WAIMEA — Kaua‘i pitcher Courtney “Ka‘a” La‘amea worked both sides of the ball, but the Red Raiders came up short, 5-4, against Waimea, Wednesday at Waimea Canyon Park. La‘amea suffered the loss on the mound for Kaua‘i, going the distance
WAIMEA — Kaua‘i pitcher Courtney “Ka‘a” La‘amea worked both sides of the ball, but the Red Raiders came up short, 5-4, against Waimea, Wednesday at Waimea Canyon Park.
La‘amea suffered the loss on the mound for Kaua‘i, going the distance with five runs crossing the plate on six hits while striking out a Menehune, giving up eight walks and hitting two Waimea batters.
But in the batter’s box, it was a different story as the Red Raiders outhit Waimea 7-6, La‘amea being one of the hitting leaders with two RBIs on two singles and a double.
Kyana Hirokane, reacting to the strains of the “Mickey Rat” chant from the dugout, finished three-for-four in the batter’s box, marking a pair of doubles, a single and driving in a run while scoring once.
Kayrlee Malapit rounded out the Red Raider hitting with a single.
Waimea pitcher Deannalynn Tafiti was awarded the win on the hill, with four runs crossing the plate on seven hits while striking out two Red Raiders and allowing just one walk.
Catcher Gaylan “Ulu” Matagiese led the Menehune hitting with an RBI and two doubles.
Lead-off hitter Sienna Santiago, playing shortstop, ended with two RBI on a single and scoring once. Other Menehune getting hits included Bailey San Agustin-Nordmeier with a single, Alyssa Miyamoto with a single and scoring once, Kristy Pimental with a single and scoring once, and Taylor Lazaro with a single.
Kaua‘i lost little time getting back into the second round of the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation softball season. Malapit drew first blood with two away on a single and scoring on a Hirokane single, coupled with a Waimea error, which pushed Malapit across the plate and settled the left-handed batter at third.
Waimea answered the run with one of its own, leadoff hitter Santiago singling and scoring off a Miyamoto sacrifice fly to centerfield for the 1-1 tie.
The stalemate was broken in the second inning when Waimea took the lead, adding a run in the second and third innings, Tyrelle Unciano getting aboard in the second with one away and scoring her first of two scores.
Miyamoto got aboard on a Raider miscue in the third and scored on an Unciano sacrifice fly with one out.
La‘amea faltered at this point, filling the pads with Menehune, but the Kaua‘i defense stiffened and the Menehune saw three runners stranded.
Overall, the Kaua‘i defense left a total of 11 Menehune runners on the base pads after leaving bases fully loaded in the second, fourth and sixth frames.
Kaua‘i left seven runners on base, its heaviest toll coming in the sixth inning when two runners were left hanging after Kaua‘i marked two badly-needed scores in its 5-2 chase.
With one away, catcher Tammie Yoshimori got aboard on a Waimea miscue, advanced to second on a wild pitch, stole thirdbase and scored.
Kaylee Nii beat out a bunt, stole second base, advanced to third on a passed ball and scored on a wild pitch, all with one away.
La‘amea singled and Aleigha “Red” Scovel got aboard on a walk before the inning ended, the Red Raiders still chasing a run 5-4.
Hirokane, with two outs, had an opportunity to tie with a long ball in the seventh, but was allowed second on a ground rule double before the next batter flied out to leave Kaua‘i chasing one.
Kaua‘i next hosts Kapa‘a in a doubleheader Saturday at the Isenberg Park with the first pitch going at 10 a.m.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
