By KEVIN JAKAHI By KEVIN JAKAHI ADVERTISING Tribune-Herald sports writer KEAAU — Waiakea left-hander Reyn Kihara and Kamehameha right-hander Kaimana Moike not only engaged each other in a classic pitchers’ duel, but both teams also collaborated in a valuable learning
By KEVIN JAKAHI
Tribune-Herald sports writer
KEAAU — Waiakea left-hander Reyn Kihara and Kamehameha right-hander Kaimana Moike not only engaged each other in a classic pitchers’ duel, but both teams also collaborated in a valuable learning experience.
Kihara pitched six shutout innings, and the visiting Warriors scored on an error to edge Kamehameha 1-0 in a Big Island Interscholastic Federation baseball game on Thursday in the second meeting between the two teams with same nickname.
Waiakea (8-0) scratched Moike for an unearned run in the sixth when Davy Camacho sat fastball on a 3-1 count, got his pitch and parked it into left field for a double, and eventually scored on a throwing error by the Kamehameha senior pitcher.
Moike’s pitching line was nearly flawless: seven innings, an unearned run on three hits and three walks, and six strikeouts on 96 pitches. It was a tough one-run loss, despite pitching out of constant trouble and stranding six runners on base.
Kihara’s line was clean and better: six innings, no runs on three hits and three walks, and four strikeouts on 81 pitches for a hard-earned win, stranding only four runners on base, including one in scoring position.
Then, in the seventh, Waiakea trotted out what could viewed as a future formula — with someone else starting and ace Quintin Torres-Costa finishing — for the BIIF playoffs or a possible state championship run.
Torres-Costa got a quick groundout and walked Bronson Pulgados on five pitches. He got a flyout and faced No. 9 hitter Chay Toson, who had a 3 for 3 game against Torres-Costa last season as a freshman. He caught Toson looking for a strikeout on an 0-2 fastball that clipped the outside corner.
Kamehameha (3-3) is still in prime position to lock down the No. 1 seed in the East Division II field and first-round bye for the six-team BIIF tournament. The tougher seeding battle is in the West with front-runner Konawaena (6-0) and tail-gaters Hawaii Prep (4-3) and Honokaa (3-3).
Moike was mindful of the significance and value of the tight contest, knowing his Warriors will likely face either HPA ace Jayse Bannister or Honokaa ace Dylan Shiraki — two future Lon Morris junior college teammates — in the BIIF semifinals for a state berth.
“I’m taking this game knowing I can do well in pressure situations,” he said. “And the things I didn’t do well, I’ll work on in practice and I can capitalize on them if they come up again.
“In the first inning I started slowly, but later on I had good rhythm and all my pitches were working smoothly. My fastball was working and I trusted myself with my other pitches, and mixed them up well.”
Moike’s pitching progression has come through simplicity. He last pitched from the windup in the preseason. He now only pitches from the stretch, as if runners are on base. It may cost him a bit of velocity, but he stranded four Waiakea runners in scoring position.
“Kaimana had good command and good poise. I was really happy about what he did,” Kamehameha coach Andy Correa said. “From the stretch he has less moving parts. One thing for him is being simple. He’s got a good arm and talent.”
Waiakea has the two most talented arms in the state (no other school has two Division I pitchers) in Torres-Costa, who signed with Hawaii, and sophomore lefty Kodi Medeiros, who is a UH verbal commit, along with junior catcher Kean Wong, who doesn’t pitch but has a strong arm to neutralize any opponent’s running game.
Somewhere down the line, someone other than Torres-Costa and Medeiros will likely have to pitch in a key game. Kihara looked like he could fill that void. The senior southpaw’s only other start was three innings against Pahoa.
“It was a good chance for him to pitch in a big game,” Waiakea coach Kevin Yee said. “Reyn was awesome. He hit his spots and changed speeds. He fell behind to batters a lot in the beginning, but he fought through it. He showed a lot of guts and persistence.”
Kihara followed the blueprint of strategic pitching: getting the first batter out in every inning, and not allowing back-to-back baserunners. Getting off track from those two guidelines usually spells big trouble.
“I felt all right and everybody contributed. Kean called a good game and our defense made plays,” he said. “My curveball was getting over and everything felt good, my fastball, curve and changeup.”
Kihara was tunnel-vision tough and then Torres-Costa came in firing bullets. But Kamehameha’s Correa would have it no other way for his young ballclub.
“Everything in high school is a learning experience,” he said. “To face that type of pitching is wonderful. We look forward to that. That’s the whole point.
“You face challenges and learn from them to become better. The experience of playing a team like Waiakea or Hilo is very good for our future.”
Waiakea 000 001 0 — 1 3 0
Kamehameha 000 000 0 — 0 3 3
Softball
Hilo 8, Kamehameha 6: Ashyln Kaneshiro worked around five errors, scattering nine hits and allowing only one earned run to help the Vikings improve to 6-1. She walked two and struck out one for the complete-game victory.
Fantacie Keahilihau-Kuamoo batted 3 for 4 and Wendilyn Simmons 2 for 4 to lead Hilo.
Samantha Simmons pitched four innings for a no-decision. She allowed one earned run, walked none and struck out none. Kiani Wong took the loss in relief. She walked two and struck out three.
Gayla Ha-Cabebe went 3 for 4, Wong 2 for 4 and Lehua McGuire had a double to lead the Warriors (3-5).
Hilo 000 134 0 — 8 9 5
Kamehameha 300 002 1 — 6 9 6
