KEALAKEKUA — The Hilo High School varsity baseball team beat Konawaena High School 5-3 on Saturday, maintaining its island-wide dominance and undefeated record.
For the second time in a week, the Vikings overcame an early deficit to take the win. Two days earlier, Hilo beat Kamehameha Schools – Hawaii 2-1 after lagging 1-0 until the fifth inning.
The Vikings put up a run in the top first. Leadoff Kameron Agpalza walked, stole second, then an error allowed him to reach third as Makenna Wakakuwa got to first. Devin Saltiban hit a sacrifice fly to bat in Agpalza. Taven Hiraishi punched out a batter then fanned the next to end the frame.
The Wildcats took the lead with two runs in the bottom first. After the leadoff grounded out, Hiraishi singled and stole second. Three-hole Trez Uemoto grounded infield, but an error allowed him to reach base and Hiraishi to score. Another infield error let Charlie Kuwada reach base and advance Uemoto. After the next batter grounded out, Maika Akamu singled to bat Uemoto in before the third groundout closed the frame.
A groundout and a flyout quickly put Hilo’s top third in jeopardy — but a single and a hit-by-pitch provided some hope. However, the hope quickly dissolved as a runner was caught stealing third. The Vikings kept their deficit small by quickly downing Konawaena in the bottom third, stranding one.
Hilo returned to the dugout and took the lead with two runs in the top fourth. Journey Leialoha and Legend Lancaster each singled, then Dylan Villanueva did the same to bat in Leialoha. Zion Palea hit an infield grounder, and a fielder’s choice allowed him to reach base while Lancaster scored and Villanueva was tagged out short of home.
In the bottom frame, the Vikings downed the Wildcats in three at-bat’s. Tobias Naihe doubled, but pushed his luck and was tagged out short of third by Lancaster . The next two batters popped out and flew out.
Hilo’s lead jumped to 5-2 in the top fifth. With two outs on the board, Saltiban hit a two-run homer, batting in Wakakuwa.
The Wildcats eked out another run in the bottom sixth. A single and two walks loaded the bases, then Tate Garana hit an infield grounder to bat in Tavis Fediuk — before being put out at first.
Wakakuwa earned the win on the hill for Hilo, facing 30 batters in seven innings and allowing one earned run on six hits and three walks — striking out seven.
Now 9-0 with no regular season games remaining, the Vikings will most likely enter the upcoming BIIF Division I playoffs in the No.1 seed.
Konawaena moved to 7-2 following the loss, but still is still tied with KSH for the No.1 Division II standing. The Wildcats and the Warriors will go head-to-head at 3 p.m. on Wednesday at KSH to determine who will take the No.1 Division II seed.