The Konawaena offense came to play on Saturday in a 9-4 victory over visiting Keaau at Gabby Inaba Field. The Wildcats also had another strong performance from starter Kolu Alani, who allowed only one run in just over four innings of work.
The Konawaena offense came to play on Saturday in a 9-4 victory over visiting Keaau at Gabby Inaba Field. The Wildcats also had another strong performance from starter Kolu Alani, who allowed only one run in just over four innings of work.
Konawaena jumped out to an early lead on the Cougars, scoring all of their runs over the first four innings, putting a five spot on the board in the second. Keaau’s batters were held off-balance for most of the game, but managed to push four runs across the plate in the final inning.
“Through six innings, this was a good game,” Konawaena head coach Adam Tabieros said. “Everyone hit the ball and the fielding was good. The pitchers also did their job. It was a good team win.”
Konawaena took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the opening frame. Leadoff hitter Kalya Leleiwi started the inning with a double to left. Keaau starting pitcher Ricky Rapoza then hit the next three Wildcat batters, forcing in a run. The second run scored when Rapoza got Austin Ewing to hit into a double play.
The game was busted open in the second inning as the Wildcats pushed five runs across the plate. Konawaena opened the inning with three straight hits, a double by Boaz Ayers and a pair of singles by Jake Basque and Tristan DeAguiar. Ayers stole home for the third Wildcat run of the game. Basque then scored on a passed ball and DeAguiar tagged up and crossed the plate off a sac fly, which came off the bat of Leleiwi.
Kanai Rivera followed with a single to left and Alani was hit by a pitch. With two outs, Ewing tripled to left, allowing two runs to score for a 7-0 advantage.
Konawaena added two more runs over the next two innings. The first came when Basque singled, advanced to third after a walk and an error, and then scored on a sac fly.
In the fourth inning, AJ Alani singled, moved to third on a walk and a fielder’s choice, and scored on a single by Stevie Texeira.
The Wildcat offense picked up 11 hits. Ewing led the offense, going 3 for 4 with two RBIs.
“Austin is coming through and has been a key player for us,” Tabieros said. “He is really hot right now. He is an athlete and finds a way to get on base.”
Basque went 2 for 3 with two runs scored and an RBI. Eight different Wildcat batters picked up hits.
“The ball was coming off the bat nice today,” Tabieros said. “We had some good swings and had several gap shots.”
With a comfortable lead early, Kolu Alani allowed only three hits through four innings of work before being pulled for Ayers.
“Kolu stayed in the strike zone, kept the batters off-balance and limited the free passes,” Tabieros said. “Keaau had to earn everything they got.”
Ayers was lights out in his one inning of work, picking up three outs in the fifth inning off only six pitches.
Ayers made way for AJ Alani in the sixth. AJ Alani had no problems in the sixth inning, but struggled with his control in the seventh, hitting the first batter and walking the next two to load the bases.
Tabieros then put Kolu Alani back in but he allowed a single before being pulled for DeAguiar, who allowed two hits, but eventually worked his way out of the inning to end the game.
When the dust finally settled on the last inning, three runs were attributed to AJ Alani and one to Kolu Alani.
“AJ is a freshman and we wanted to see how he would do,” Tabieros said. “He showed us some positives in the game and some things we need to work on.”
The Wildcats will be back in action on Monday when they travel to Kohala for a game at 3 p.m.
Baseball
Waiakea 15, Kealakehe 0
Makoa Andres and Rysen Ross combined to pitch a four-inning no-hitter as the host Warriors improved to 4-0 and have allowed only one run this season.
Khaden Victorino finished 3-for-3 with a double and four RBIs for the Warriors. Trayden Tamiya went 2-for-2 with two runs scored.
Eli Lai took the loss for the Waveriders (1-1), yielding six hits and nine runs – four earned – in two innings, with five walks and a strikeout.
Softball
Waiakea 17, Kealakehe 14
Skylar Thomas hit two solo home runs, and Brandee Chinen hit a pair of triples, one that gave the host Warriors the lead for good in the fourth as they outslugged the Waveriders in a rematch of last season’s league Division I championship series.
Jourdan Perreira got the win in relief, working three innings, and allowing seven hits and six walks with three strikeouts. At the plate, Perreira collected three singles.
Kealakehe (0-2) scored seven runs in the third inning to take a brief lead. Verly Decasa posted three hits, with a double and two RBIs, and Brie McLeod went 3-for-5.
Kiara Cantiberos went the distance in defeat, allowing 18 hits and walking five with two strikeouts.
Tierra Teves had two of those hits for two-time D-I champion Waiakea (3-0), with a double and an RBI
In three innings, Andres struck out four batters without a walk.