinders in the third and fourth sets — winning 25-14 and 25-18, respectively.
The Warriors will be back on the court tonight on the road — slated to face Ka‘u at 5 p.m. in Pahala. Junior varsity will play first.
The Cougars next face CLA at 5 p.m. tonight inside the Canefire’s home gymnasium.
Kona 3, Parker 1
Konawaena boys volleyball had a successful trip to the northern part of the island, beating Parker in four sets in Waimea’s District Gymnasium.
The Wildcats won the first two sets 25-21 and 25-21, but the Bulls avoided the sweep with a 25-21 third-set win. However, Kona adjusted and won the fourth set convincingly, 25-18.
Kona next faces Kanu on Monday night inside Ellison Onizuka Gymnasium, while Parker plays Kohala on Wednesday afternoon at home.
Other games
The paper could not obtain results from the following Wednesday games by deadline. If any readers have official scores, please email clangs@westhawaiitoday.com:
• Pahoa baseball at Ka‘u
• Pahoa softball at Ka‘u
