WAIMEA — Waimea pitcher Michelle “Shelly” Koerte allowed just three hits in picking up a 15-5 win on the hill, Wednesday, against Kaua‘i.
Battling through stiff winds blowing in from Kekaha, Kaua‘i starting pitcher Naja Pungan was victimized by the Menehune from the onset, giving up five runs on just one hit, but walking five batters while the Raider defense commited one miscue just in the first inning.
The Menehune added to that in the fourth inning with seven runs on two hits, another five walks with two Raider miscues.
Coming off a pair of wins, Saturday against Kapa‘a, the Raiders suffered their first season loss and Waimea starts with a 1-0 record heading to the New Kapa‘a Town Park, Saturday, where it faces Kapa‘a in a double-header starting at 10 a.m. Kapa‘a is currently 0-2 on the season.
In the win, Waimea marked eight hits, including a two-run homer by first baseman Tuina Tafiti in the second frame where the Menehune pushed three runs on three hits.
Tafiti was 1 for 4 in the box, scoring three times in the win.
Waimea freshman Gaylan “Ulu” Matagiese, making a strong showing for the Menehune in their recent preseason tournament, continued to inflict damage with her bat, finishing with a 2 for 4 showing including a single and a triple with two RBIs and scoring twice.
Taylor Kawehi Ephan, strong behind the plate as the Waimea catcher, ended with a single and a double, scoring twice.
Koerte ended the tour with three hits while striking out five Raiders and walking two.
Kaua‘i’s bats were also stifled in the Westside winds, its first hit coming late in the game when center fielder Waile‘a Kaneali‘i smacked a single to center, but was left on base as the next two batters struck out and a fly out to left ended the inning.
Faced with the prospect of being shut down, Kaua‘i came to life in the fourth when Kawai Klatenhoff singled to open the frame.
Koerte struck out the next batter for the first out. Randy Layosa got aboard on an error to set the stage for back-to-back RBI doubles, scoring Kaneali‘i and Layosa before Waimea snuffed the effort with a double play.
Kaua‘i would not roll over and Pungan got aboard after being hit by a pitch in the fifth only to have the next batter fly to center field for the first out.
Senior Tia Obrero walked before Klatenhoff pushed Kyren Ishikawa, courtesy running for Pungan, across with an RBI double to left-center. Obrero scored on a passed ball and a Layosa shot to center field pushed Klatenhoff home before the final batter was put out, pitcher to first base.
“This was not a good outing,” said Naja Pungan’s dad following the game. “But there’s a lot more ball to play. Last year, they lost the first game, but look what happened — they went to Honolulu.”
