Baseball
HILO 3 – KS-HAWAI‘I 0
The Vikings defeated the Warriors to end KSH’s season-long rampage and remain the only undefeated baseball team on the isle, shutting the Warriors out 3-0 on Saturday afternoon in Puna.
Jayden Geraci, Dylan Villanueva and Legend Lancaster combined for the shutout on the mound — and Villanueva was credited with the win, while Lancaster earned the save.
Lancaster closed out the final two innings, striking out four batters while surrendering three hits and a walk. Lancaster ended each of his frames with strikeouts, leaving the bases loaded to end the bottom sixth and one on base for the seventh.
The game was tied scoreless until the top of the fifth inning, when Koa Marzo singled on a fly ball to center field to drive in Talus Sato. The Vikings added their next run an inning later, when Villanueva sacrifice bunted to send home Lee Marvin ‘Hiapo’ Ugalde III.
In the top of the seventh inning, Kamren Agpalza’s sacrifice fly sent Sato across the plate for his second time — giving the Vikings more padding to enter the final frame with.
Catcher Zion Palea went two-for-two, including a double, to post Hilo’s best batting average. On KSH’s side, Justin Kubojiri went two-for-two and Dominic Christensen went two-for-three.
The win granted the Vikings bragging rights as the kings of the regular season, but also guaranteed them something even better — the No. 1 seed in the BIIF DI championship. With just one outing left — against Pahoa today at Francis Wong Stadium — Hilo will end the season with the best record in BIIF DI, even if they lose. Hilo will face the No. 4 seed in the playoffs, which could end up being Kea‘au High or Kealakehe High.
KSH clinched the top seed in the BIIF DII playoffs weeks ago, so the loss won’t affect KS-Hawai‘i’s postseason — but, it was a less-than-ideal way for the Warriors to close out what has otherwise been a dominant season.
On the other hand, bragging rights don’t mean much when you’re trying to win a BIIF or HHSAA championship.
The Warriors will have ample time to get into playoff mode and practice ahead of the April 26 semifinal openers. The No. 3 and No. 4 standings in BIIF DII are currently being scrapped over by Honoka‘a, Ka‘u and Pahoa.
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HONOKA‘A 9 – KA‘U 6
The Dragons got an important, late-season win — defeating Ka‘u High 9-6 on Saturday in Pahala to end their regular season.
The win moved Honoka‘a to 4-6, meaning that the Dragons could surpass No. 4 Pahoa High (3-4) in the standings and enter playoff contention if the Daggers lose all three of their upcoming outings. It’s not much — and a bit of a long shot — but it’s a sliver of hope for Honoka‘a.
Gabe Key hit a solo homer in the top of the sixth inning and led Honoka‘a at the plate, going two-for-five with two RBIs.
Ka‘u was led by Caleb Crook, who went two-for-four.
Though it wasn’t the best afternoon to be a Trojan, Ka‘u is still comfy in playoff territory. Now 5-3 and still standing at No. 3 in BIIF DII, the Trojans will still be among the division’s top four even if they lose their last two remaining games and No. 4 Pahoa wins all three of its final regular season tests.
It also wasn’t the final home game for the Trojans, who will play their senior game on Tuesday against Waiakea. Ka‘u will close out the regular season with an away game at No. 2 Konawaena (6-2) the next day.
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WAIAKEA 8 – HPA 3
Waiakea High’s baseball team got its first BIIF play win since last week’s lost to KS-Hawai‘i — defeating Hawaii Preparatory Academy 8-3 in six innings on a foggy Friday afternoon in Waimea.
The Warriors put a great deal of distance between themselves and Ka Makani in the first four innings — plating a run in the top first, five in the third and two more in the fourth — leading 8-0 before HPA scored its first run.
Waiakea’s Ivor Brooks led off the top of the first inning and tripled on a fly ball to right field on a 1-1 count. Brooks led the Warriors at the plate through the outing, going two-for-three with an RBI.
Loren Iwata got the start and earned the win on the mound — surrendering one earned run on just two hits and no walks, striking out a whopping nine batters.
Despite the loss, Nishiki Iwai had a good day at bat for HPA — going two-for-three with an RBI.
Waiakea, now 6-2, will end its regular season on Tuesday with a non-division away game at Ka‘u High.
HPA fell to 2-7, and will try to end its tough season on a high note as Ka Makani takes on Kea‘au High (0-6) on Saturday in Waimea.
Softball
HONOKA‘A 32 – KA‘U 1
The softball season is supposed to be winding down, not getting crazier.
But, what else can we expect from Honoka‘a High, which has been putting up impressive stats for the past couple of weeks?
The Dragons set their bats ablaze to deal Ka‘u High the worst rout in all of BIIF play this season, run-ruling the Trojans in three innings with 32 earned runs, including 18 in the top third inning, on Saturday morning in Pahala.
That top third inning included two homers, a two-run line drive over center field by Malie Espejo and a solo shot by Kiera Agdeppa three at-bats later.
Honoka‘a out-hit Ka‘u by a lopsided 16-2. The Dragons were led by Kayliah Kauahi — who went three-for-four with five RBIs — and teammate Starlet Peters — who doubled twice to go two-for-three and drive in a run.
Espejo got the start on the mound for Honoka‘a, surrendering only one hit and no walks in two innings while striking out four.
Ka‘u’s only run was batted in by “Christina R” (full name not on roster).
It was a great way for the Dragons to end the season, who will close out at 4-5 and locked in for a BIIF playoff berth.
For Ka‘u, it was yet another loss added to its now 0-8, winless season — but it was thankfully not the end. The Trojans — who have been outscored 138-9 this season — will have two more chances to end the season with a win, or at least a close game. Ka‘u will next face Konawaena (2-6) on Wednesday, and is also due for a rescheduled match against Kohala High.
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KS-HAWAI‘I 8 – HILO 5
KS-Hawai‘i’s softball team conquered its final test of the regular season, staying ahead of Hilo High for seven innings to win it seventh straight, 8-5, at its senior game on Saturday morning in Puna.
The Warriors will now have more than a week to prepare for the postseason — as they will enter the BIIF DII semifinals with the No. 1 seed. The semis will begin Tuesday, April 23 and will be a best-of-three series that alternates hosts each game. KSH will face the No. 4 seed, which is currently projected to be either Konawaena, Kohala or Pahoa.
Now 5-2, Hilo will have an opportunity to end its regular season the right way — as it will play against Pahoa this afternoon at Walter Victor Baseball Complex in Hilo. The Vikings are set to enter the BIIF DI semis at No. 3, which would pair them up against Waiakea High.