Red Raiders pound 12 hits in season finale By JASON GALLIC – TGI Sports Editor LIHU’E – Kaua’i catcher Kwinton Estacio is the vocal leader of his team. After every out he walks halfway to the pitcher’s mound to update
Red Raiders pound 12 hits in season finale
By JASON GALLIC – TGI Sports Editor
LIHU’E – Kaua’i catcher Kwinton Estacio is the vocal leader of his team. After every out he walks halfway to the pitcher’s mound to update his teammates.
His fingers fly up and he shouts the number of outs to that point in the inning.
“I like to be the man in the show,” Estacio said. “I’m guess I kind of like the attention.”
The Red Raiders’ captain was just part of the show Wednesday as Kaua’i wrapped its season with a 13-2 drubbing of visiting Waimea in five innings.
Kaua’i (5-1) racked up 12 hits and 12 RBI on the day. All of its runs were earned.
“We weren’t going against their best,” Red Raiders coach Ken Mizuo said. “But it was good to get our bats around. We really hit well today.”
Three of the hits belonged to infielder Scott Serizawa. The junior was hitting .438 coming into the game, but his 3-for-3 performance likely catapulted him over the .500 mark.
A whopping six of the RBI were property of Levi Rapozo, including a three-run triple in the bottom of the fifth that pushed the scoring gap over the 10-run rule.
“I feel pretty good about this team right now,” Estacio said. “I think we’re playing together and looking forward to Tuesday.”
Estacio’s reference is to next Tuesday, May 15, when the Red Raiders – Kaua’i Interscholastic Federation first-round champs – will play in the KIF championship game at a site to be determined.
First, however, Waimea will host Kapa’a on Saturday at Hanapepe Stadium to determine Kaua’i’s opponent. Game time is set for 12 p.m.
As well as they hit, the Red Raiders also benefitted from pitcher Scott Oshima’s strong outing. The senior struck out three, walked two and gave up just four hits in getting his first win of the season.
Waimea’s pitchers were not so fortunate. The Menehunes (2-4) gave freshman Ray Shirai a start. In just two-thirds of an inning, he allowed three hits, walked five and gave up four earned runs. Shawn Yadao relieved him, but didn’t fare much better. Nor did sophomore Mark Wideman after him.
