KAPA‘A — The Kawaihau Community Little League Majors All-Stars will face undefeated Kailua for the finals of the 2010 District 1 Little League Major tournament starting at 4 p.m. today. The final berth for the District 1 title was determined
KAPA‘A — The Kawaihau Community Little League Majors All-Stars will face undefeated Kailua for the finals of the 2010 District 1 Little League Major tournament starting at 4 p.m. today.
The final berth for the District 1 title was determined Monday when Kawaihau jumped all over the Kainalu pitching mound, exploding for nine runs on nine hits in the sixth inning for the 14-2 win.
On the other side of the ball, Kawaihau starting pitcher Chaz Pacleb worked steadily through six innings, holding Kainalu bats to just four hits while striking out four batters, walking two and hitting one batter.
Offensively, Pacleb mustered a three-RBI double in the sixth inning when Kawaihau exploded the lumberyard.
Johnny Levinthol, marking the first homerun for Kawaihau earlier in the tournament, chalked up his second homer, a two-run shot to deep leftfield in the sixth inning, his only hit in the game.
Catcher Keola Lutz, saving Kawaihau, Sunday with a three-run homer in the bottom of the sixth inning, came through with an RBI double in the sixth, scoring Pacleb. Lutz’s Sunday homer was his second in Kawaihau‘a 8-5 win over Kaneohe to advance to the Monday game.
Overall, Kawaihau marked 14 runs on 13 hits led by Braxton Garcia, anchoring shortstop and marking three singles. Austin Toloai ended with two singles, both coming in the sixth inning and scored twice.
But Kainalu worked its full stable of pitchers, changing out five times while holding Kawaihau to just four hits through five innings.
Kawaihau broke a 0-0 stalemate in the third inning when Kai Harrison, getting first on a walk, crossed off a Treston Nagahisa walk with bases loaded and two outs.
Pacleb walked to first and scored on a Garcia smack after Matthew Schmidt, also walking first, advanced on Kainalu miscues and scored on a passed ball for the 3-0 bulge.
But Kainalu answered in the bottom of the fourth with two runs, leading off with Matt Sasaki singling and scoring on a Chance Kaleopaa RBI. Kalel Olowofoyuku followed with an RBI double to score Sasaki to pull to within a run, 3-2.
That was Kainalu’s only showing as Pacleb and the Kawaihau defense shut down the next two innings, and Kawaihau added two more runs in the fifth inning before the nine-run sixth.
The win pits Kawaihau against undefeated Kailua, sending Kahalu‘u packing on a mercy ruling, Sunday.
First pitch in the District 1 finals go off at 4 p.m. at the New Kapa‘a Town Park Main Diamond.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com.
