Kauai High School’s varsity baseball team lost to Radford of the Oahu Interscholastic Association in the opening round of the Wally Yonamine Foundation Baseball Championships – Division II state tournament.
The Red Raiders fell, 6-3, Thursday at Francis Wong Stadium in Hilo.
“It was good until the fourth inning,” Kauai High head coach Hank Ibia said in a phone interview Thursday. “We made some errors. But overall, it was OK.”
Radford scored five runs in the fourth inning, highlighted by a 2-RBI double to center field by Rams second baseman Dylan Lewis. Four of the Rams’ runs in the inning were unearned.
The Rams scored once more in the fifth off a sacrifice fly by first baseman Tayvis Passos.
Kauai High scored its three runs in the sixth inning to cut the deficit. With the bases loaded, Red Raiders second baseman Doug Miyasato drew a walk to bring in the runner from third. Designated hitter Matt Panit and starting pitcher Micah Layosa both scored off a Rams error.
The Red Raiders then went down in order in the seventh inning.
“It could have gone either way. It just happened it went their way,” Ibia said. “That’s how the ball bounces sometimes.”
Kauai High got its three runs of four hits, left six runners left on base and recorded three errors. Layosa was the losing pitcher — allowing five runs, four unearned, struck out two and walked one in three-plus innings of work.
Radford got its six runs off eight hits, had six runners left on base and had one error. Rams starter Tjader De Alba was the winning pitcher — allowing three runs off four hits and walked five batters in 5 1/3 innings.
Kauai High plays Konawaena of the Big Island Interscholastic Federation in a consolation game at 11:15 a.m. today at Francis Wong Stadium. Konawaena lost to No. 3 Kapolei of the OIA, 6-5, in the opening round Thursday.
“It’s going to be a little bit different. A loss takes a lot out of you,” Ibia said. “We’re here. We’ll live to fight the next couple of days, and we’ll see what happens.”
Statistics from Hawaii High School Athletic Association.
