KALUA-KONA — Makana Kaluau’s clutch hit in the bottom of the fourth inning made up for a slow start on the hill as Kealakehe got back into the win column on Thursday with a 5-4 comeback victory over visiting Keaau.
The Waveriders struggled early in the game after falling behind three runs, but after Kealakehe loaded the bases down by two in the fourth inning and Kaluau cleared them with a triple down the left field line.
“After we went down, I just told the players to trust there mechanics and luckily we had one big inning,” said first-year Kealakehe head coach Kallen Hiraishi. “Makana also wanted to stay on the mound so he helped himself out with a base hit.”
After opening the season with a dominating victory over Kohala, the Waveriders struggled through four straight losses against some of the top teams in the BIIF, losing once each to Waiakea and Kamehameha and twice to Hilo.
However, with the winless Cougars coming to town, the timing was perfect for Kealakehe to get back on track.
“We had a rough start,” Hiraishi said. “But against Keaau, the boys showed a good attitude and carried good body language. I was proud of them.”
The Waveriders (2-4) fell behind in the first inning when Keaau (0-7) opened the game with four straight hits, including a two-run double by Delvin Onagais-Kilaulani. A pair of errors followed, leading to another run.
“Makana missed some spots early and Keaau was taking a good approach at the plate and had some base hits,” Hiraishi said. “You can’t really do anything about the hits, but he settled down and started to hit his spots, and the defense helped him out too.”
The damage could have been worse but centerfielder Kainoa Jones managed to throw out a potential fourth run at the plate.
After the opening frame, Kaluau settled down, limiting the Cougars to four hits and no runs over the next four innings.
Kealakehe pushed their first run across the plate in the third.
In the bottom of the fourth, Jones led off the inning with a single to left. Two walks by Keaau starting pitcher Edward Oguma loaded the bases with one out. Kaluau stepped to the plate and sent a line drive down the left field line for a three-run triple. He then scored off a single by Toby Estrella to put the Waveriders up 5-3.
“To get that hit was important because the game was going slow,” Kaluau said. “It really helped pump everyone up.”
Oguma managed to stay in the game, despite some late inning control issues, but he eventually came out after walking a batter in the bottom of the fifth. He took the loss, allowing five earned runs off five hits. He walked five and struck out three.
Kaluau remained in the game until the following inning. After allowing two runners to reach base in the top of the sixth, he was relieved by Jones. Jones allowed one of the inherited runners to score, closing the book on the Kealakehe’s starting pitcher. Kaluau allowed four earned off nine hits, while walking one and striking out five.
Kaluau finished his day at the plate going 2 for 4 with three RBIs and one run. The Waveriders managed only five hits in the game.
Oguma, Ongais-Kilaulani, Bronsen Pili and Dylan Kamakea had two hits apiece for Keaau.