HANAPEPE — The Warriors put an end to their second-round losing streak.
Kapaa High School’s varsity baseball team defeated Waimea High School, 4-3, Wednesday afternoon at Hanapepe Stadium to end the Kauai Interscholastic Federation regular season.
Kapaa, the season’s first-round winner, and Waimea, the season’s second-round winner, will play in a playoff game for the KIF championship at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday at Hanapepe Stadium.
Kapaa (5-6-1 KIF, 1-5 2nd round) took an early 2-0 lead en route to getting its first win of the round. Warriors infielder Ka‘imi Malina and catcher Noa Cardinez both scored as infielder Sepha Lea‘e reached first base on a Menehune error.
The Warriors scored two more runs in the top of the fourth inning on a two-RBI single to right field by infielder Isaac Nagahisa.
Waimea (7-4 KIF, 5-1 2nd round) chipped away at Kapaa’s lead by scoring two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. Menehune infielder Lacin Montemayor knocked a two-RBI single to center field.
The Menehune got one more run in the bottom of the sixth on an RBI single by infielder Deiton Otoman.
Down just one run in the bottom of the seventh inning, the Menehune went down in order on a strikeout and a couple of ground balls to end the contest.
Kapaa got four runs on six hits, left three runners on base and recorded one error. Malina was 2 for 4 batting and scored one run. Nagahisa was 1 for 3 with his two-RBI single.
Warriors starting pitcher Ka‘eo Kamau got the win. Kamau went two innings, allowing no runs on three hits and got two strikeouts and one walk. Cardinez, who pitched in relief, got the save.
Waimea got three runs on eight hits, left eight runners on base and recorded one error. Montemayor was 2 for 4 with two RBIs. Outfielder Levi Snowden was 2 for 3 and scored one run.
Menehune starting pitcher Kristian Cardejon took the loss. Cardejon threw four innings, allowed four runs on six hits and got two strikeouts and two walks.
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Nick Celario, sports writer, can be reached at 245-0437 or ncelario@thegardenisland.com.
