WAIMEA — Shelly Koerte threw a two-hitter, smacked a home run and had four RBIs to lead Waimea to a 15-2 win, Wednesday at the Waimea Canyon Park.
Koerte finished with two hits as the Menehune piled up 15 runs on 15 hits — 11 of those hits coming in the third inning, the other four in the second inning.
With the win, Waimea now needs just one win in Saturday’s doubleheader to clinch the second-round championship. The Menehune will face the Kaua‘i Red Raiders in a pivotal finale to the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation softball regular season at the Isenberg Park.
Due to the Waimea prom, the doubleheader will begin early at 9 a.m. as the Menehune, by virtue of the Wednesday win, are 4-0 in the second round. The Red Raiders, having won the first-round championship, are a game back at 3-1.
Kaua‘i needs to sweep the two games to come from behind and win the second round, taking the KIF championship in the process. One win for Waimea in either contest will give it the second round and force a KIF championship game against the Red Raiders.
Both teams sit at 8-2 overall on the season.
Waimea got on the scoreboard early on Wednesday, when Sienna Santiago, the leadoff hitter, walked, stole second and scored off a Kapa‘a error, one of two suffered in the game.
But Kapa‘a answered in the bottom of the first frame when Priscilla Lutz singled, one of two Warrior hits in the game, but was left stranded.
Cassandra Dupree opened the second inning in style, homering to center field for a solo trip around the pads.
With one away, Fiare Moe singled up the middle and stole second base, advanced to third on an error, then scored on Koerte’s first of two hits in the game.
Vakeesha Lagazo did the courtesy running and stole second, scoring on a Santiago double.
Waimea added another 11 runs on 11 hits in the third inning, including the three-run homer from Koerte, scoring Moe and Alyssa Jardin, both girls getting aboard on singles.
But Kapa‘a was not about to let the season end without one last effort.
With one away, Reggie McCabe walked in the fourth inning and with two gone, Kalia Kaui got first on an error. Both runners then scored on a Ta’ashi Napoleon RBI shot to center field.
Koerte was joined in the lumberyard by Santiago who went 2 for 2 with two runs and an RBI. Kawehi Ephan finished with two hits and scored once, Ulu Matagiese scored twice and had two hits with an RBI, Jardin finished with two hits, scored once and marked three RBIs.
Krysta Kali scored once, had a hit and an RBI. Tauina Tafiti was 1 for 1, scoring once and driving in one, and Dupree had a hit — the homer — and marked two RBIs.
Koerte picked up her eighth win of the season with a complete-game performance over five innings.
She allowed two runs, both unearned, on two hits with one walk and five strikeouts.
Napoleon suffered the loss with 15 runs allowed on 15 hits in three innings with two walks and two strikeouts.
First pitch Saturday is scheduled for 9 a.m. with the winner of the KIF advancing to the Datahouse Hawai‘i High School Athletic Association Division I and II state softball championships, May 3 to 6 at the Central O‘ahu Regional Park and the Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.
