KAHULUI, Maui — Four of the Kaua‘i Senior Softball League teams made their way into the championship games at the 47th annual Hawai‘i Senior Softball Tournament that wrapped up Aug. 3 at Ichiro “Iron” Maehara Baseball Stadium in Kahului, Maui.
“However,” said Paul Curtis, who plays with the Hanamaulu Hillsiders of the Kaua‘i Senior Softball League. “Unlike last year when two Kaua“i teams came home with state titles, the four Kaua‘i teams in the title games came up short and finished in second place.”
J.C. Crouch, who has been providing commentary on the senior softball games during the season on Kaua‘i, said “a bunch of our teams did very well in every division that was contested.
A bunch of our teams did very well with second place winners Barteks (in the A Division), Keonimana Gents (in the B Division), Makos (in the C Division), and West Kaua‘i (in the G Division), and fourth place finishers Solid Steel (in the D Division), Kawaihau (in the E Division) and Hanamaulu Hillsiders (in the F Division), Crouch said.
Maui Waste Pro took the A Division following a 14-6 win over Barteks in the title match. Earlier, Barteks beat Pueo 15-2 to put the owls in third place after the Rookies, falling to Waste Pro 18-9 in their semifinal match, decided by mutual consent not to face Pueo for third place.
The Gents, playing in the B Division, advanced to the title game of that division after beating Hui ‘Ohana, 15-5. But the Gents had to settle for second place after being beat 18-6 by the Kona Legends. According to Curtis, Imi‘Ola was the other Kaua‘i team playing in the B Division.
In the C Division, Makos downed Bases Loaded of Maui, 18-5, but dropped to Kona Gold 14-9 in the division title match. The Lihu‘e A’s was the other Kaua‘i team playing in the C Division.
“Solid Steel was solid in the seeding rounds played on Tuesday and Wednesday,” Curtis said. “But they lost to the division’s eventual champion Golden Eagles of O‘ahu, 15-12, in the D Division semifinals. They also dropped to HK of the Big Island, 22-11 in the battle for third place.”
The Bushwackas, also participating in the D Division, beat Oloz by a run, 16-15 for fifth place.
Kawaihau was shut down 14-0 by the Monarchs of Maui in the semifinals of the E Division, and finished in fourth place after coming up short 12-11 to Ka Newa of Maui in the third place contest.
Hanamaulu Hillsiders entered the F Division as defending state champions before dropping to Waipio Makule of O‘ahu, 15-10, in their semifinal contest. The Hillsiders rebounded to get past the Toros, 9-7, in eight innings for the third place honor.
In the G Division, West Kaua‘i made it to the championship game after controlling Pohaku III, 17-5, but came up short against Na Pueo, 22-9, to finish in second place. Kuku’s Aces was the other Kaua‘i tea, scrapping in the G Division.
“Congratulations to all the Kaua‘i teams for a great tournament,” Crouch said. “We represented strongly in every division. Additionally, the camaraderie and friendship shared with the other island and each other is what makes these tournaments so special. Next year, the state tournament is in Kona so we’ll be ready for them.”
