LIHU‘E — Kaua‘i High School pitcher Evan Batalucco threw a one-hitter with 12 strikeouts to lead the Red Raiders to a 2-1 win over Island School in the night cap of a doubleheader during Kaua‘i High’s Senior Night at Vidinha Stadium on Friday.
Earlier in the day, the Red Raiders were looking at a 9-1 lead following six innings of play before Island School pushed six runs across the plate in the seventh inning. Kaua‘i High finished the outing with a 9-7 win.
Kaua‘i High batters were led by Aukai Arruda, who marked two hits, including a triple with two runs batted in, according to statistics on the ScoringLive.com website. Radon Sebastian, scoring three times for Kaua‘i High, had a triple with three RBIs, and Racen Pegeder had two hits, including a double, with an RBI.
Blake Braun topped the Island School attack with a hit and an RBI.
Facing a 4-3 hole after six innings, Waimea pushed two runs home in the seventh inning on Saturday to take the opener, 5-4, over Kapa‘a in a doubleheader at Cook Field in Waimea.
Waimea struck first in the nightcap, pushing two runs home in the first inning and holding Kapa‘a silent until the third inning when the Warriors answered with a run.
The Warriors took the lead, 3-2 at the top half of the fourth frame, only to have the Menehune answer with two runs in the home half of the inning. Kapa‘a knotted the contest 4-4 in the fifth inning. But Waimea scored twice in the home half of the sixth inning to win 6-4.
Noah Delanoza and Tysen Haumea marked three hits apiece for Waimea, including a double and an RBI for Haumea. Ryant Sakamoto also marked a double, and Robbie Correa, with no recorded hits, had two RBIs.
Correa also picked up the win on the mound, going seven innings and allowing eight hits and four runs (two earned). He also struck out six Warrior batters while giving up a walk.
Bob Manintin had the hot bat for Kapa‘a with three hits, including a double and an RBI.
With the results of the weekend, Kaua‘i High claims the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation title with a 12-1 record. The Red Raiders will represent the KIF at the 2023 Wally Yonamine Foundation Hawai‘i High School Athletic Association Division II Baseball Championships, when the tournament opens May 3 on O‘ahu.
Kapa‘a High ends the season with a 7-5 record, followed by Waimea High School at 6-7 and Island School at 0-12.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 808-245-0453 ordfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
