LIHU’E — For five complete innings, Kaua’i pitcher Mark Rodrigues delivered as advertised. The senior left-hander struck out 10 Kapa’a Warriors – on his way to 14 total – and appeared to be cruising toward victory. The sixth-inning blip on
LIHU’E — For five complete innings, Kaua’i pitcher Mark Rodrigues delivered as advertised.
The senior left-hander struck out 10 Kapa’a Warriors – on his way to 14 total – and appeared to be cruising toward victory.
The sixth-inning blip on the radar nearly cost him. The Warriors strung three runs together before Rodrigues regained his composure and finished out the 4-3 Kaua’i triumph. It was the Red Raiders’ first game in the Kaua’i Interscholastic Federation. Kapa’a dropped to 2-1.
But not without a fight.
“Our bats weren’t working as well as we would have liked,” Kaua’i coach Kenneth Mizuo said. “So, we didn’t really put the game away like we could have.”
After striking out Tyler Wakuta to start the sixth, Rodrigues watched as Royce Rapozo reached on an error. Senior Robin Lore followed with a deep triple to right-center, scoring Rapozo. Lore then scored on a Kaili Panui single. Panui then scored all the way from first on a Red Raiders’ error.
Rodrigues regained his composure, finally ending the sixth.
Kaua’i loaded the bags in the bottom of the sixth, but could do nothing with it.
“I felt good today, but I had to get going,” said Rodrigues, whose career high for strike outs in a game in 15. “I felt confident in my arm and in my defense.”
Three of Kaua’i’s runs came in the first two innings, including two on singles by Kimanu Grace, Kwinton Estacio and Scott Oshima in the bottom of the first.
The Warriors dug their own grave in the error column. Kapa’a committed five on the afternoon, bringing its season total to 17.
Sophomore Kyle Neuberger (1-1) picked up the loss, despite firing a solid game.
