KAILUA KONA — Waiakea took advantage of some Keaau miscues late in the game Saturday afternoon to claim their first Division I BIIF title since 2011. The Warriors trailed the Cougars for most of the game, but a four run sixth inning gave Waiakea the lead and they added two more in the seventh for a 9-4 victory.
KAILUA KONA — Waiakea took advantage of some Keaau miscues late in the game Saturday afternoon to claim their first Division I BIIF title since 2011. The Warriors trailed the Cougars for most of the game, but a four run sixth inning gave Waiakea the lead and they added two more in the seventh for a 9-4 victory.
“As usual we spotted a few runs early and struggled to come back,” Waiakea coach Bo Saiki said. “The girls like to come from behind I guess.”
Keaau jumped out to a 3-0 lead on the Warriors in the bottom of the first inning by taking advantage of control issues by Waiakea starting pitcher Kristi Hirata. Rylann Hacoba led off with a single to center. With one out, Erleen Oguma also singled to center and Ranchell Berinobis walked to load the bases. The first run came in when Tiana Kapumau was walked on four pitches. Kiana Akana followed with a 2-RBI single to right, scoring Oguma and Berinobis.
Keaau pitcher Lohi Kamakea-Wong allowed two runners to reach in the first inning on a single and a walk, but cruised through the second and allowed only one hit in the top of the third to keep her team on top.
On the flip side, Waiakea’s Hirata settled down inside the circle after her shaky first inning. She put the Cougar batters down in order in the second and allowed only one to reach when she hit a batter in the third.
Waiakea managed to cut into the deficit to one in the top of the fourth thanks to an untimely error. With one out, Skylar Thomas hit the ball between the legs of the pitcher for a single. Alyssa Hara singled to left and a sac bunt by Brandee Chinen moved the runners up a base. Jasmine Castro hit a grounder to third that went under the glove of the Keaau third baseman, scoring both runners.
The Warriors returned the favor defensively in the bottom of the fourth when two errors led to a Keaau run. With two outs, Kanoe Maka reached on a fielding error by the shortstop. Hacoba singled to left and the ball was misplayed, allowing the runners to advance a base. A single to center by Kamakea-Wong plated Hacoba for a 4-2 advantage.
However, the miscues continued for the Cougar defense in the top of the fifth, leading to another Waiakea run. With one out, Tierra Teves doubled to left. She scored on a Castro grounder that was misplayed by the shortstop. The Keaau lead was down to one run for the second consecutive inning.
The meltdown continued on the Keaau defense in the top of the sixth and the Warriors were able to take their first lead of the game.
Hara reached on an error by the shortstop and Chinen beat out and infield hit to short. Castro laid down a bunt but Hara was forced out at third. Chinen managed to take third on a throw down to first and scored when Ciera Kellett-Tavares put down a bunt and reached base safely when the first baseman dropped the throw. Taylor Nishimura cleared the bases, scoring two on a ground rule double down the right field line. She then scored when Teves reached on an error. Waiakea now led 7-4.
The bats came alive for the Warriors in the top of the seventh to the tune of two more runs. Thomas singled up the middle, moved to second on a bunt, and stole third. Castro was walked and Kellett-Tavaras reached on an infield blooper up the middle. Nishimura followed with a 2-RBI double to left.
Hirata continued to pitch strong, closing out the game for the victory and the BIIF championship.
Nishimura was the unsung hero of the offense. A leadoff hitter is usually the one scoring the runs and not knocking them in, but Saturday the catcher had three hits and four RBI’s.
Waiakea 000 214 2 / 9 9 2
Keaau 300 100 0 / 4 7 5