KEA‘AU — The Konawaena High School varsity baseball team defeated Kamehameha Schools – Hawai‘i 6-4 on Wednesday night, cementing its No.1 standing in BIIF Division II.
Wednesday’s showdown saw the Wildcats plate all six of their runs in the fifth inning, until which both teams went scoreless.
Those first five innings went by quickly, with each side’s defense repeatedly downing the other in five batters or less.
With Noah Palea on the mound for KSH, Konawaena’s leadoff and two-hole were both put out at first on infield grounders. Trez Uemoto singled on a line drive to center field, but was tagged out short of second after the following batter hit another infield grounder.
Uemoto got things started on the hill for the Wildcats. Warriors leadoff Liwai Correa singled on a groundball to second base, then stole second before the next batter flew out to Kolt Baptista in left field. Another flyout to Baptista gave Correa room to reach third, but he was stranded there after second-baseman Tate Garana caught the frame’s third straight flyout.
Just like the last inning, Konawaena went down quickly with one left on base in the top second. The leadoff grounded out, then Maika Akamu reached on a HBP before getting caught stealing second. Palea fanned the next batter.
The bottom second was just as unfruitful for KSH. The leadoff flew out to center fielder AJ Blanco, but two straight walks provided some potential. However, both were stranded after Uemoto punched out a batter and the next flew out to Blanco.
The Wilcats only touched base once in the next two innings — on a walk — as Palea notched three more strikeouts, two of which were looking. At the same time, the Warriors recorded their second hit — while Konawaena’s defense put four batters out at first on infield grounders and Uemoto punched out another batter.
In the top fifth, Maika Akamu reached on an infield error and got to second on Tobias Naihe’s sacrifice bunt. Garana singled, then Baptista doubled on a line drive to left field — batting in two runs. Another infield error allowed Blanco on base, then Taven Hiraishi singled to bat in Baptista. Uemoto sent Blanco home with a sacrifice fly, Charlie Kuwada singled, Jaeden Meyer singled to bat in Hiraishi and Akamu returned to the box to bat in Kuwada. Palea fanned the next batter to put an end to the arduous frame.
The Warriors responded with two runs in the bottom of the inning. Braden Gomes and Kydyn Nakamura got things started with singles before the three-hole flew out. Kaohu Kawelu reached on a fielder’s choice, then twin singles by Dominic Christensen and Dylan Hanson sent Gomes and Nakamura across the plate. The bases were left loaded following an outfield flyout and a swinging strikeout.
Keyan Kanahele took the mound for KSH in the top sixth and surrendered a single to Baptista, fanning another batter with two others flying out to the outfield.
The Wildcats also switched their pitcher in the sixth, sending Hiraishi to the hill. KSH plated two more runs during the frame. After a groundout by the leadoff, Gomes singled again and Nakamura walked. Both advanced as the next batter grounded out, then Kawelu singled on a groundball to centerfield — batting in Gomes and Nakamura. Konwaena elected to intentionally walk Christensen, who was then tagged out short of second when the next batter hit an infield groundball.
The Warriors kept the Wildcats off base in the top seventh. The first batter lined out to Hanson at first base, then the two-hole flew out to him. A lineout to Kawelu at second sent KSH into the dugout for a final chance at victory.
However, Konawaena’s defense quickly struck down the Warriors and sealed the win. Hiraishi punched out the leadoff — then, after singling, Justin Kubojiri was tagged out on his way to second base as Kamaka Ili hit an infield grounder and reached first. Ili was stranded when the next batter flew out to the outfield.
Baptista went two-for-three — scoring a run, batting in two and hitting a sac bunt to lead Konawaena in the box.
On the mound, Uemoto faced 24 batters in five innings and surrendered two earned runs on six hits and two walks — striking out three.
In his two innings, Hiraishi faced 11 batters and gave up two earned runs on three hits and two walks while striking out one.
Christensen led the Warriors at the plate, going two-for-three with an intentional walk, batting in a run.
This victory closed out the Wildcats’ regular season at 8-2 overall and 6-0 in Division II play.
KSH, now 7-2 overall and 5-1 in DII play, will end its season by hosting Waiakea High School for a non-division outing at 1 p.m. Saturday.
If KSH defeats Waiakea, it could potentially take the No.1 seed in next week’s BIIF Division II tournament — because Waiakea defeated Konawaena earlier this season. If KSH loses to Waiakea, the Wildcats will almost certainly receive the No.1 seed.