LIHU‘E — Hanapa‘a, a Hawaiian senior softball team, traveled out to St. George, Utah from Oct. 5-9 and returned home with a gold medal from the Huntsman World Senior Games.
The over-60 squad is comprised of players who live in Kaua‘i, O‘ahu, Maui, Hilo, Kona, as well as transplanted Hawaiians who now live in Las Vegas.
The game that ultimately awarded Hanapa‘a the gold began with a less than optimistic outlook, as they faced a team called Jeld-Wen from Oregon. After two and a half innings, Hanapa‘a was down 11-0. Undefeated to that point, it seemed that the team’s first loss was likely.
However, the team began to claw back into the game, plating five runs in the bottom of the third. They were able to add one in the fourth, but gave up four in the fifth and trailed 15-7 after five complete innings.
In the sixth, Hanapa‘a got a home run from Gary Venturini, as well as hits from Dennis Holland, Guy Ruiz, Steve Duga and Wardell Lancaster to put the score at 15-12, keeping them within striking distance.
The flip/flop rule was in effect for the seventh and final inning, meaning Hanapa‘a was first up to bat, needing at least three runs to continue play. After base hits from Lonnie Hardesty and Manny Ramos, a Jeld-Wen error brought one runner home, cutting the lead to two.
With two on and nobody out, shortstop Fred Entilla smacked a two-run double to center, bringing Hanapa‘a all the way back to a 15-15 score.
With one out, Butch Tenn’s base hit to left field brought Entilla across the plate to give Hanapa‘a the 16-15 lead. Jeld-Wen ended the rally with a double play, limiting the damage.
Hanapa‘a was three outs from gold and made it look easy, setting down Jeld-Wen in order with two pop outs and a ground out to end it. The win netted Hanapa‘a its second gold in the past four years.
Earlier in the tournament, playing in the “A” bracket after a 2-1 preliminary round, Hanapa‘a was a 15-4 winner over the Silver Eagles from Utah. Then came an 18-9 win over Arizona’s Florence Felons. Next, in a revenge game, Hanapa‘a topped the Detroit Players 18-13. Detroit was the one team to beat Hanapa‘a in the prelims. Hanapa‘a then beat Jeld-Wen 18-13 to set up the final game.
Hanapa‘a team members were Nathan Awohi, David Belaski, Stephen Duga, Dennis Holland, Herbert Laite, George Fernandes, Guy Ruiz, Hiram Kaukane, Michael Dickens, Michael Pontes, Fred Antilla, Gary Venturini, Lonnie Hardesty, Manny Ramos, Leo Chesebro, Wardell Lancaster, Butch Tenn, Paul Silva Jr. and Jack Mcmenimen.
