KAILUA-KONA — The Honokaa High School varsity baseball team defeated Kealakehe High School 14-1 in a non-division, five-inning outing Saturday afternoon.
The Dragons got the bats going early, with Isaac Derego hitting a three run homer in the top first — marking the fifth game in a row where Honokaa has notched a home run.
The Waveriders responded with a run in the bottom frame. Jessie Anuntak led off with a walk, then Marheo Kelen singled. Zakai Kramer sacrifice bunted to move Anuntak to third — then after the next batter was struck out by Derego, a dropped third strike allowed Anuntak to reach the plate.
Kealakehe stayed within striking distance by shutting out the Dragons in the top second, but Derego fanned three straight batters to keep the Waveriders in check.
Aiden Joaquin led off in the top third and was hit by a pitch. After Joaquin stole second, Kenohi Lindsey singled on a line drive to center field and Joaquin scored. He‘olu Bertelmann-Makani and Derego each walked — loading the bases — then Ha‘o Kanekoa singled to bat in Lindsey and Bertelmann-Makani. Josyah Umeda was hit by a pitch, then CJ Sanchez doubled to bat in two more runs. The frame ended with HHS ahead 8-1.
Honokaa kept its momentum going with another shutout in the bottom third, leaving one on base.
In the top fourth, Lindsey singled, then Derego and Kanekoa walked. Umeda was hit by a pitch, walking Lindsey across home plate. Another walk sent Derego home and kept the bases full. A strikeout put up the frame’s second out, but a single and two more walks drove in three more runs. Both teams went scoreless for the rest of the game.
Lindsey batted four-for-four to lead the Dragons, scoring three runs and two RBI — and stealing three bases to lead his team. Derego also touched base in every plate visit, going two-for-two with two walks to score three runs and bat three in.
“Derego and Lindsey’s batting has been great,” HHS head coach Devin Joaquin said. “It takes a lot of pressure off of ‘The Bear’ (Aiden Joaquin), because they’re right after him in the order.”
Derego pitched the first three innings, then Gabe Key pitched the last two. Derego allowed no earned runs, surrendering one hit and one walk while striking out six of 13 batters faced.
Key gave up no runs and struck out five, allowing two hits and two walks.
Zesden Tolentino went one-for-one in the box to lead Kealakehe.
Honokaa will end its regular season with a non-division, home matchup against Keaau High School on Saturday afternoon. The Dragons stand at No. 3 in BIIF Division II, meaning that they will probably enter next week’s playoffs in seed No.3 — pitting them against the No.2 seed, which will be determined by the outcome of a match on Wednesday between Konawaena and Kamehameha – Hawaii.
“We’re a team of only ten players,” said coach Joaquin, “so we’re trying to get everybody ripe, healthy, get our arms ready and get the bats hot. I’m hopeful about playoffs.”
Kealakehe will polish off its regular season with two non-division games this week — its senior game at 3 p.m. Thursday against Pahoa, and an away match at Hawaii Prep on Saturday.
With one win on the season, the Waveriders stand at No. 3 in Division I — ahead of winless Keaau.