HANAPEPE — The Makaweli Indians rallied to fend off a determined Lihu’e Builders baseball squad by a score of 7-6 Sunday afternoon at the Hanapepe Ball Park.
Lihu’e had spaced out an Ahren Kaneshiro single, three walks, and doubles by Mike Cardinez and Curtis Sadamitsu off Indian starter Brayden Hiraoka to claim a 4-0 advantage before the Indians rallied on a clutch fifth inning two-out Kaimana Manoi-Agni 2-RBI single to cut the deficit in half.
Makaweli took the lead for good with a three-run outburst in the fifth highlighted by a Leighton Otoman 2-RBI single.
The Indians added to their advantage in the sixth frame on Cody Dotarios two-run opposite field base hit to go up 7-4.
Lihu’e made it close in the bottom of the ninth as Curtis Matsumura opened with a single and plated on a Kaneshiro triple to right. Following an infield out, Kaneshiro scored on a long Dan Tanimoto sac fly to center, before Indian reliever Dotario ended the contest with his first strikeout.
Makaweli hurler Jason Nakata claimed the victory with seven strong innings of middle relief (0 runs, 3 hits, 2 walks, 6 strikeouts) while starter Mike Cardinez (4 innings, 0 runs, 2 hits, walk, 7 strikeouts), Shane Sadamitsu, and Barry Kawamura saw mound duty on the hill for the Builders.
Leighton Otoman (2-6, stolen base, 2 RBIs, run), Kaimana Manoi-Agni (2-5, 2 RBIs), Mike Shimatsu (2-2, double, run), and Bradley Chiba (2-5, stolen base, run) had multiple hit games for the Indians.
Lihu’e was led offensively by Ahren Kaneshiro (2-3, triple, stolen base, HBP, 2 RBIs, run).
Makaweli ended the season tied in a third place tie with idle Kapa’a (4-4), while the Builders fell to 1-6.
Kalaheo 17 Hanapepe 3 (7 innings)
The Kaneshiro Farms club pounded out 14 hits and took full advantage of 11 walks off four Hanapepe hurlers to overpower the 2003 champs in the final game of the 2003 AJA regular season.
Leading the Kalaheo offense were Troy Kaneshiro (2-4, RBI, 2 runs), Brandon Ishibashi (1-2, double, walk, 2 RBIs, run), Jake Oketani (1-4, 2 walks, RBI, 4 runs), Dave Bukoski (1-2, home run, 3 walks, 2 RBIs, 2 runs), Kainoa Santos (3-4, stolen base, walk, 3 RBIs, 2 runs), Garen Itamura (3-4, triple, walk, RBI, 2 runs), Palani Bukoski (1-3, walk, sac fly, RBI, run), and Shannon Oketani (2-5, RBI, run).
Kaneshiro Farms starter Shannon Oketani (3-1/3 IP, 3 runs, 4 hits, 4 walks, 2 HBP, 3 strikeouts) picked up the win while reliever Garen Itamura (3-2/3 IP, 0 runs, 1 hit, 3 walks, 1 strikeout) closed out the contest.
Dean Nonaka (1-2, run), Kellen Naka’ahiki (1-1, run), Vincent Nitta, Troy Yamase, and Levi Maeda (1-2, stolen base, HBP, run) each singled for Hanapepe.
The Rivermen had clinched the Kaua’i crown two weeks earlier and ended the regular season with a 6-2 record, while Kalaheo finished a game back in the standings at 5-3.
The Hanapepe squad, along with an additional compliment of all star selections, will travel to the Big Island to represent the Garden Island in the AJA State Baseball Championships on April 5-6.
