HILO — The Hilo High School varsity baseball team beat Waiakea High School 3-2 in the bottom seventh inning of an intense battle Wednesday night at Francis Wong Stadium.
This victory marked the first time since before the pandemic that Hilo’s baseball team has defeated Waiakea.
“Man, that was a big win,” Hilo head coach Baba Lancaster said. “That really took the monkey off my back from last year. They (Waiakea) beat us three times last year, so it was good feeling to get the win this time.”
The defensive face-off saw few hits by either team throughout the night, and many innings ended with players left on base.
Makenna Wakakuwa took the mound for Hilo in the top of the first inning. Waiakea leadoff Devin Garza lined out to Hilo third-baseman Journey Leialoha, then two-hole Kaleb Wada singled left. Joshua Ward grounded to right infield and was put out at first while Wada advanced to second. Clemson Julian hit to the right outfield, which was passed to catcher Zion Palea — who then tagged out Wada ahead of the plate.
Loren Iwata started on the hill for the Warriors. Vikings leadoff Kameron Agpalza singled right to start off the bottom first. Next, Legend Lancaster bunted and was put out at first while Agpalza advanced. Three-hole Devin Saltiban flew out to the left outfield for the second out. Iwata struck out Leialoha to leave Agpalza on second.
Iwata was first in the box for Waiakea in the top second, and singled right. Ivor Brooks singled, and an error at first allowed him to gain an extra base — meanwhile, Iwata was tagged out at third. Wakakuwa struck out Jonah Banasan to put another out on the board. Jesse Inouye flew out right, leaving Brooks on second.
Hilo scored the contest’s first run in the bottom second when Koa Marzo hit right and was put out at first, batting in Boston Kobayashi. The following batter, Jayden Geraci, sacrifice bunted to send Nui Sato home and give the Vikings a 2-0 lead. The inning ended during the next at-bat, when Agpalza was put out at first.
The Warriors put up their first point when Wada doubled, batting in Kaleb Sato and getting put out at second for the top third’s second out. Ward grounded to second base and was put out at first to turn over the inning.
Hilo was shut out in the bottom third. Lancaster and Saltiban were both put out at first, but Leialoha gave the Vikings a ray of hope shortly after with a deep left double. Palea was then put out at first, ended the third inning.
With two outs and runners on second and third, Jesse Inouye singled right for an RBI, tying the score.
Both teams went scoreless for the fifth and sixth innings.
With two outs on them in the top seventh, the Warriors loaded the bases while Lancaster was on the mound. Lancaster struck out Ward to turn the inning over, leave all three on base and ultimately, earn the win.
In the bottom seventh, Marzo was first at bat and walked with a full count. Cole Hatayama bunted and moved Marzo to second, but paused in pain because the ball hit his fingers and was then put out at first. Next, Agpalza singled to put the Vikings in scoring position. Lancaster stepped up to bat, and a passed ball on the second pitch allowed Marzo to reach home for the go-ahead.
“It was a good team win,” coach Lancaster said. “Everyone contributed. I wish we had more runs, but we still got the win. Makenna pitched a hell of a game, and Legend came in and finished it.”
The Warriors will get a shot at redemption on their home field at 6 p.m. tonight, against Konawaena High School.
Hilo, now 2-0, will travel to Kealakehe High School on Tuesday for its next outing.