KAILUA-KONA – After opening the season with a pair of losses, the Kealakehe softball team rebounded Tuesday with a dominating 12-2 victory over Honokaa at the newly renovated Waverider Field. ADVERTISING KAILUA-KONA – After opening the season with a pair
KAILUA-KONA – After opening the season with a pair of losses, the Kealakehe softball team rebounded Tuesday with a dominating 12-2 victory over Honokaa at the newly renovated Waverider Field.
The Waveriders lost a couple of big names last year, including leadoff hitter Tavian Taketa, but squad enters the 2017 season with a core group of seniors leading the way.
Kealakehe has five senior starters, led by Brei McLeod, who will drop from the power slot in the batting order, into that leadoff spot to help fill the void left by Taketa. McLeod is a four-year starter for the Waveriders, and can play anywhere on the field. She is currently anchoring the infield at short stop.
“Brei has been so helpful from start to finish every season,” said Kealakehe head coach Loni Mercado. “She has grown so much and she controls the flow of the game from the field.”
According to her coach, McLeod is the perfect blend of power, consistency, speed and skill.
“She runs with confidence and has no fear,” Mercado said. “She never looks back.”
McLeod went only 1 for 4 in Tuesday’s win, but she reached base three times. Her one hit was a big one. In the bottom of the fourth inning, McLeod worked the count in her favor and then sent a 1-2 pitch over the fence for the first home run at the new ball park.
“We were excited and she has worked really hard, in the weight room and on the field,” Mercado said. “I am really glad she got one today.”
For McLeod, she was excited to be apart of history.
“It feels great and I feel really proud of myself and it shows the hard work is paying off,” McLeod said. “I had not got a hit all game and I just had to get out of my brain and focus. If you make the right contact then it all pays off.”
Also helping Brei lead the team this year is a surprising name, Zayanna Sanchez. Sanchez is only a sophomore but she was a starter during her freshman campaign and has earned a leadership role on the team quickly.
“She is a good leader for the outfield,” Mercado said. “She keeps them upbeat, she works hard and she expects those around her to work hard.”
Sanchez is a “spunky” player that “makes things happen,” according the her coach.
“I know her skill set and I am never worried about what she might do,” Mercado added
Leading the team inside the circle is returning ace and senior Kiara Cantiberos. Cantiberos is battling through a meniscus problem this season and Mercado currently puts her health at about 80 percent.
“She is working through the injury, but also working on the mental strength to see how far she can take us this year,” Mercado said. “As long as she believes in herself and the team behind her, she will do well this year.”
In Tuesday’s game Cantiberos threw all seven innings, allowing two runs off three hits, while striking out three and walking two in the victory.
Along with McLeod and Cantiberos, first baseman Brittany Calinuhe, right fielder Kesha Mori and second baseman Verly Decasa make up the rest of the core senior group.
“Brittany was missing in today’s game but she has been doing really well at the plate this season,” Mercado said. “Kesha is also one of my backup pitchers and we have been training her just in case.”
Mori had two hits in Tuesday’s game and Decasa reached base twice on a pair of walks.
“Verly is a player who comes in clutch every time,” Mercado said. “When A ball is hit to her, 99.9 percent of the time I know I can breath easy because she will get it done.”
With an experienced core group of players, Mercado expects her team to compete this year. She has seen some positives early on, but also knows the team has some things it needs to work on.
“The girls work well together and there is never a dull moment with these ladies,” Mercado said. “With all these teammates, there is probably some drama, but they do a good job of leaving it at the gate.”
While the team has shown unity, communication on the field has been a work in progress, which is where Mercado puts most of the blame on the 0-2 start to the season.
“We definitely had issues the first couple of games, but that is what practices are for. We worked on it and it came in handy today,” Mercado said. “It’s a battle, but as long as I get 110 percent from everyone then I don’t care what the score is.”
Alexis Martinez took the Dragons (1-5). Honokaa scored both of its runs in the third. Aulii Meyer led off with a double, and one out earlier she scored easily on Xyan Ancheta’s triple to right field. Tyrah Fernandez added an RBI single, finishing 2 for 3.
