LIHUE — The Warriors got the win needed to secure the second round of the season during Saturday’s doubleheader at Vidinha Stadium. Kapaa beat Kauai in the first game 4-1 in extra innings. The Red Raiders then answered back in
LIHUE — The Warriors got the win needed to secure the second round of the season during Saturday’s doubleheader at Vidinha Stadium.
Kapaa beat Kauai in the first game 4-1 in extra innings. The Red Raiders then answered back in the second game 8-1.
“I just told the guys we got to string a couple of hits together and we’ll get it done,” said Warriors head coach Bryan Aiwohi. “I had confidence in our pitching. We just needed to string hits.”
Both teams got their first runs off wild pitches with runners in scoring position. Kauai got its run in the first inning and Kapaa in the sixth.
Kapaa (6-6, 5-1 in second round) took the lead in the 11th inning when left fielder Grant Mitchell crossed home plate off a Kauai error.
The Warriors increased its lead with a two-run double from catcher Chaz Pacleb in the same inning to seal the victory.
“I was just kind of in the zone … I had to pull through,” the Warriors junior said. “We were struggling with hitting. It wasn’t working, but that last inning we rallied.”
Kauai head coach Greg Killeen said his starting pitcher, senior Tyler Manibog, pitched well but his team just couldn’t come up with extra runs.
Manibog pitched nine innings and allowed one run.
“It kind of fell apart a little bit, for us,” Killeen said. “Manibog threw the game we wanted, just couldn’t get the extra run across … But that’s the way baseball goes sometimes.”
Manibog said that first game on the mound was “the best I’ve felt all year” despite the loss.
“Just got to come back for the championship game and play hard … We can do it.” the Red Raiders senior added.
Kauai then started the second game by scoring four runs in the first inning en route to winning its final home game of the regular season.
Red Raiders catcher Cal Koga hit two triples, a single and three RBIs.
With the win, Kauai (8-3, 3-2 in second round) said goodbye to its five seniors.
“They’re great, great boys,” Killeen said of his seniors. “I’ve talked to all of them and I think they’re all going on to college to at least go to school. Some of them will continue with baseball. They’re great guys.”
Manibog said he was a bit sad that it was his last time playing on the home field after playing for four years for Kauai.
Kauai, who won the first round of the season, will play one more regular season game at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday against Waimea at Hanapepe Stadium.
The Kauai Interscholastic Federation championship game between Kapaa and Kauai will be played on Saturday. Location and time to be announced later.
