KAPAA — The Menehune are now in the driver’s seat in the season’s second round.
Waimea High School’s varsity baseball team swept Kapaa High School in Saturday’s KIF baseball doubleheader at the Ron Martin Field on the Kapaa High School campus.
Waimea (6-3 KIF, 4-0 2nd round) won the first game against Kapaa, 7-1, and then won the second game to complete the sweep, 4-0.
Game 1: Waimea takes advantage of early lead
The Menehune scored three runs in the top of the first inning en route to beating the Warriors in Saturday’s early contest.
With the bases loaded and no outs, Waimea infielders Kainalu Lazaro and Lacin Montemayor each drew a walk to plate a run.
Later in the inning, Menehune outfielder Caleb Martin hit an RBI single to right field to add a run to Waimea’s early lead.
Waimea plated three more runs in the fourth inning. In the inning, Lazaro and infielder Deiton Otoman both reached first base on a fielder’s choice to drive in the runner from third.
The Menehune got one more run in the fifth inning on an RBI single by outfielder Cory Goias-Soares.
Kapaa (4-4-1 KIF, 0-3 2nd round) got its one run in the bottom of the seventh inning when outfielder Levi Cummings, who pitched in relief in Saturday’s first game, crossed home plate from third base as infielder Isaac Nagahisa grounded into a double play.
Waimea totaled seven runs on nine hits, left 10 runners on base and recorded three errors. Menehune infielder Kaikoa Perreira-Alquiza was 3 for 5 batting with a double, scored two runs and once reached first base on an error.
Menehune starting pitcher Max Ham got the win. In a complete-game effort, Ham allowed one unearned run on five hits and had two strikeouts and four walks.
Kapaa got one run on five hits, left six runners on base and recorded four errors. Cummings was 2 for 3 and scored one run.
Warriors starter Noa Cardinez took the loss. Cardinez faced five batters in the first inning before being relieved, allowing three runs on two hits and had two walks.
Game 2: Warrior errors prove costly
In Saturday’s second game, Waimea took advantage of two errors on Kapaa to score three runs in the top of the third inning.
With runners on second and third and no outs, Goias-Soares knocked a two-RBI double to right field. He later scored on a Kapaa error in the outfield.
Waimea plated one more run in the sixth inning on an RBI double to left-center field by outfielder Levi Snowden.
In the second and third innings, Kapaa had runners in scoring position but couldn’t drive them home.
In the second, with a runner on third base and two outs, Nagahisa struck out swinging to end the inning. In the third, with two outs and a runner on second, infielder Cardinez grounded to shortstop to leave the runner stranded.
Waimea got four runs, one unearned, on five hits, left five runners on base and did not record an error. Goias-Soares was 1 for 3 batting with his RBI double in the third inning.
Menehune starter Tysson Unciano got the win. In a complete game shutout, Unciano had two strikeouts.
Kapaa got zero runs on three hits, left four runners on and recorded the two errors in the third inning. Cummings was 2 for 3 batting.
Warriors starter Ka‘imi Malina took the loss. He, too, threw a complete game and got six strikeouts, two walks and two hit-by-pitches.
Waimea will have the chance to clinch the season’s second round with a win on Wednesday. Waimea will play against Kauai High School (2-5-1 KIF, 1-2 2nd round) at 6 p.m. at Vidinha Stadium.
Kapaa will next host Kauai for a doubleheader Saturday at the Ron Martin Field on the Kapaa High School campus. The first game is scheduled for 10:30 a.m.
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Nick Celario, sports writer, can be reached at 245-0437 or ncelario@thegardenisland.com.
