KAILUA-KONA — The top-two softball teams in the Big Island Interscholastic Federation (BIIF) — Kealakehe and No. 7 Waiakea — squared off Friday afternoon in Kona, with the Waveriders winning 6-3. Kealakehe remained in the driver’s seat for the game’s entirety, tying the Warriors in hits (five to five) and producing fewer errors (three to four).
The ‘Riders also stayed unbeaten on the season at 6-0-0, while Waiakea (6-1-0) — the state-ranked squad — suffered its first loss of 2024.
After a Warriors’ error put Kealakehe up 1-0 in the bottom of the first, the ‘Riders chipped in four more runs two innings later — as third baseman Freeda Tosie doubled which drove in a run, followed by second baseman Kayleigh Nakamura blasting a two-run homer to dead center field.
Emalia Emmsley led the ‘Riders in the circle, getting the nod for the game’s winning pitcher. She threw for all seven innings, striking out five. Meghan Spencer pitched for Waiakea.
Nakamura led the blue and white with two hits apiece, followed by Emmsley, Tosie and right fielder Saige Telles hitting one.
Waiakea’s offense was produced by right fielder Kaelyn Sewake, second baseman Keani Kaneshiro, center fielder Maddie Kodani, first baseman Tehani Chinen, and Spencer who both had one hit apiece.
Being the only unbeaten team left on the island, Kealakehe has been on a roll — scoring 78 runs through six games. The ‘Riders will look to add to their magical season in their next matchup against Ka‘u, slated for 1 p.m. Wednesday at home.
The Warriors will look to bounce back quickly against KS-Hawai‘i — scheduled for 1 p.m. Friday at home in Hilo.
KONA 3, PAHOA 2
Thanks to second baseman Tate Garana’s clutch RBI in the bottom of the ninth to send in a run, Konawaena baseball was able to escape Pahoa 3-2 in extra innings Thursday in Pahoa town.
The Daggers had seven hits, while Kona collected six. Both teams went through two pitchers and struck out 12 each. Koa Nakagawa was the game’s winning pitcher, going six innings and allowing no runs with nine strikeouts to close the game. Tripp Kahsen was Pahoa’s top performer on the mound, throwing 107 pitches across nearly eight innings of action — striking out 12.
The Daggers got on the board first after third baseman Brayden Conda-Tolle singled, which brought in two runs at the top of the first inning.
The Wildcats were able to respond by the sixth inning, as AJ Blanco stole home to even the score at 2-2.
The game went on until the ninth, when Garana’s heroics ended the hard-fought afternoon.
Tavis Fediuk led Kona with two hits, while Tobias Naihe, Jaeden Meyer, Garana and Blanco all had one apiece. Pahoa’s Max Potter and Jayden Orita led the team with two hits each, while teammates Donivan Lynch, Brayden Conda-Tolle and Jayden Sumiki all had one.
The Wildcats (3-2-0) have won three straight after dropping their first two games of the season. They’ll look to keep the streak going against their next opponent — Kea‘au at 1 p.m. today at the Cougars’ home field. The Daggers (2-3-0) have lost two in a row, and will try to get back in the win column against Hawaii Prep Academy at 3 p.m. April 6 in Hilo.
VOLLEYBALL: HILO 3, KEA‘AU 0
Hilo boys volleyball handled Kea‘au in straight sets Thursday at the Cougars’ home court — 25-17, 25-16 and 25-13. It was the Vikings’ fifth win of the season (5-1).
Hilo will next play island rival KS-Hawai‘i at 6 p.m. Tuesday in Kea‘au in a battle of the top two teams in BIIF Division I. The Cougars are still searching for their first win of the year at 0-4, and will also next take the court against KS-Hawai‘i at 6 p.m. Monday at home.