KEALAKEKUA — It was far from pretty, but the Konawaena Wildcats will take it.
KEALAKEKUA — It was far from pretty, but the Konawaena Wildcats will take it.
After committing six errors in a loss to Division II front runner Kamehameha-Hawaii over the weekend, the Wildcats battled through eight errors to edge Hawaii Preparatory Academy 7-6 on Monday.
Sound play and very few miscues propelled Konawaena to a promising 4-0 start, but the box score has showed more errors than runs the past two games for the Wildcats.
“We have to take another look at our defense,” second-year Konawaena head coach Adam Tabieros said. “But I’m glad the guys kept their heads up and kept fighting.”
The Wildcats have struggled at shortstop, where sophomore first-year starter Andrew Udac has committed eight errors in the last two games. Despite the miscues, the coaching staff still has plenty of confidence in the young player.
“He has showed a lot of positive steps in practice and we still believe in him. That is why we continue to keep him in the game,” Tabieros said. “He is a spark plug and there are a lot of positives about him.”
The Wildcats overcame the rough defensive day with a nice output offensively. Konawaena totaled 10 hits, which were spread out to eight batters. Boaz Ayers led the Wildcats, going 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs.
“Boaz is a freshman and he really stepped up for us,” Tabieros said. “He shined today in the clutch.”
Konawaena’s Kolu Alani was 2-for-3 with a run scored.
Alani took the hill for the Wildcats. He exited after 5 1/3 innings having allowed six runs, but only one was earned as the Wildcat pitcher spread out eight hits. He struck out two in the no decision.
Stevie Texeira threw the final 1 2/3 innings, allowing one hit and striking out four to pick up the win.
“I am glad Stevie is back. He had a little bit of an injury and he was finally cleared,” Tabieros said. “We were able to slowly bring him back and he looked good.”
Konawaena took an early lead in the second inning of the game. Alani singled to center and Vohn Yamaguchi reached on an error by the Hawaii Prep second baseman. Texeira grounded out to second, advancing the runners, and Ayers doubled to left for a 2-0 advantage.
Hawaii Prep answered back with three runs in the top of the third, but the lead was short lived as the Wildcats put up three in the bottom of the inning. Konawaena widened its lead to 6-3 in the fourth when Kaiya Leleiwi doubled to center, advanced to third on a wild pitch, and scored on a Tyler Kitaoka groundout to second.
Down 6-4 heading into the sixth, Ka Makani fought back to tie the game once again thanks to a Wildcat error, a single by Skyler Roque-Sunahara and a 2 RBI double by Braden Kojima.
In the bottom of the sixth, Udac made up for his defensive miscues with a bunt single and a stolen base. Udac advanced to third on a groundout by Leleiwi and scored on a single by Canda.
Texeira forced the first batter he faced in the top of the seventh to pop-up in foul territory for the first out. He struck out the next two Hawaii Prep batters to seal the victory.
Finn Richmond started the game for Hawaii Prep and threw 4 1/3 innings. He allowed six runs, four earned, off seven hits. Richmond struck out five and walked three. Sheldon Aribal threw the final 1 2/3 innings, picking up the loss. He allowed one run off three hits.
HPA 003 012 0–6 9 1
Kona 023 101 x–7 10 8
Honokaa 10, Pahoa 0
Caden Perreira homered and hit a double to back Kelvin Falk’s one-hitter as the host Dragons evened their record at 3-3.
Falk only walked one and struck six in the five-inning TKO.
Canen Perreira was 2 for 4 with two RBIs, and Benjamin Akau was 2 for 4 with two runs scored. Nainoa Falk doubled and drove in a run.
Zachary Noll took the loss for the Daggers (0-5), allowing three hits with five walks in 1 2/3 innings. He struck out one, and Honokaa connected for seven runs in the third after Noll exited.
Pahoa 000 00 – 0 1 5
Honokaa 017 02 –10 10 0
Softball
Kamehameha 11, HPA 0
Taylor Sullivan struck out seven in a five-inning no-hitter, and added two hits and two RBIs at the plate to power the host Warriors (6-0).
Nevaeh Fukui-Stoos, Mykala Tokunaga and Elexis Emmsley also collected two hits apiece for Kamehameha, which committed one error.
Kiai Lindsey took the loss for Ka Makani (0-8).
Hawaii Prep 000 00 – 0 0 2
KS-Hawaii 221 6x – 11 11 1
Honokaa 15, Pahoa 0
The Dragons put away the Daggers on their home field with a pair of seven-run innings, with freshman Destynee Carvalho going 3 for 3.
Keesha Matsuoka pitched two hitless innings to get the victory, allowing two walks with two strikeouts, and Carvalho worked the final three innings.
Tyrah Fernandez was 2 for 3 with two runs scored and an RBI for Honokaa (4-2), Sarah Sedillo scored two runs and drove in two, and Carvalho scored twice.
Pahoa fell to 2-4.
Pahoa 000 00 –0 1 5
Honokaa 710 7x –15 8 1