The Lihu‘e A’s took a double-header against East Kaua‘i to defend its Kaua‘i Senior Citizens Softball Association title, Saturday in Kaumakani.
The game in Kaumakani was at a neutral site agreed to by the defending champion and winner of the first round Lihu‘e A’s and the winner of the second and third rounds, East Kaua‘i, states a KSCSA release.
Led by the heavy bat of player-coach Dwight Fuji, the Lihu‘e A’s forced the second game after edging out East Kaua‘i, 16-14, Fuji finishing 4-for-5 in hitting.
Had East Kaua‘i won the opening game, the title would have been settled, but Fuji’s bat was joined by Mel Yamase (3-5), Miles Tone (3-5) forced the second game.
Tom Ganong, 3-for-4, and Paul Hurley, 3-for-4, paced the East Kaua‘i hitting in the opening. Tone, one of the big bats in Game 1, broke open an 8-8 stalemate after six innings with a grand slam in the seventh inning, leading Lihu‘e to score nine runs en route to a 17-10 win for the KSCSA title.
Hot bats for Lihu‘e in the second victory included Wayne Larano, finishing 3-for-4 with a homerun, Tone, 3-4 with a homer, and Howard Yamaguchi finishing 3-for-4.
Gordon Doo, hitting 2-for-4, topped the East Kaua‘i bats along with Larry Ephan, 2-for-4, Ganong, 2-for-4, Joshua Huddy, 2-for-4, and Hurley, 2-for-3.
With the title, Lihu‘e A’s top the KSCSA final standings for the season which started Feb. 12 at the Wailua Houselots Park.
East Kaua‘i fills in the runner-up berth followed by ‘Ohana, Hanama‘ulu Hillsiders, Kawaihau Rookies, West Kaua‘i and Kuku’s Aces.
The KSCSA teams will be in Kailua-Kona, August 1 through 5 for the 36th Annual Hawai‘i State Senior Softball Association tournament.
Kaua‘i will be hosting the 37th Annual HSSSA tournament in 2012.
Team members of the champion Lihu‘e A’s include Fujii, Ron Alfonso, Steven Carvalho, Chuck Cecil, Dennis Hiranaka, Laranio, Paul Lucas, Ron Matsumura, Tony Matsumura, John Patt, Tone, Yamaguchi, Yamase, Isamu Yoshishige, Tomo Hiranaka and Naty as the team’s bat girl.
