Defending champions, Kalaheo held off a tough Lihu‘e team, 14-8 to repeat as the Kaua‘i AJA Baseball Champions. Kalaheo pitcher Liko Perreira gained his sixth victory against no defeats, by going the distance, allowing eight runs, giving up 10 hits,
Defending champions, Kalaheo held off a tough Lihu‘e team, 14-8 to repeat as the Kaua‘i AJA Baseball Champions.
Kalaheo pitcher Liko Perreira gained his sixth victory against no defeats, by going the distance, allowing eight runs, giving up 10 hits, walking none, and whiffing four batters.
Kalaheo exploded for eight second inning runs while hammering out nine hits. This rally included power hitter, Kaina McCallum’s 2-run home-run.
Kalaheo took a commanding lead at the end of the second frame at 9-0, then cruised the rest of the way. Kalaheo scored first in the initial inning with McCallum’s single and run from first-base on Kaleo Saiki’s double to center. In the second inning, consecutive base knocks by Tuki McCallum, Palani Bukoski, Denny Miyasato, and Perreira, drove in McCallum, Bukoski, and Miyasato for the scores.
Perreira scored on Kaina McCallum’s HR. Kalaheo batters continued to hit as Saiki, Troy Kaneshiro, Dave Bukoski all hit safely and scored on the base hits. Tuki McCallum was the only one with two RBI’s in the second inning. Kalaheo surged ahead 9-1 in the third inning.
Lihu‘e’s Landon Samiano slugged a double and promptly scored on Stanton Yoshimori’s clutch base hit, but Kalaheo was still up 9-1.
In the fourth inning, Kalaheo’s Kaina McCallum muscled his second HR of the game, which made the score 10-1.
But Lihu‘e didn’t give up with four runs of their own in the top of the fifth inning. Bobby Texeira, Cody Bonilla, and Samiano loaded the bases with no outs. Texeira scored on Yoshimori’s sac fly, Bonilla and Samiano scored on Tommy Cox’s single. Finally, Aaron Adachi scored on Curtis Sadamitsu’s basehit.
Kalaheo responded with three runs in the fifth inning, as Palani Bukoski singled and later scored on an error. Denny Miyasato and Liko Perreira scored on Kaleo Saiki’s basehit. Once again, Kalaheo stretched its lead at 13-5. But Lihu‘e kept clawing back with one run in the sixth inning with Bonilla scoring on a pass ball. Lihu‘e stranded two more runners and Kalaheo’s defense tightened up.
Kalaheo produced their last run of the game in the bottom of the sixth inning on Dave Bukoski’s lead off double. Palani Bukoski promptly cranked a basehit to drive in Dave Bukoski for their 14th run.
Lihu‘e continued to fight on and Adachi scored in the eighth inning, while Curtis Sadamitsu tallied Lihu‘e’s last run in the 9th inning on “Roach” Domingsel’s pinch-hit base knock. Lihu‘e ran out of outs as they stranded two more runners.
It was an exciting championship game with a pitcher’s duel between Kalaheo’s Perreira and Lihu‘e’s Mikey Cardinez. Both players carried their team with their pitching annd hitting talents. It was an offensive game as both teams duked it out, with Kalaheo’s 14 hits and Lihu‘e’s 10 knocks.
Kalaheo now represents Kaua‘i at the state tournament to be held on O‘ahu at Aloha Stadium from April 2-3.
Kalaheo will be adding all-stars from the other teams. This year’s competitive spirit will give Kaua‘i an edge at the tournament.
Kalaheo ended up 5-2, Lihu‘e and Hanapepe were both 3-4, and Makaweli brought up the rear with a 1-6 mark.
