Lihu‘e takes Game 1

KOLOA — The Lihu‘e All-Stars used a three-run first inning and tacked on four more in the fifth to put away the West Kaua‘i All-Stars 7-2 in Game 1 of the Mustang playoffs Tuesday evening at Anne Knudsen Park in Koloa.

The best of three series will shift to Lihu‘e tonight for Game 2.

Team Lihu‘e wasted no time getting on the board. Dalson Kua plated Ricky Rego and Kaimi Malina with a two RBI single and Robin Dumlao added an RBI single to complete the three-run first inning.

Following the fist inning outburst, both teams fell into a defensive groove. Lihu‘e starting pitcher Malina limited West Kaua‘i to two-hits over the first two innings and West Kaua‘i’s Jacob Borrero recovered after the first frame to shutout Lihu‘e through the next four innings.

But before West Kaua‘i could bring the game within reach, the Lihu‘e All-Stars broke away in the fifth inning. Lihu‘e exploded for four runs and six hits in the inning, highlighted by a run scoring triple off the bat of Kua.

West Kaua‘i countered with two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to bring the game within five runs. Hoku Parbo walked to lead off the inning and came around to score on a wild pitch. Borrero singled in the inning and also came around to score on a wildpitch uncorked from Lihu‘e reliever Rego.

But Rego was able to recover and stop the inning with two strikeouts to end the threat and clinch the game.

In addition to Borrero, Keaton McCallum and Lanakila Dusenberry-Lee recorded hits for West Kaua‘i.

For Lihu‘e, Manlina, Kua and Dumlao each finished with two hits a piece.

Game 2 in the best of three series will be played at 4 p.m. at Vidinha Stadium in Lihu‘e.

• Tyson Alger, sports writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 237) or by emailing talger@ thegardenisland.com. Follow him on twitter.com/tysonalger.