Memorial Day weekend has become a traditionally upbeat event for Americans, although the roots of the holiday are pretty solemn. It was started to commemorate those who gave their lives in military service. While many people still do honor those
Memorial Day weekend has become a traditionally upbeat event for Americans, although the roots of the holiday are pretty solemn. It was started to commemorate those who gave their lives in military service.
While many people still do honor those who sacrificed on this day, it is much more of a celebration and a chance for families to enjoy a day off from work or school and take advantage of some hopefully nice weather.
Taking the name of the holiday literally, it is about relating to something memorable. I’ve now been working at The Garden Island for one month and I feel that there have already been plenty of memorable events, both near and far, that seem appropriate to remember this week.
My second day on the job, I got to head over to watch what turned out to be the KIF Championship baseball game. The level of play was tremendous and both teams were on top of their games defensively, as Kaua‘i High’s two first-inning runs were just barely enough to hold up against Waimea in a 2-1 final. Everyone there surely remembers the intensity brought on not only by the players themselves, but by the support from both teams’ fans.
Then the Waimea boys volleyball team captured a KIF crown by going on the road to Kaua‘i’s home gym and walking out with a come-from-behind win. Again, the gym was pulsing with cheers from both sides and Kaua‘i jumped ahead unexpectedly by snatching the first game. Waimea fought back and won the next two, before a seemingly never-ending fourth game with multiple ties and lead changes ended with Waimea getting the tough victory.
Those Kaua‘i baseball champs headed to Honolulu as the top seed in the HHSAA Division II tournament and made their way all the way to the Championship game. What transpired may not be a particularly happy memory as the boys fell to Maryknoll on a walk-off single in the bottom of the seventh inning, but the way they played throughout the season and tournament made their coaches and supporters very proud.
In the HHSAA golf tournaments, the brother and sister duo of Cory and Kelli Oride amazingly each finished in the top three among the large fields. They were also each named to the KIF All-Star teams.
Island’s Pierce Murphy, just a sophomore, set himself apart from all distance runners on the island and now has his name written multiple times in the KIF record book, while being named an All-Star in the 800, 1,500 and 3,000-meter events. He also brought home a silver medal from the HHSAA meet.
The Kaua‘i High girls softball team took home their fifth consecutive KIF title and made their way to states, where they had reached and lost the Championship game the past two seasons. On the shoulders of pitcher Wailana Borrero, the Red Raiders reached their ultimate goal and finished the season as state champions, topping Waialua 1-0 on Borrero’s two-hitter.
Waimea’s Moses Fierro may have given hope to all future underdogs when he lined up for the 200-meter dash at the HHSAA track meet ranked 17th in the 20-man field and ended up with gold around his neck.
There have also been some incredible happenings from the mainland. These NBA Playoffs have been as amazing as any I can remember. The Celtics-Bulls matchup was probably the best first-round series in NBA history.
The Lakers were pushed to seven games by an undermanned but determined Rockets team, which showed its toughness before bowing out.
The Magic blew huge leads and lost heart-breaking games to the Celtics, only to come back and shock everyone with a Game 7 win in Boston.
The NHL got its wish and had Sidney Crosby vs. Alexander Ovechkin for seven incredibly tight games, with The Kid coming out victorious on his way to a potential Stanley Cup title.
Oh yeah, and then we had perhaps one of the 10 best games and shots in basketball history on Friday when LeBron James made the catch-and-shoot 3-pointer we’ve all taken in our driveway to save his team from a seemingly insurmountable 0-2 deficit.
Not a bad month.
I have a feeling I won’t be able to write this column next Memorial Day weekend with 12 months of material to cram in.
So sit back and enjoy the long weekend. Reflect on whatever it is you deem appropriate.
• David Simon, sports writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 237) or dsimon@kauaipubco.com
