When Waiakea senior pitcher Kodi Medeiros is on the mound, a circus is likely to follow. That was the case Wednesday at Kealakehe High School, as Waiakea (1-0) knocked off Kealakehe 3-1 in its opening game of the Big Island Interscholastic Federation season.
When Waiakea senior pitcher Kodi Medeiros is on the mound, a circus is likely to follow. That was the case Wednesday at Kealakehe High School, as Waiakea (1-0) knocked off Kealakehe 3-1 in its opening game of the Big Island Interscholastic Federation season.
In five innings of work, Medeiros recorded 10 strikeouts, walked none and allowed just one hit in front of the nearly two-dozen scouts on hand, armed with speed guns, notepads and scrutinizing eyes. The Warriors’ highly touted prospect is expected to be a first-round pick in the Major League Baseball first-year player draft in June.
“Kodi is a special talent,” Waiakea head coach Jensen Sato said. “The big moment does not get to him. It was the same way in the state tournament his sophomore year. He went after guys today.”
Calvin Uemura closed out the game for Waiakea with two no-hit innings.
“For the most part, we pitched and caught the baseball well and executed offensively,” Sato said. “We left some guys on base, but I think that was just opening day nerves. There were definitely butterflies, but these kids grinded it out.”
Zaynan Sanchez took the loss for Kealakehe (1-1). Sanchez pitched 5 1/3 innings, allowing four hits, two earned runs and striking out five. Pohaku Dela Cruz pitched 1 2/3 innings in relief for the Waveriders, allowing no hits or runs.
“Zaynan Sanchez pitched as well as I have seen since I have been a Waverider,” second-year Kealakehe head coach Josh Hansen said. “Then Pohaku pitched us out of a situation with runners on base and that was fun to watch. I think we have a lot to look forward to.”
Despite the loss, the outlook is good for Kealakehe. The Waveriders have traditionally played shorter games with Waiakea because of the BIIF’s 10-run mercy rule. A tight loss against the Warriors’ top starter — and likely one of the top pitchers in the state — is a leap in the right direction.
“You have to tip your hat to a lefty who consistently pitches in the high 90s,” Hansen said. “This was the first time a lot of these guys ever saw pitches at that speed. Coming in, I told them that this kid is a strike thrower and is going to challenge you. We did not have any crucial mistakes, our pitchers threw strikes, but were just not able to get the crucial hits.”
Sanchez recorded the only hit for the Waveriders — a single in the bottom of the second.
Medeiros was the top slugger for the Warriors, going 1-of-2 with two RBIs. Medeiros also drew an intentional walk in the sixth inning. Waiakea leadoff hitter Gehrig Octavio reached base twice, including once on a first-inning triple.
The throng of MLB scouts was an obvious distraction.
“We didn’t want to play into the hype. We just wanted to play our game,” Hansen said. “I told them there would be scouts here, but not to add to the hype and concentrate on the task at hand. We always want to play against the other team’s No. 1 guy. If we want to win, we will have to see (Medeiros) again.”
The Waveriders next take the field at 1 p.m. Saturday when the team hosts Pahoa. Waiakea welcomes Kohala for its first home contest of the BIIF season the same day.
Waiakea 110 010 0 — 3 4 2
Kealakehe 010 000 0 — 1 1 2