Kuku’s Aces First Win A Wild One
The “Seniors of Summer” began the final stages of the Kaua‘i Senior Softball League with a full schedule of games in Kapa‘a and Puhi.
The morning started with a four-game set at the Bryan J. Baptiste Sports Complex and a triple-header at Puhi Neighborhood Park.
Legends top Kawaihau
The East Kaua‘i Legends faced Kawaihau as the sun came up at the softball stadium in Kapa‘a.
Batter Skippa Holt got the Legends to score in bunches and did an excellent job on defense, holding the hard-hitting Kawaihau line up in check.
The Legends lived up to their names and established a big lead. The ordinarily potent Kawaihau offense generated seven runs, but East Kaua‘i got the game’s better in their 13-7 victory.
Gents remain unbeaten
The league-leading Keonimana Gents continue to roll through the competition.
During the second game had Ohana on the schedule for the Gents.
Keonimana asserted their dominance, with an unstoppable line-up.
Ohana tried to keep the game close and manufactured eight runs.
The eight runs couldn’t hold steady run production of the Gents, as the Gents the high-scoring game 14-8.
Bartek’s shutout Da Kruzers
The Barteks lurked one game off the league pace and went up against Da Kruzers in the late morning contest looking to stay close.
Shapa Ramos’ home runs made short work of the Kilauea visitors.
The game came to an early close with Bartek’s blasting their way to a 16-0 shutout.
With the victory, the Bartek’s record improved to 9-1.
Islanders overhaul Solid Steel
During the nightcap, Joe Bertucci’s Islanders unloaded a hitting barrage on Solid Steel. Tom Christy’s powerful Solid Steel line-up fell short, facing a gem of a game from a pitcher, Pastor Nate Hanohano.
The Islander defense prevented a Solid Steel rally. The Islanders are only committing one error to allow two runs. The Islanders manufactured 25 hits, scoring in every inning and three innings ending in five runs, to run away with a 20-2 five-inning knock-out.
Ohana Motors triumphs over Rebels
An early morning shower turned the Puhi Neighborhood’s all grass stadium into an infield quagmire that needed grounds crew efforts to get the games safely underway. The Ohana Motors Rebels welcomed three games to their home park, opening the day with the Aloha Kia Lihue A’s. Both teams, who were tied in fourth place with 7-2 records. Dwight Fujii got the A’s to keep the game close, matching the early Rebel runs and holding the Rebel offense down. After four strong innings, Ohana Motors turned up the heat breaking through with five in the fifth and four in the sixth to pull away with a 13-4 triumph.
Kuku’s Aces returned to action clashing with the Hanamaulu Hillsiders. The game turned into a thrilling slug feast with the Aces breaking the ice to their first victory over the season.
It was a painful loss for the Hillsider’s losing two players to injury during the game.
Kuku’s came out fighting and created five runs in the first inning. The Kuku’s offense kept hammering away and scored four more in the second to take command. Pete Rayno came into pitch and shut the Aces down over the third and fourth innings while the Hillsiders climbed back into the game, scoring five runs in the first three and exploding for five of their own in the fourth to take the lead 10-9. The fourth proved to be costly as the Hillsiders lost a player to injury and finished the game with nine active players.
Late inning rally allows Aces to defeat Hillsliders
The Aces regained the lead with a four-run rally in the top of the fifth to go up 13-10. The Hillsiders scrambled for two more in the sixth to pull with one at 13 – 12 heading into the seventh and final inning.
Battling for the lead Kuku’s went to work with a fielder’s choice, generated two hits, and an error to create three more runs and a 16-12 lead.
The Hillsiders responded with a lead-off single by Clifford Lee, who worked his way to score while Hanamaulu loaded it with one out. The Aces popped up to third and a high fly to left to close out the game and capture a wild 16-13 victory.
Rookies remain even with Barteks with win over The Rookies
In a grand show of sportsmanship, and the sheer desire to play, the Rookies and West Kaua‘i joined forces to get a game. West Kaua‘i fielded eight players to forfeit loss. However, the Rookies figured both teams traveled a distance and wanted to get a game in. The Rookies “loaned” two of their starters, and the capacity crowd got another entertaining game with plenty of home runs, aggressive base running, and excellent displays of fielding. Picking up the win, the Rookies remain even with Barteks headed into the senior season’s home stretch.
On Deck
The Senior League softball league action hits the road with four games on tap at the Wailua Houselots Garden Park, and a triple-header at the Plumeria lined all turf diamond in Ele‘ele. Out west, the league-leading Keonimana Gents will be the home team to start the games with West Kaua‘i. Expect a vast, but socially distances, crowd on hand for a battle of teams with just one loss. The Rookies will square off with Bartek’s, with league records knotted at 9-1, in a mid-morning classic.
The Ele‘ele games wrap up with the Aloha Kia Lihue A’s tangling with Ohana.
In the Houselots, Da Kruzers go up against the East Kaua‘i Legends in the sunrise contest. Kawaihau and Solid Steel will rebound in the second game of the day. The Islanders will be bringing their red hot bats up against the Hillsiders.
More action will follow in the early afternoon, Kuku’s Aces will go for two in a row against the Ohana Motors Rebels to conclude the day of Kaua‘i Senior Softball as the league-standings continue to tighten.
