Heavy rains in Kapaa on Saturday inundated the softball diamond at the Bryan Baptiste Sports Complex. Three of the four games slated to be played on the field were postponed due to the unplayable conditions of the ballpark. The fourth scheduled game between the Keonimana Gents and Kuku’s Aces was moved to Kaumakani at the Wally Sonoda Field. Games between the East Kauai Legends and Kawaihau, Solid Steel and Da Kruzers, and the Islanders versus the Hanamaulu Hillsiders will be re-scheduled.
Kuku’s Aces was the home team for the encounter with the Keonimana Gents, so it was only right to move the game to their home field. The Gents got the game under control early and dominated the base paths. The league leaders raced the bases for 20 runs to overpower the Aces, 20-5.
The Aloha Kia Lihue A’s opened the games at their home park at Isenberg Park taking on Barteks. Barteks has been climbing up in the league standings and entered the game a win behind the A’s. The game turned into a seesaw battle with the lead exchanging hands behind clutch RBI hitting from each dugout, and defensive gems were turned in on each side. Barteks rallied down the stretch to take a three-run lead into the bottom of the seventh. The A’s last attempt at a tie was cut down by Barteks’ stingy defense as the Westside club held on for a 15-12 victory.
The Rookies faced Ohana in the mid-morning contest. Alan Horikawa has the Rookies outscoring their opponents with tremendous hitting from the entire lineup. Frank Bukoski has Ohana competing for one of the top spots in the standings just behind the Rookies. The Rookies took off with their first trip to the plate and started racking up five-run innings. Ohana hit into the Rookie defense and struggled to stay even on the scoreboard. The Rookies continued to mix the long ball with well placed singles to run from their opponent. The Rookies slammed their way to a 17-5 win.
The morning wrapped up with the Ohana Motors Rebels going up against Hana Hou. Hana Hou came with a knockout punch in the top of the first inning, scoring five runs and holding the Rebels to three up, three down. Another five runs in the second and third put a huge deficit on the scoreboard. The Rebels managed a five-run rally in the third inning to cut into the deficit, 15-5, but could not keep up with the steady Hana Hou hitting spree. Hana Hou crushed the Rebels, 19-7, ending the game early.
After 25 regular season games, the Keonimana Gents are rolling along in first place with a 24-1 record. The Rookies are now in second with a 20-4 record putting them a half game ahead of the Ohana Motors Rebels at 20-5. Barteks win pulls them even with Ohana climbing into fourth place on 17 wins, moving past the Aloha Kia Lihue A’s with 16 victories in the season. Hana Hou is now a game ahead of Solid Steel for seventh and eighth respectively in the standings. The Islanders remain in the middle of the pack with nine victories. Kawaihau and Da Kruzers are knotted at seven wins each and just ahead of the East Kauai Legends. The Hanamaulu Hillsiders have four in the win column followed by West Kauai and Kuku’s Aces.
With just four weeks remaining on the schedule, the league brings the games to the leagues smallest and largest diamonds. Eight games are on tap with four at Eleele Softball Stadium and four games the Puhi Neighborhood Park.
West Kauai will take care of the field duties in Eleele prior to taking on Kuku’s Aces in what should be a wild matchup. The Rookies will host the Hanamaulu Hillsiders in the second game. Da Kruzers will face the Aloha Kia Lihue A’s in the late-morning contest followed by Barteks going up against red hot Hana Hou.
The Ohana Motors Rebels will have the Puhi Softball Stadium groomed for four games. The Rebels open up with the East Kauai Legends in the early-morning game. The Keonimana Gents will have Kawaihau in the second battle. The Islanders will have Solid Steel to face in the third game and the East Kauai Legends and Kawaihau will remain at the park to complete a double header and make up last week’s rain out.
