Konawaena lost a three-run lead in the sixth inning Thursday but managed to push three runs across the plate in the bottom of the seventh for a 7-6 comeback victory against Kealakehe at Gabby Inaba Field on the first day of the Keaau preseason baseball tournament.
Down to their final at-bat, Konaweana began its comeback when Logan Canda beat out an infield single with one out. However, he was injured diving into the game and limped off the field. He was replaced by pinch runner Andrew Udac. Phillip Grace followed with a single to left and with two outs, Kekey Katayama reached on an error by the shortstop that would have ended the game. Skye Suzuki stepped to the plate and sent a shot off the left field fence for a double. All three runners on base scored, giving the Wildcats the victory.
Shelton Grace threw the final two innings for Konawaena and picked up the win.
Trailing 4-1, the Waveriders fought back in the top of the sixth off new Konawaena pitcher Kulu Alani. After Louie Garcia reached second, he scored on a double down the left field line by Markus Degrate. A single to center off the bat of Pohaku Dela Cruz put runners on the corners with no outs, and forced the Wildcats to make a pitching change.
Grace took the hill and forced a soft grounder to third that was misplayed, allowing the batter to reach safely and Degrate to score. With one out, Dela Cruz scored from third on a wild pitch to tie the game. Makana Kaluau then sent a shot down the left field line, scoring Tamaye, and Kealakehe was on top, 5-4. The Waveriders put up an insurance run on a Tehvyn Lewis infield single.
Dela Cruz got the loss, despite pitching a complete game.
Picking up multiple hits for the Wildcats were Suzuki (three) and Canda (two). For the Waveriders, Dela Cruz had two hits and walked twice.
Kealakehe 0 0 0 1 0 5 0 —6
Konawaena 1 0 0 3 0 0 3 —7
Keaau 9, Hawaii Prep 5: Byron Cachola had a pair of two-RBI doubles in back-to-back innings to lead Keaau.
Down 3-2 heading into the sixth inning, the Cougars loaded the bases with no outs. Cachola stepped into the batters box and sent a line drive double into the left-center field gap, scoring Nick Deremer and Dathan Wong Chong. Keaau went on to score two more runs in the inning to take a commanding 7-3 advantage.
In the top of the seventh, Cachola added two more insurance runs when he sent a double to left, scoring Deremer and Chong.
Kanai Gaughen hit a two-run home run for HPA in the seventh and DJ Sekiya doubled home a run.
Picking up multiple hits for Keaau were Cachola (three) and Deremer (two). Ellis and Sekiya led HPA with two hits apiece.
Justin Quesada threw five innings and earned the win for the Cougars. Sekiya took the loss, also working five.
Keaau 1 0 1 0 0 5 2 —9
HPA 1 0 1 0 1 0 2 —5
