Few teams in East Hawaii welcomed the return of blue skies as much as Waiakea.
The Warriors’ baseball team finally was able to get in its third game of the season Thursday, and it used the occasion as a tune-up for bigger games to come.
Cody Hirata pitched five smooth innings, David Nakamura hit two run-scoring doubles and Stone Miyao collected three hits, including a double, and two RBIs as Waiakea beat Keaau 11-1 at the Warriors’ field.
Hirata struck out six, walked a batter and was touched for only four hits, including Delvin Ongais-Kilaulani’s RBI hit in the top of the fifth.
That made the score 7-1, but Waiakea came back with fours runs and put the game away on Miyao’s final hit.
Khaden Victorino had a two-run double in the fourth, finishing wit two hits.
Ricky Rapoza pitched 2 1/3 innings for Keaau (0-4) in the loss. Bryant Respicio-Mercado hit a double.
Waiakea has beaten Kealakehe, Kohala and the Cougars by a combined 30-1 this season heading into a test Saturday at Hawaii Prep. On Tuesday, the Warriors and Hilo match up at 5 p.m. at Wong Stadium for the first of their two regular-season meetings
Softball
Waiakea 17, Keaau 2, 4 innings: Brandee Chinen hit a three-run home run as the visiting Warriors collected six extra-base hits to hand the Cougars their first loss.
Halee Sweat pitched three perfect innings with four strikeouts for Waiakea (5-0), which finished with 11 hits, including Sweat’s triple.
Shaily Moses hit a pair of RBI doubles, Alize Ka’apana tripled in a run and finished 3 for 3, and Johnacy Mackwelung had two hits and three RBIs. Jolene Hirata doubled and scored three runs.
Bryana Grace pitched 2 1/3 innings and took the loss for the Cougars (2-1), who got a run-scoring single from Mahea Respicio.
Kealakehe 11, Hilo 1: The Waveriders (3-2) piled on eight runs in the first inning and never looked back against visiting Division I foe Hilo (0-4).
It’s the second lopsided win for the ‘Riders over the Viks within a week. They also upended Hilo 26-5 on Saturday.
The Waveriders did their damage on just six hits. Jami Tan and Kaylyn Villanueva each scored a pair of runs, while Telsea Taketa notched a triple in the explosive first inning.
Taketa also picked up the win on the mound, throwing all five innings, striking out five with one earned run.
Lauren Sugai had one of three hits for Hilo, also scoring the team’s lone run.
Konawaena 2, Kohala 0: The Wildcats picked up an important win to stay in the race in Division II, utilizing a home run from Kaimana Joy Manzano and one-hitter from ace Shaylann Grace.
Grace picked up the complete game victory, striking out nine. She walked just one batter as Konawaena moved to 2-2 this season.
The Cowgirls fell to 2-3 after the loss.
Water polo
Kamehameha 17, Hilo 8: Emma Kanoa scored six goals Wednesday at Naeole Pool, Lahela Rosario added four and Aubrey Carter recorded a hat trick as the Warriors improved to 3-0.
Jaelyn Estabilio put home three goals for the Vikings (1-2).
Waiakea 18, Keaau 2: Sarah Philippe scored five times and Ashley Rynkewicz and Jazmine Early each added three as the Warriors (1-2) won their first game.
Liana Prudholm and Leilauna Olsen and scored for the Cougars (0-2).
