KEAAU — The Kamehameha Schools Hawaii varsity baseball team notched its second shutout of the season, defeating Keaau High School 6-0 Saturday evening.
The Cougars came within striking distance in the top first, but were downed with a runner left on third. Keaau’s leadoff was put out at first by a throw from shortstop Liwai Correa. Chanstin Uahinui-Vagal walked, then the three-hole flew out. The Warriors’ starting pitcher Kaohu Kawelu struck out the fourth batter.
KSH leadoff Correa walked, advanced on a balk, stole third and was batted in by Kawelu’s sacrificial fly. Dominic Christensen singled, then Dylan Hanson and Noah Palea walked to load the bases. Braden Gomes hit the inning’s second sac-fly to send Christensen across the plate. Keaau pitcher Chastain Uahinui-Vagal put out the Warriors’ seven-hole to end their run.
KSH led 2-0 going into the top second, and its defense ensured that lead would remain going into the bottom of the inning. Kamakalani Ili took the hill for the Warriors and struck out the two-hole after walking the leadoff, who was then tagged out trying to steal second during an inning-ending double-play from Correa to Kawelu at second, then Palea at first.
The Warriors added another run in the bottom of the inning when Correa batted in Rycen Pola. On the mound, Uahinui-Vagal notched Keaau’s first strikeout of the game. Jayden Kahakua caught a flyout in the outfield and shortstop Rupert Gomes-Cabral threw to first baseman Victor Fernandez for a putout.
The Cougars suffered another three-batter inning in the top third. Shiloh Santos struck out the leadoff, the next batter flew out to Palea and the third was put out at first by a pass from Correa.
In the bottom of the inning, KSH scored one more run when Christensen stole his way around the diamond and reached home on a wild pitch. Blair Grotkin caught two flyouts in the outfield, and Gomes-Cabral caught one.
The top fourth saw Santos pitch three consecutive strikeouts, pitching nine strikes and just two balls.
The Warriors scored their final runs of the game in the bottom fourth. Correa walked, then worked around to the plate on passed balls and a stolen base. Kawelu also walked, stole second, touched third on a passed ball then crossed home as Christensen was being put out at first. Grotkin caught another fly, as did Gomes-Cabral.
Kekama Robello got on the mound for KSH in the top fifth and struck out two batters, with the other being put out at first by a pass from Kawelu.
In the bottom fifth, the Cougars shut out the Warriors for the first time in the outing. Uahinui-Vagal notched another strikeout, and Grotkin caught his third flyout.
Robello recorded three more strikeouts in the top sixth, walking Uahinui-Vagal.
Keaau downed KSH’s first three batters in the bottom of the inning with a strikeout and two flyouts.
The Warriors ended the game with two strikeouts and a runner put out at first.
KSH will travel to Tucson, Arizona this week for a five-day tournament hosted by Salpointe Catholic High School. Kea’au will look to break its loss streak at a road test against Ka’u High School on Saturday.
