KAPA‘A — The Kawaihau Majors All-Stars will face Kailua All-Stars at 10 a.m. today at the New Kapa‘a Town Park Main Diamond. Kawaihau, the host of the 2010 District 1 Major Little League tournament, earned a bye on opening day,
KAPA‘A — The Kawaihau Majors All-Stars will face Kailua All-Stars at 10 a.m. today at the New Kapa‘a Town Park Main Diamond.
Kawaihau, the host of the 2010 District 1 Major Little League tournament, earned a bye on opening day, facing the winner of the Kailua/Kaneohe matchup that opened the tournament, which will run through Tuesday.
“The mayor will be here about 12:30 after the first game when we will have the opening ceremony,” said Bob Kawamoto, the tournament director.
Kailua advanced to face host Kawaihau behind the strong pitching of Noa Auld, who gave up just four hits while striking out 12 Kaneohe batters through five innings. He gave up just one walk, which came back to bite him in the opening frame.
But Auld helped himself in the batter’s box, getting a RBI single and a double and scoring once in Kailua’s 7-3 win.
Kaneohe struck first with two runs in the first inning, but those came on Kailua miscues and wild pitches as B. Odo, walking first, and Nick Yee crossed the plate on two Kailua errors.
Evan Kroll drew first blood for Kailua, reaching on a walk and scoring on a Logan Williams’ RBI single.
Brett Watanabe knotted the game at 2-2, scoring on a Dalton Kalama RBI single.
Kailua broke the stalemate in the fourth inning, pushing three runs on two hits and one Kaneohe error.
Williams opened with a walk, followed by Nicolai Ortiz reaching on an error with one away. Kalama followed in the lineup with an RBI single to left field, scoring Williams.
Kailua catcher Lia Tom walked to load the pads, setting the stage for Auld’s RBI shot that scored courtesy runner Evan Brady, running for Ortiz.
Kaneohe made a pitching change, its starter reaching the maximum number of pitches for the game, setting the stage for Kailua’s Cameron Wong who punched Kalama across the plate.
Kailua scored two more runs in the sixth inning when catcher Tom and starting pitcher Auld crossed.
Kaneohe had one last gasp in the bottom of the sixth, getting Zeke Keama aboard on a hit that coupled with Kailua errors moved him to third base with one away.
But Kailua settled down, getting the next batter on a strikeout before Keama scored on a Itomura play that resulted in another Kailua error.
In the second game, Kainalu edged Kahalu‘u, 2-1, to advance to Sunday’s 3 p.m. game against the winner of this morning’s Kawaihau/Kailua encounter.
Kahalu‘u plays Kaneohe in a 1 p.m. matchup, the winner advancing to a Sunday game at noon against the loser of the Kailua/Kawaihau match.
The tournament continues through the championship game, which starts at 4 p.m., Tuesday at the New Kapa‘a Town Park Main Diamond.
There is no admission fee to view the competition and there is a food booth where refreshments can be purchased.
