Kaneohe Nationals 4, Kawaihau 3
KAPA‘A — Kalei Davis hit a homerun in the first inning, pitcher Kamana Pimental struck out six batters and Kyler Martin hit 2 RBI to score Michael Pang and Kalen Hamada in Kaneohe Nationals’ 4-3 win against host team Kawaihau.
The Nationals improve to 2-0 in this year’s District 1 Major Tournament in Kapa‘a.
Davis’s homerun put the Nationals on the board first.
Kawaihau pitcher Rashaan “Turtle” Kulaulua was able to hold them off for a short while until Pang hit an RBI single left in the third to score Pimental. That put them up 2-0.
But Collin Pungan hit a solo homerun for Kawaihau in the fourth and kept them in the game.
Both teams remained scoreless for two innings until the top of the sixth when Kawaihau broke through.
Kawaihau’s Ryan Koerte was walked and Kamron Cortez came in as a courtesy, putting the tying run in position. Kulaulua singled center to take first and advance Cortez. Bronson Aiwohi was walked, which loaded the bases with no outs.
Marcus Martinez hit an RBI single to score Cortez and tie the game. Kulaulua would also score at the end of the inning to put Kawaihau up a run.
Then came an explosive sixth inning for the Nationals as the batters were able to get a hit from every pitch thrown their way. Pang, Hamada and Camara hit back-to-back singles to load the bases with no outs. Martins final hit drove in the final two runs to end the game.
Pimental finished the game pitching 62/3 innings allowing 2 runs and five hits.
In an earlier game, Kainalu defeated the Kaneohe Americans 13-5. Of Kainalu’s runs, three of them were homeruns.
In the afternoon game, Kailua eliminated Kahulu‘u from the tournament, winning 8-5.
Kailua’s big players of the game were Joseph Whiting who went 2-for-3 and scored three times. One of his runs was a homerun in the fourth inning.
Teammates Niklas Ajifu and Kelle Miyama also went 2-for-3. Miyama scored twice.
For Kahulu‘u, Bronson Palupe, Chan Mapu and Iukini Hughes were the big players.
Kawaihau plays the Americans today at 10 a.m. The Nationals go on to play Kainalu today at 1 p.m.
Kailua has a bye for tomorrow but will face the winner of the Americans and Kawaihau at 4 p.m. on Monday.
• Lanaly Cabalo, sports editor, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 237) or lcabalo@kauaipubco.com.
