Pahoa High and Waiakea High’s baseball and softball teams battled through downpours as both Warrior teams defeated the Daggers on Wednesday in Hilo.
On Tuesday in Kona, Kealakehe High’s baseball team outlasted Hawaii Prep for a narrow victory.
Baseball
KEALAKEHE 4 – HPA 3
Thanks to Zesden Tolentino’s home run and triple, Kealakehe baseball was able to escape Hawaii Prep’s 10-hit surge on Tuesday at the Waveriders’ home field — winning 4-3.
Kealakehe had just four collective hits, but it was just enough to claim victory. Tolentino’s teammates — Keanu Alokoa, Kaeden Telles and Elijah Sunderman — also collected base hits. Rome Joaquin pitched five innings for the Waveriders.
On the other side, Ka Makani was led by Nishiki Iwai with three hits. The junior also pitched for HPA, throwing six innings while allowing 2 hits and one earned run. Teammates Alex Goodman, Nainoa Hummel, Kamea Leleiwi, Asher Anderson, Leon Kikukawa and Justice Carino recorded hits.
Kealakehe will look to continue its hot start against Kohala at 1 p.m. Saturday at home. Ka Makani, who has lost its first two opening games, will aim to reach the win column against KS-Hawai‘i at 3 p.m. Friday in Waimea.
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WAIAKEA 13 – PAHOA 0
WHS’ Gavin Nishida and Jerell Alston batted 1.000 — respectively going three-for-three with a RBI and two-for-two with four RBIs and a triple — as the Warriors blanked the Daggers in a five-inning affair.
The game was won at the plate, as Waiakea out-hit Pahoa 12-4, finished with a cummulative batting average of .522 and on-base percentage of .593.
Kaleb Wada pitched four innings for the Warriors, surrendering just four hits and a walk and notching two strikeouts. Loren Iwata closed out the final inning on the mound, striking out two and giving up no hits or walks.
Donivan Lynch and Landon Haili led Pahoa at the plate, respectively going one-for-two with a walk and one-for-two with a hit-by-pitch.
This was the first regular season outing for both teams. Waiakea will next play March 16 at Konawaena High. Pahoa’s next outing is March 12 at Kealakehe.
Softball
WAIAKEA 16 – PAHOA 1
Tehani Chinen went two-for-three with a homer and a double, and Keani Kaneshiro went four-for-four with two triples and three RBIs as the Warriors routed the Daggers in a four-inning affair.
Sophomore Meghan Spencer pitched all four frames for Waiakea, surrendering six free trips to first and no hits, striking out seven.
Ari Kobayashi scored Pahoa’s only run on a wild pitch after getting on base by a hit-by-pitch.
Now 2-0, both of the Warriors’ BIIF outings have been routs over BIIF Division-II schools. Waiakea will spend most of its early season facing DII opponents before getting into DI action later this month — when WHS and Hilo High play their rivalry game on March 27.
A game between Kea‘au High and Waiakea was postponed from its original date of Feb. 19, and could be rescheduled to a date earlier than the 27th.
The Warriors’ softball team will travel with its baseball team on March 16 to Kealakekua for its next matchup, against Konawaena.
Now 1-1, the Daggers will next face another DI opponent — in a home game against Kealakehe next Tuesday at Walter Victor Baseball Complex in Hilo.
