Kauai High School’s varsity baseball team defeated Konawaena of the Big Island Interscholastic Federation in the opening round of the Wally Yonamine Foundation Baseball Championships — Division II tournament Thursday on Oahu.
The Red Raider boys beat the Wildcats, 14-1, at the Hans L’Orange Field in Waipahu.
“The hitting was what we were looking for all year long. Hopefully, it will continue tomorrow,” said Red Raiders head coach Hank Ibia in a phone interview following Thursday’s game.
“I guess they selected the right pitches today,” he said about his team’s success hitting. “I’m not sure if it’s all about (the opposing pitcher). It’s more of what we did. We felt comfortable today.”
Kauai scored four runs in the second inning and scored 10 more in the fourth. The Red Raiders got their 14 runs off 14 hits and left four runners on base.
Red Raiders infielder Kobey Diaz led Kauai’s offense with three hits in three at bats, and also scored three runs. Catcher Patrick Esteban had three RBIs off two hits, and scored two runs as well.
Infielders Shane Ogata and Aaron Renaud and designated hitter Sam Nakata each had two RBIs.
Kauai’s Cal Koga was the game’s winning pitcher. He pitched the first four innings before infielder Micah Layosa relieved him in the fifth.
Konawaena scored one run in the top of the fifth inning. The game ended after the fifth because of the 10-run mercy rule.
Wildcats infielder Logan Canda drove in their lone run and catcher Tyler Kitaoka crossed home plate on the play.
The Wildcats totaled two hits and left two runners stranded.
Kauai plays No. 1 seed Maryknoll of the Interscholastic League of Honolulu at 10 a.m. today in a semifinal game at Les Murakami Stadium in Honolulu. Maryknoll defeated Kapolei of the Oahu Interscholastic Association, 6-5, at Hans L’Orange Field on Thursday.
“I feel pretty good. … It should be an exciting game,” Ibia said about the semifinal matchup. “Just staying focused and staying disciplined at the plate. We should be OK,”
Full stats at sportshigh.com.
