LIHU‘E — Max Agor hit a three-run homer, but Waimea came up short 20-17 in a three-hour slugfest, Wednesday. The doors to the lumberyard were wide open as Kaua‘i High School picked up its first season win on 18 hits
LIHU‘E — Max Agor hit a three-run homer, but Waimea came up short 20-17 in a three-hour slugfest, Wednesday.
The doors to the lumberyard were wide open as Kaua‘i High School picked up its first season win on 18 hits and the Menehune, falling to 2-1 on the season, picked up its 17 runs on 13 hits.
As the light began to fail, Waimea continued to threaten the defending Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation champions.
The Menehune capitalized on two Raider miscues, two walks and two hit batters to trim a seven-run deficit down to three runs before flying out to leftfield.
Kaua‘i opened up the marathon with seven runs on eight hits in the first inning after Waimea failed to convert on a bases-loaded, one-out situation; Kaua‘i starting pitcher Trent Allianic closing that door with back-to-back strikeouts.
But the Menehune were not to be denied as it attacked the 7-0 deficit in the third inning when Michael Acoba came up with a two RBI triple and scored on a Robert Perreira single.
Waimea came back in the fourth to tie the contest and take the lead when Acoba crossed for the 8-7 go-ahead.
But Kaua‘i answered in the bottom of the frame with eight runs on six hits with just one out.
Kaua‘i firstbaseman Jordan Leanio walked and scored on a Rysan Sakamoto RBI triple followed by Jamen Albarado scoring Sakamonto on another RBI triple forcing a Menehune pitching change.
Travis Koga sacrificed to score Abarado to clear the bases.
But Kaua‘i was not done as a Menehune miscue moved Lanan Rice Kashima to second.
Dayne Murata followed with an RBI single to drive Kashima home and a walk to Taran Tani brought up leadoff hitter Dustin Prem.
Prem nailed an RBI followed by Kaylen Wakumoto getting a two-RBI shot to leftfield and Leanio coming up with an RBI single before Waimea closed the door, going through two pitching changes in the frame.
That set the stage for Agor’s fifth frame homer and Waimea pulled to within four runs.
With the basepaths clear, Acoba was hit by a pitch, Paul Correa walked and Perreira brought Acoba home on an RBI single.
Micah Rita singled to load the paths for the second time in the inning, forcing a Kaua‘i pitching change.
But that only slowed Waimea’s attack as Correa crossed on a sacrifice bunt before Waimea ended the frame with five runs on five hits.
Prem, Albarado and Sakamoto finished with three hits for Kaua‘i, Murata finished with two hits to set the pace.
Following Agor’s homerun, Kalani Fernandez finished with four hits, Acoba had three hits, including a triple, Perreira finished with two hits along with Dalton Brun.
With the win, Kaua‘i (1-0) travels to Kapa‘a (0-2) for a double-header starting at 10 a.m., Saturday. Waimea (2-1) enjoys the weekend before making its trip to Kapa‘a next Wednesday for a single game.
Anahola Joel Pahukula will be broadcasting the second game of the Saturday double-header live on KQNG AM570.
