KAILUA-KONA — Hitting in the top of the order, Tevin Canda, Boaz Ayers and Bronson Rivera did most of the damage in a 10-2 victory at Kohala on Tuesday.
The 1-2-3 hitters combined for six hits, two each, along with six runs and five RBI’s in a game where the Wildcats pulled away in the final two innings.
Ayers reached base five times, which included a pair of doubles and two walks.
“It is good to have runners on base,” said Konawaena head coach Adam Tabieros. “Boaz is starting to see the ball well right now. He is getting confident in the box and I like him in the two spot.”
Ethan Yamaguchi threw all seven innings in the complete game victory for the Wildcats. Yamaguchi allowed two earned off four hits and a pair of walks, while striking out two.
“He had a great tempo throughout the entire game,” Tabieros said. “He pitched to contact and let defense work.”
Konawaena pushed three runs across the plate in the opening two frames to take an early lead.
Canda opened the game with a line drive single to right and moved to third on a double to center by Ayers. Kanai Rivera was hit by a pitch to load the bases and Jake Basque hit into a fielder’s choice, allowing Canda to score from third.
In the second inning, Yamaguchi and Canda both singled and came around to score on Ayers’ second double of the game, giving the Wildcats a 3-0 lead.
Kohala gave itself a fighting chance in the bottom of the fifth inning by cutting the deficit to one. Alii Kaaekuahiwi was hit by a pitch and Legend Libron walked. A sac bunt allowed Kaaekuahiwa to score from third and Libron later came in to score.
However, Konawaena put the game away with three runs in the sixth inning and four in the seventh.
In the top of the sixth, James Kapela was hit by a pitch and scored on a Canda single to center. Ayers reached on an error to load the bases and Bronson Rivera followed with a single to center to bring in Kapela and Canda.
Riki Furuto led off the top of the seventh with a walk and scored on a Kapela single to left. Kapela was forced out at second when Canda hit a grounder to second but he beat out the play at first. Ayers and Rivera walked, and Kanai Rivera was hit by a pitch to bring in Canda. Basque then singled to left to bring in Ayers and Bronson Rivera.
It was a good victory for Konawaena, but Tabieros knows his team is still trying to find what it needs to unseat Kamehameha, who just beat the Wildcats by eight runs last week.
“We are trying to find ourselves but I like where we are at,” he said. “We have a lot to work on to get better.”
The Wildcats (3-2) will be back in action on Tuesday when they host Honokaa at 3 p.m. Kohala (0-5) will travel to Hilo on Saturday for a 1 p.m game.