KAPA‘A — Leilani Laranio had a homerun, a single, drove in two runs and scored twice. But that was not enough as Waimea took Game 1 11-8 before dropping to Kapa‘a 5-3 in the nightcap of the Saturday double-header at
KAPA‘A — Leilani Laranio had a homerun, a single, drove in two runs and scored twice.
But that was not enough as Waimea took Game 1 11-8 before dropping to Kapa‘a 5-3 in the nightcap of the Saturday double-header at the New Kapa‘a Ball Park.
Shana Tafiti, continuing after her appearance on the mound Wednesday, picked up the win in Game 1 and started Game 2 before being relieved by Brandee Matsushima in the fourth inning.
Loke Manaku suffered the loss for Kapa‘a in Game 1, being relieved by Melina Obar, the freshman hurler, who went on to earn the win in Game 2 for the Warriors.
Both teams started with tight games, holding each other at bay until the third inning when Waimea jumped out to a three-run lead off Kapa‘a errors. Kanani Mata got a walk to first and crossed the plate off a Kapa‘a error to start the scoring.
Laura Rita followed with a two-RBI single to leftfield as Kapa‘a tried to settle itself, loading the bases with two outs as Elisha Nabeshima filled the base paths after being hit by a pitch.
But Kapa‘a settled as Manaku got MarieBeth Watanabe on a strikeout to leave three Menehune runners stranded.
The Warriors came back to counter with two runs as Hanalei Gomes advanced to secondbase on a passed ball and scored on another Menehune miscue of a Larae Hoopii hit. Hoopii scored on another passed ball.
“You’re killing me,” Kapa‘a coach Shelly Samio wailed from her third base box as Hoopii played conservative, letting one passed ball go before attempting to score.
Kelcie Igne, the solid Waimea secondbase, paced the Menehune win in Game 1 with a single, two RBIs and scoring twice. Mata followed with a single, an RBI and scoring three times, and Rita finished with a single and three RBIs to lead the Menehune offensive showing.
Following Laranio’s lead, Kapa‘a got singles from Amber Pigao who scored once. Kori Kimura, Gomes, Hoopii, and Leeanna Baltazar all scored for Kapa‘a.
Obar helped herself in Game 2, not only picking up the win on the hill, but finishing with two hits and an RBI. Jocelyn Enrique, the Warrior shortstop, finished with a hit and two RBIs followed by Gomes and Hoopii each nailing a hit and an RBI. Manaku added a double and Pigao singled.
Ona Defabian, the Menehune first base, combined with Igne to lead the Waimea bats. Defabian tripled, singled and had an RBI. Igne finished with two hits, an RBI and scored once. Mata and pinch runner Slinky Tyler each scored for Waimea.
Kapa‘a next hosts Kaua‘i on Wednesday with the first pitch scheduled to go off at 5:30 p.m. at the New Kapa‘a Ball Park.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com
