HONOLULU — Fans of Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation sporting events were let down from their plans of being at Lihu‘e Airport to welcome home Hawai‘i High School Athletic Association Division II champions.
During the HHSAA D2 softball championship contest, Waimea High School, the KIF softball champions, were leading the PAC-5 Wolfpack, 12-9 following five complete innings on Friday. But the Wolfpack pushed a run across in the sixth inning, and a grand slam in the top of the seventh saw the Menehune drop to second place, 13-12.
At the Les Murakami field on the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa campus, the Kaua‘i High School baseball team, the reigning KIF champions, were knotted 5-5 after the Damien Monarchs pushed four runs across in the third inning.
Despite playing errorless ball, the Red Raiders couldn’t stop the Monarchs from scoring in the fourth inning and fell 6-5 for second place.
Red Raiders Austin Renaud, Radon Sabastian, and Kapono Sullivan were named to the Division II All-Tournament team.
On the Wahine Softball stadium at UH, Kapa‘a finished in fifth place of Division II play after Lady Warriors hurler Sienna Yamashita threw a two-hitter against ‘Aiea Na Ali‘i in a contest that was called with Kapa‘a having two outs in the fifth frame because of the time limit.
Kapa‘a took the lead in the second inning with one run scored, and erupted for five runs in the fifth inning before the contest was called. Kapa‘a claimed the D2 fifth place on 14 hits, while Yamashita held Na Ali‘i to just two hits with no runs. She struck out three Na Ali‘i batters and walked three.
Six Kapa‘a hitters, including Yamashitaa, Rhea Furtado, Hailey Gibson, Charlize Kenney, Makena Kupihea, and Jaysie Riveira each marked two hits. Kailee Gorospe and Liliwae Kuhaulua-Leong each had a hit.
For the Menehune’s effort, the Waimea girls piled up just nine hits for its dozen runs with Leici-Mae Camara getting two home runs with three runs batted in. Ryleah Torres had a home run with two RBIs, and Kayla Prigge had a home run with two RBIs.
‘Aiea’s Milan Ah Yat also picked up two home runs, including the seventh inning grand slam and seven RBIs.
Menehune Sianni Sakai marked a triple and a singl, Nekeisha Olivas marked two hits, and Kayani Santos had a hit with an RBI.
The softball Division II all-tournament team was not named at press time.
Over at the HHSAA state tennis championships, the Kaua‘i High School girls earned a point, and the Kaua‘i High School boys earned two points during the tournament held at the Central O‘ahu Regional Park.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 808-245-0453 ordfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
