KEAAU — Waiakea left-hander Reyn Kihara and Kamehameha-Hawaii right-hander Kaimana Moike not only engaged each other in a classic pitchers’ duel, but both teams also collaborated in a valuable learning experience.
KEAAU — Waiakea left-hander Reyn Kihara and Kamehameha-Hawaii right-hander Kaimana Moike not only engaged each other in a classic pitchers’ duel, but both teams also collaborated in a valuable learning experience.
Kihara pitched six shutout innings, and the visiting Warriors scored on an error to edge Kamehameha 1-0 in a Big Island Interscholastic Federation baseball game on Thursday — the second meeting between the two teams with same nickname.
Waiakea (8-0) scratched Moike for an unearned run in the sixth when Davy Camacho sat on a fastball on a 3-1 count, got his pitch, parked it in left field for a double, and eventually scored on a throwing error by the Kamehameha senior pitcher.
Moike’s pitching line was nearly flawless: seven innings, an unearned run on three hits and three walks, and six strikeouts on 96 pitches.
It was a tough one-run loss, despite pitching out of constant trouble and stranding six runners on base.
Kihara’s line was clean and better: six innings, no runs on three hits and three walks, and four strikeouts on 81 pitches for a hard-earned win, stranding only four runners on base, including one in scoring position.
Then, in the seventh, Waiakea trotted out what could be viewed as a future formula — with someone else starting and ace Quintin Torres-Costa finishing — for the BIIF playoffs or a possible state championship run.
Torres-Costa got a quick groundout and walked Bronson Pulgados on five pitches. He got a flyout and faced No. 9 hitter Chay Toson, who had a 3-for-3 game against Torres-Costa last season as a freshman.
He caught Toson looking for a strikeout on an 0-2 fastball that clipped the outside corner.
Kamehameha (3-3) is still in prime position to lock down the No. 1 seed in the East Hawaii Division II field and a first-round bye for the six-team BIIF tournament. The tougher seeding battle is in West Hawaii with front-runner Konawaena (6-0) and tailgaters Hawaii Prep (4-3) and Honokaa (3-3).
Moike was mindful of the significance and value of the tight contest, knowing his Warriors will likely face either HPA ace Jayse Bannister or Honokaa ace Dylan Shiraki — future Lon Morris junior college teammates — in the BIIF semifinals for a state berth.
“I’m taking this game knowing I can do well in pressure situations,” he said.
Waiakea 000 001 0 — 1 3 0
Kamehameha 000 000 0 — 0 3 3
Softball
c Hilo 8, Kamehameha 6: Ashyln Kaneshiro worked around five errors, scattering nine hits and allowing only one earned run to help the Vikings improve to 6-1. She walked two and struck out one for the complete-game victory.
Fantacie Keahilihau-Kuamoo batted 3-for-4 and Wendilyn Simmons went 2-for-4 to lead Hilo.
Samantha Simmons pitched four innings for a no-decision. She allowed one earned run, walked none and struck out none. Kiani Wong took the loss in relief.
She walked two and struck out three.
Gayla Ha-Cabebe went 3-for-4, Wong was 2-for-4 and Lehua McGuire had a double to lead the Warriors (3-5).
Hilo 000 134 0 — 8 9 5
Kamehameha 300 002 1 — 6 9 6