KAILUA-KONA — Interesting.
KAILUA-KONA — Interesting.
That’s the word Kealakehe head coach Loni Mercado used to describe an eventful Saturday at Old Airport Park.
After a change of venue and a nearly two hour delay from lack of officials, Kealakehe (2-1) capitalized on six Hilo (2-2) errors in the sixth inning and held on for a dramatic 11-10 victory.
“Talk about curveballs,” Mercado said of the misfortunes early in the day. “I appreciate Hilo being troopers and sticking it out with us.”
After battling to a 2-2 tie through three innings, the Waveriders broke the game open with a six run fourth and looked primed to cruise to victory after Kiara Cantiberos posted her fourth goose egg in a row in the top of the inning. However, the Hilo bats came alive late.
The Vikings pushed four runs across the plate in the sixth inning, cutting their deficit to two.
Kealakehe fought back in the bottom of the sixth thanks to a little help from the Vikings, who committed six errors in the inning. They had nine for the game. The defensive letdown allowed the Waveriders to take an 11-6 lead into the seventh inning.
Hilo did not go quietly in their final at-bat. The Vikings quickly scored four runs, making it a one run game. Facing her 10th batter of the inning, Cantiberos was able to get Mandi Kawaha to pop up to the second baseman, ending the game.
“My girls always amaze me,” Mercado said. “Cantiberos in the circle always pulls through for us. Defensivley we made the plays and were error free. We always want to win, but the little wins like that are big too. Stick to the basics, execute, and do all the little things right. That’s what it comes down to for us.”
Cantiberos picked up the victory. She threw all seven innings and allowed 1o runs off nine hits, while striking out eight and walking four. Hilo’s Zoe-Lyne Cabarloc took the loss. She pitched six innings, allowing 11 runs off 15 hits, while striking out three and walking three. Only four of the runs were earned.
The Waverider offense was led by Annabelle Delacruz, who went 4-for-4 with a run and an RBI. Breianna McLeod and Zayanna Sanchez had three hits apiece. McLeod knocked in a run and Sanchez scored three times. Tavian Taketa and Kesha Mori-Pucong picked up two hits each. Both had an RBI and scored once.
For Hilo, Gaylynn Ha led the way with a 3-for-3 performance at the plate. She scored three times and also walked once. Moana Pinner went 2-for-2 with two RBIs and a run scored. Cabarloc went 1-for-2 with two walks and two runs scored. Cierra Keli‘i was 1-for-3 with three RBIs.
Despite the game being finished, Hilo protested when Kealakehe called two timeouts and did not change pitchers in the seventh inning. The decision will have to be reviewed by league officials. If upheld, the story of a very long Saturday will become even longer.
“I feel really confident, but we will see what the outcome will be,” Mercado said. “Hopefully it will be in our favor, but if not, we will take it one stride at a time.”
Hilo 200 004 4–10 9 9
Kealakehe 020 603 x–11 15 0
Kohala 13, Ka‘u 0: Freshman Mikayla Kekoa threw a no-hitter and struck out 12 in Pahala and slammed a home run for the Cowgirls (4-2).
For the Trojans (0-6), a runner reached base in the bottom of the sixth inning on an error.
Kryah Sol added a homer and two RBIs and Deysha Yamasaki had a homer and RBI for the Cowgirls.
Waiakea 20, Hawaii Prep 1: Taylor Ogawa hit a solo home run in Waimea and Taylor Nishimura finished with three hits and three RBIs for the Warriors (5-0), who have amassed 50 runs combined in their last two games.
Alyssa Hara pitched two innings, walking one and striking out one and allowing a run and two hits, and Brandee Chinen worked two innings.
At the plate, Chinen had a triple among her two hits and Maiyah Turner was 2 for 4.
Sakura Remsen started and got two outs for Ka Makani (0-7). Taimane Kamaka drove in HPA’s run with a hit.
On Thursday, Waiakea beat Pahoa 30-0.
Waiakea 961 4 – 20 12 2
HPA 100 0 –1 2 1
Kamehameha 16, Konawaena 0: Mykala Tokunaga struck out seven and allowed only four hits in a five-inning TKO, and Makena Wagner, Kekai Wong Yuen and Kiarra Lincoln each had three hits to pace the Warriors’ 16-hit attack in Kealakekua.
Wagner hit an RBI double, driving in four runs, and Wong Yuen tripled and hit a run-scoring double, crossing the plate three times. Lincoln had a double and two RBIs with three runs scored.
Kamehameha (5-0) put the game away with a nine-run fifth, an inning that included Elexis Emmsley’s two-run double.
Tokunaga and Jessica Cameros were each 2 for 4 with a double.
Sierra Amor collected two hits for the Wildcats (4-2), who have lost two in a row.
Freshman starter Andi Uemura was pulled after two batters, Tiani Lastimosa finishing the five innings.
Kamehameha 302 29 – 16 16 0
Konawaena 000 0x – 0 4 0