LIHU‘E — Entering the game Saturday at Vidinha Stadium for their home opener, spectators anticipating a victorious day for the Red Raiders were not disappointed as Kaua‘i swept Waimea, 7-1, 4-2.
Kaua‘i pitcher Kirby Yates picked up his second win of the season as he held Waimea to four hits while whiffing six, and walking four as the Red Raiders opened on a winning note, 7-1.
Yates started on a slow note, the Menehunes loading the bases including issuing a walk to Robbie Correa before Brendon Hew flied to right leaving the bases loaded, the most Waimea left stranded as they finished with seven runners left on base in the game. Kaua‘i answered with Garen Itamura one of his four hits in the day, Jake Oketani getting the RBI on a sacrific fly to leftfield.
Travis Fontanilla upped the ante in the fourth inning on an RBI single from Shannon Oketani, and Itamura notched his second score of the game in the fifth as a walk to D.J. Higashi brought the Raider lead-off batter home for a 3-0 lead.
Yates led the action in the sixth frame with a two-RBI single with Jake Oketani, and Shawn Ogata notching RBI in the scoring frenzy that started with Shannon Oketani getting to second on a passed ball before scoring on an Ogata sac bunt.
Waimea’s sole run came in the top of the seventh as Shawn Yadao, getting aboard on a double, scored on a passed ball to prevent a shutout.
Waimea’s Michael Yaris suffered the loss, allowing seven runs on ten Kaua‘i hits while striking out one.
Itamura, opening with a double, led the Raiders in their first win, finishing a perfect 4-for-4, followed by Shannon Oketani leaving on a perfect 3-for-3 note.
Shannon Oketani, who picked up an inning of relief in the first game, went the distance in the second game for his first win of the young season.
Oketani finished with a pair of runs allowed on five hits while striking out three Menehune and hitting one.
Correa took the mound for Waimea in the second game with Travis Delima filling in the catcher’s slot. Correa suffered the loss, going the distance and giving up four runs, two unearned, on six hits while striking out four and walking one.
A late-game faltering gave Waimea their run as Kaua‘i couldn’t shut the door with two outs in the sixth inning.
Waimea’s Yadao was parked at first base, but an errant throw on a pickoff attempt send Yadao scurrying to third where Leonard Zalopany drove him the final stretch on an RBI bang to leftfield, LZ settling at second base on the play.
Kane Zalopany followed to drive his brother home on a rightfield RBI single to keep Waimea from being shut down.
Sam Dias led the Raider bats in the second game, finishing 2-for-3. Kane Zalopany shared the same numbers to lead the Menehune bats.
As they did in the first game, Kaua‘i notched a run in their opening frame and added three more in the fifth before allowing the pair of Waimea runs.
Wednesday will see the Raiders host Kapa‘a in a single game at Vidinha Stadium starting at 2:45 p.m.
On Saturday, Waimea will travel to the Ron Martin Field for a double-header against Kapa‘a.
Wednesday’s game as well as one of the Saturday games will be broadcast live on KQNG Am 570 by “Anahola” Joel Pahukula.
