Menehune grab KIF first-round title

WAIMEA — Waimea High School softball used an eight-run second inning to wrap up the first-round title of the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation softball season with a 14-4 win over Kapa‘a, Wednesday.

The Kapa‘a Warriors, in their loss, gave the Menehune some competition, just as they had done with Kaua‘i, previously. Overall, Kapa‘a pushed four runs across the plate, but those came on seven hits compared with Waimea’s nine hits.

Ona Defabian, Menehune shortstop, had the hot stick with a triple, two singles and scored three times. Kawehi Ephan finished with three singles and scored three times.

Leadoff hitter MarieBeth Watanabe finished with a double and scored twice. Tauina Tafiti finished with a double and a single, scoring twice, and Krysta Kali pounded a single and scored twice. Cassandra Dupree and Fiare Moe each scored once to round out the Menehune numbers.

Kapa‘a came to life in the second inning with three consecutive hits after going down in order in the opening frame, Leeanna Balatazar drawing first blood on an RBI single from Hillary Leasilagi. Leasilagi finished by leading the Kapa‘a hitting with a pair of singles and scored once.

Malina Oba finished with a single for Kapa‘a, K. Kimura added a single, Ta’ashi Napolean, the Warriors’ starting pitcher, cranked a double, and M. Bukoski pounded a double, scoring once. N.Quereto rounded out the numbers with a bunt single and scored once.

With the win, the KIF girls softball gets a week off before resuming with Round 2 on April 10 when Kaua‘i travels to the New Kapa‘a Town Park starting at 10 a.m. for a double-header. The second game follows 30 minutes following the completion of the first game.