Red Raiders win pitchers’ duel

KAPAA — The Red Raiders came out on the winning side of a pitchers’ duel.

Kauai High School’s varsity baseball team (4-1 KIF) defeated Kapaa High School, 1-0, Wednesday afternoon in Kapaa.

“Great game for everybody and for these kids,” said Kauai head coach Hank Ibia. “Two pitchers threw well. A lot of runners on base, both of us, but we left runners on base. We just got to work harder and get guys in to score. Overall, both teams played well today. Just, somebody had to win today. But even them, they did well and their pitcher was good.”

Red Raiders senior Christian Manera and Warriors sophomore Noa Cardinez both pitched complete games.

In seven innings, Manera allowed only two hits and had one walk. Cardinez gave up one unearned run on two hits and had three strikeouts and four walks.

“Gamer. Athlete. He carried us here,” Ibia said of Manera. “But like I said, both of them did well today.”

Errors, though, undid Kapaa (3-2 KIF).

In the top of the third inning, Red Raiders senior outfield Hoku Parbo reached first base and advanced to second on an errant throw to first by Warriors senior third baseman Ekolu Rivera.

After advancing to third base on a passed ball, Parbo scored the unearned run as senior catcher Skyler Sadora reached first base on an error by Warriors junior shortstop Ka’imi Malina.

“Manera did a good job on the mound. He pretty much kept us handcuffed for most of the game,” said Kapaa head coach Bryan Aiwohi. “He shut us down pretty good.”

Ibia added of his team’s run: “If he didn’t misjudge it, the shortstop, we’d still be playing. But, hey, things like that happen. Pressure happens. It’s part of the game. It was just on our side today.”

The Warriors had a chance at the tying run in the bottom of the seventh inning. Cardinez, the leadoff hitter, reached first base on an error by Red Raiders junior shortstop Jacob Borrero.

In the ensuing at bats, Rivera laid down a sacrifice bunt and Warriors junior catcher Ka’eo Kamau grounded to shortstop to advance Cardinez to third base.

With two outs and Cardinez at third, Warriors senior outfielder Kaenen Lacaden hit a high pop up. Sadora made the catch behind home plate for the final out.

“Just trying too hard. We were early on a lot of our swings. That’s why we had a lot of ground balls,” Aiwohi said. “Can’t be swinging at bad pitches. But close game like this, you got to hit. You got to hit, you got to get runners on, and you got to score them.”

Kauai got its one unearned run on two hits, left four runners on base and recorded one error. Manera was the winning pitcher.

Kapaa totaled zero runs on two hits, left three runners on and recorded three errors. Cardinez took the hard-luck loss.

Saturday’s schedule will be makeup games from postponed matches in the season’s first round.

Kapaa will host Waimea (0-4 KIF) at 10 a.m. Saturday at Kapaa High School.

If Kapaa wins, Kauai will host Waimea at 4 p.m. Saturday at Vidinha Stadium to resume another postponed game that called off in the fifth inning. At the time of stoppage, Waimea was leading Kauai, 10-4.

If Kapaa loses the opening matchup, Kauai will be awarded the first round. If both Kapaa wins and Kauai loses Saturday, both teams would be tied with 4-2 records and a playoff game will played at a date and location to be determined.

“We got a big game on Saturday, and we got to hope Waimea helps us out a little bit,” Aiwohi said.

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Nick Celario, sports writer, can be reached at 245-0437 or ncelario@thegardenisland.com.