Kamehameha’s considerable pitching depth was tested when co-ace Zakaia Michaels essentially was wasted Tuesday when the game he started against Konawaena was wiped away by darkness.
When the teams returned to Kameeiamoku Field in Keaau for a fresh start Wednesday, the Warriors were patient at the plate and let their offense pave the way to victory, scoring seven runs in the sixth inning to break open a tie game to win 14-7 and remain unbeaten in BIIF Division II baseball.
Rydge Ishii started the sixth off with a double, and Kamehameha (10-0) took advantage of five walks and a hit batter, sending 14 batters to the plate.
The Wildcats (8-4) outhit the Warriors 13-5 – Kanai Rivera was 3 for 4 with three RBIs – but their pitchers combined to walk 13 batters and hit three others.
Kamehameha’s three pitchers walked just one batter. Ishii worked five innings, allowing four runs – two earned – on eight hits and a walk with four strikeouts. Braeden Coloma gave up three runs and five hits in the top of the sixth, including a game-tying two-run single off the bat of Rivera – but was credited with the win, and co-ace Tai Atkins struck out two in the seventh.
Batting third, Michaels drew four walks and cleanup hitter Bula Ahuna walked three times. Bryce Furuli drove in three runs.
Jaimison Medeiros was 2 for 4 for Konawaena, but all the walks were too much too overcome.
AJ Alani, the Wildcats’ fourth of five pitchers, took the loss, though he was one of two Konawaena pitchers to only walk one batter. Drew Basque went two innings, Elisha Martin pitched 1 2/3, then Boaz Ayers pitched an inning. Ethan Yamaguchi relieved Medeiros and got two outs.
Softball
Honokaa 13, Kealakehe 6: Natasha Molina hit a home run, Alexis Martinez worked five innings and the Dragons took advantage of six errors and six free passes to win their fifth game in a row.
Honokaa (9-4) moved a half-game behind Kohala (9-3) as the teams jockey for the second seed and home-field advantage in the Division II semifinals. The Cowgirls host undefeated Kamehameha on Thursday, and tie for second between the two teams benefits the Dragons, who swept the season series.
At the plate, Martinez collected two hits and two RBIs. In the circle, she allowed four runs, two earned, on six hits with four walks and four strikeouts. Destynee Carvalho pitched an inning of relief and also had two hits at the plate. The game was called with out in the bottom of the sixth because of darkness.
Mia Joaquin hit a home run for the Waveriders (6-5) and finished with two hits and two RBIs. Lisan Muldong and Lucky Isisaki also had two hits each.
Telsea Taketa was the losing pitcher, yielding 13 runs, seven earned, on eight hits and a strikeout with six walks.