KEAAU — There’s nothing fancy about Kamehameha junior Kyran Kai, who rears back like a catcher and fires strikes and scoreless innings, especially in pivotal BIIF games. ADVERTISING KEAAU — There’s nothing fancy about Kamehameha junior Kyran Kai, who rears
KEAAU — There’s nothing fancy about Kamehameha junior Kyran Kai, who rears back like a catcher and fires strikes and scoreless innings, especially in pivotal BIIF games.
Sophomore ace Tai Atkins and Kai combined on a one-hitter, and the Warriors defeated Konawaena 11-1 in a six-inning TKO Division II game Saturday at Kame‘eiamoku Baseball Field.
Atkins was effectively wild. The lanky left-hander surrendered an unearned run on one hit and four walks and whiffed six for the win. Kai, a junior right-hander, fired two perfect innings and struck out one.
Bryce Furuli batted 2 for 2 with three RBIs to ignite the Warriors (10-1), whose patience at the plate led to runs.
They drew nine walks and four of those base runners came around to score.
No one else paired hits. Senior pinch hitter Noah Chow had a two-run single in the six-run sixth inning. All of the starters reached base, showing the depth of the lineup.
The Wildcats (8-3) missed a chance to force a first-place tie with Kamehameha, which misses junior catcher DallasJ Duarte, who’s out with a hand injury. He adds depth to the lineup and resembles a wall on defense.
In the first, AJ Alani took advantage of baseball’s most peculiar rule. He struck out for what should have been the third out but reached first base on a passed ball. That loaded the bases, and Kanai Rivera followed with an RBI single.
The bases were still packed with two out. But Atkins buckled down and got a strikeout to extinguish the brush fire. And the Wildcats never seriously threatened again.
Bryce Dorvall pitched 3 1/3 innings and allowed five runs (two unearned) in the loss. Tristan DeAguiar threw two innings and gave up three runs, and Andrew Udac recorded an out and yielded three runs.
The Warriors had nine hits but none for extra bases and spaced singles up and down the lineup. They didn’t need to clobber the ball because they hit pretty much everything. Konawaena had just two strikeouts.
A lack of power pitching and abundance of free passes is usually a recipe for trouble against a patient team like the Warriors. Furuli and Dustin Asuncion each had RBI walks with the bases full, a good sign of plate discipline.
“We got runners into scoring position,” Kamehameha coach Andy Correa said. “We put pressure on them almost every inning. We were disciplined, aggressive when we needed to be and patient when we needed to be. That helped us a lot.”
Meanwhile, Kai has worked his way up the ladder. Last year, as a right fielder, he batted sixth. This year, he’s at second base and leads off. He went 1 for 4 and scored a run.
But it’s on the mound where he’s really given the Warriors a boost. He grew up learning the game from his uncle Gayne Kobayashi the former Honokaa coach. Kai played third base, catcher, and outfield.
“He’s a multitalented player for us,” Correa said. “He’s really valuable as a utility. Wherever we need him, we can put him there. We’ve been working with him since he was a freshman. He throws three pitches for strikes and loves to compete. He’s a good person to get in at the end of a game.”
His catcher’s throwing motion — ball released near his ear for quickness— carried over to his pitching. It’s simple mechanics and works wonders from Kai, who rarely pitched last season.
“During the offseason, I trained and worked out a lot, hitting and fielding,” Kai said. “During the preseason, I worked with coach Scotty (Tomita, Kamehameha assistant coach) a lot. I added a changeup to my fastball and curve. I was coached by my uncle since I was 4 or 5 years old.
“He taught me to try to hit the ball up the middle, straight back to the box, and go to right center field because that’s good timing.”
Atkins and Kai make an effective one-two pitching punch because they’re so different. Atkins throws three-quarters and his stuff has sweeping movement. Kai hides the ball well, and it jumps at hitters.
“That came naturally for me, from over the top,” he said. “It works for me. It feels much better to pitch this year. I like getting playing time on the mound and if I can do a great job then that helps the team.”
Waiakea 14, Hawaii Prep 0
Jamieson Hirayama pitched four strong innings and Nathan Minami doubled and tripled to drive in three runs as the host Warriors secured an automatic berth to the HHSAA Division I tournament as the outright regular season champion.
Minami collected both his extra-base hits in the second as Waiakea (11-0) scored 10 runs. Casey Yamauchi also had two hits in the inning, including an RBI double, finishing with three hits.
Hirayama allowed three hits and one walk with three strikeouts, and Khaden Victorino struck out a batter in spotless inning of work.
Sheldon Aribal lasted 1 1/3 inning in taking the loss for Ka Makani (6-7).
Trayden Tamiya finished 2 for 2 with a double, two runs and two RBIs, Jacob Igawa drove in three runs and Makoa Andres hit a run-scoring triple for Waiakea, which closes the regular season at 5 p.m. Wednesday against Kamehameha at Wong Stadium.
Hilo 12, Kealakehe 1
Hilo spoiled the final game of Kealakehe’s extended homestand and Senior Day on Saturday with a 12-1, six inning victory at Waverider Field. The Vikings jumped ahead early with a five run third inning, batting around in the order.
Ocean Gabonia picked up the victory on the hill, throwing four innings and allowing one run off three hits. He walked four and struck out four. Haloa Lee and Lamaku Pana combined to shut out Kealakehe over the next two innings.
Offensively, the Vikings were led by Stone Miyao and Donald Saltiban. Miyao had a pair of singles with three RBIs and one run scored. Saltiban had a single, double, two RBIs and a run.
Nainoa Kane-Yates entered the game as a pinch hitter in the top of the fifth inning and blasted a pitch over the left field fence for a 2-run home run.
Eli Lai took the loss for the Waveriders. He exited the game with two outs in the fourth inning after allowing six runs off seven hits. He struck out two and walked four. Makana Kaluau threw the remaining 2 1/3 innings, allowing five runs off four hits. He walked two batters and struck out one.
Dennison Joaquin did his job as a leadoff hitter for Kealakehe, reaching base four times on a pair of singles and two walks.
Honokaa 20, Pahoa 1
The Dragons (3-8) won on the road, moving a step closer to securing the fourth and final playoff spot in D
