LIHU‘E — Kapa‘a High School softball, the defending Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation and state Division II champion, enjoyed a two-run homer by Hailey Gibson and four runs scored by pitcher Sienna Yamashita on Wednesday night at the season opener of KIF softball at Isenberg Park.
But the efforts came up short as host Kaua‘i High School ladies, under coach Cassie Wong, “never gave up on the play” and beat the Warriors 13-10 before an enthusiastic crowd that peppered the park.
Cheyley Jacobs, scoring twice in the win, topped the Raiders’ hitting with two of the team’s seven hits with a run batted in. Kiarrah Kahale, getting a single in the sixth frame, and Kylah Racca, nailing a single in the fourth, led the team with two RBIs apiece.
Kaua‘i pitcher Kamryn Yates picked up the win on the mound, allowing 10 Kapa‘a runs on just four hits, while striking out 11 Warrior batters and walking 11.
Following Gibson’s two-shot home run in the third frame, Yamashita had a single in the first frame. Jaysie-Jean Riveira trippled in the second frame, and Charlize Kenney singled in the third to round out the Warrior whacks.
Yamashita suffered the loss on the hill, giving up 13 runs to Kaua‘i on seven hits, while striking out eight Raiders and walking nine.
Kapa‘a grabbed the lead, early, Yamashita singling in the first inning and scoring on a wild pitch. Kaua‘i answered that bulge by holding the Warriors scoreless in the second and getting Jacobs home on a Warrior miscue to knot the contest at 1-1 after two complete innings.
Kapa‘a jumped to a 3-2 lead behind Gibson’s homer in the third, and Kaua‘i responded by scoring Kahale, getting first after being hit by a pitch, and Mia Marty who got first on a bunt single to remain chasing a run.
Kapa‘a upped the ante with three runs on no hits in the fourth to take a 7-3 lead.
The Red Raiders turned the tide in the home half by cranking in five runs on three hits (three RBIs) to take the lead for the first time in the game 8-7 .
Kapa‘a could not recover, pushing in just three more runs on no hits, including Riveira scoring in the top of the seventh after getting first on a walk.
The Red Raiders iced the victory in the home half of the sixth with four runs crossing on three hits, including a bunt single from Yates.
With the win, Kaua‘i next makes the trip to Waimea Canyon Park on Saturday to face the Menehune, runner-up Division II, in a doubleheader starting at 10:30 a.m.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer can be reached at 808-245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
