KAPA’A — Kapa’a’s Frank Rivera scored from third base with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning in lifting the Warriors to a 2-1 win over Kaua’i in the first game of a KIF baseball doubleheader at Ron
KAPA’A — Kapa’a’s Frank Rivera scored from third base with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning in lifting the Warriors to a 2-1 win over Kaua’i in the first game of a KIF baseball doubleheader at Ron Martin Field on Saturday.
The Warriors (2-1 in the second round of the KIF) then went on sweep the Red Raiders with a three-run rally in the bottom of the seventh inning of Game 2 to win 6-5.
After Rivera launched an Alec Reichle pitch into right field for a two-out triple in the seventh inning of the opener, Matt Isoda had a chance to be the hero for the Warriors.
Reichle appeared to have avoided any damage when he got Isoda to swing and miss with two strikes.
However, the ball got away from Red Raiders’ catcher Daryl Higashi allowing Rivera to trot home with the winning run.
Kapa’a took the early lead 1-0 in the second inning when Moses Punzal reached base with one out on a Kaua’i error. Punzal came around to score on an RBI double off the bat of Jessie Noone.
Kai Lopes was in control from there for Kapa’a as he scattered three hits in five shutout innings.
The Red Raiders finally tied the score in the top of the sixth on a perfectly executed squeeze play. Kekoa Crowell laid down a bunt off of Kapa’a hurler Dustin Mundon allowing Sam Dias to score from third base.
The Warriors had chances to regain the edge in the fifth and then sixth innings. Reichle, though, settled down and his defense made some nifty plays behind him.
In the fifth, Kapa’a loaded the bases with one out. Reichle (seven innings with seven strikeouts and six walks) got out of the jam with a groundout and strikeout.
Kapa’a again had a threat going in the sixth before Brian Merkel lined into an inning-ending double play.
Punzal pitched a scoreless seventh inning to pick up the win.
In Game 2, Kirby Yates seemed to be cruising for Kaua’i (1-3 in round two of the KIF) until the seventh.
Kapa’a’s Rayton Bonilla singled with one out to start the winning rally. Rivera was then hit by a pitch. Noone singled to load the bases.
Kyle Neuberger followed with a walk to close Kaua’i’s lead to 5-4.
Mundon then followed with a run-scoring hit to left to tie the score at five.
Yates then walked pinch hitter Lopes on four-straight pitches to force in the deciding run.
The Red Raiders took the lead 4-3 in the top of the fifth inning on Garen Itamura’s RBI single.
Yates allowed three runs in the bottom of the third inning on four hits.
From there, the Red Raiders’ hurler didn’t allow a hit until the seventh.
