KEAAU – Fundamentally solid as is its tradition, Kamehameha did what it needed to do on a breezy Saturday afternoon to turn away Hawaii Prep Academy 3-0 to secure a two-game sweep of the best-of-three BIIF Division II semifinal behind a combined one-hitter.
KEAAU – Fundamentally solid as is its tradition, Kamehameha did what it needed to do on a breezy Saturday afternoon to turn away Hawaii Prep Academy 3-0 to secure a two-game sweep of the best-of-three BIIF Division II semifinal behind a combined one-hitter.
“We played good enough to win, but they pushed us all the way,” said Kamehameha (15-1) coach Andy Correa. “We would get something going on the bases and they’d turn a double play to get out of it. They gave us a battle.”
It was close, but after the bottom of the Warriors order strung together three straight base hits in the second for a 2-0 lead, starting pitcher Tai Atkins and reliever Justice Ishii kept HPA (7-9), off the scoreboard.
Kamehameha, visitors on their home field in the second game of the playoff series, started things off with three ground ball outs and appeared headed for the same result in the second inning with two more infield outs, then right fielder Kyron Kai singled to right, advanced to third on a double to right by designated hitter Brandyn Lee-Lehano and they both came around to score when first baseman Kobie Kinzie tripled to deep left-center.
It turned out that was all they needed, but catcher DallasJ Duarte singled in an insurance run in the seventh.
“I’m proud of the way we battled out there,” said Ka Makani coach Jordan Hayslip, “but let’s face it, that’s a complete team over there, they can hit, they pitch and they can catch it. They’re pretty tough to beat, you have to be at your best and hope they aren’t.”
Atkins went the first five innings and allowed the only HPA hit, a single by shortstop Finn Richmond in the fourth inning, but that was erased on a 1-6-3 double play to snuff out the threat.
Along the way Atkins stayed in something close to complete control, striking out eight while issuing just one base on balls. Ishii was just as effective, facing just seven batters over the final two innings, with a walk and a strikeout.
“I would say it was an average effort, but most of it was my catcher (Duarte), who was giving me good looks and keeping me on my game,” Atkins said. “We changed speeds a lot and that seemed to help.”
Jonah Hurney went the distance for HPA, scattering six hits, with three walks and two strikeouts.
KS-Hawaii — 020 000 1 – 3 6 0
HPA — 000 000 0 – 0 1 2