KEALAKEKUA — Led by its underclassman, Konawaena defeated Pahoa 10-0 on a raining Saturday to pick up a BIIF Division II win on opening day.
KEALAKEKUA — Led by its underclassman, Konawaena defeated Pahoa 10-0 on a raining Saturday to pick up a BIIF Division II win on opening day.
Several upperclassmen went down with minor injuries, most notably, the team’s No. 2 pitcher and clean-up hitter, Logan Canda.
“We had a group of boys step up and execute,” said Wildcats coach Adam Taberios. “We are not as good as we can be yet and have a lot of things to work on, but that is a good thing. It means we can get better.”
Konawaena got what they were looking for out of freshman pitcher Kolu Alani. Alani was nearly unhittable, allowing two hits, while striking out six and walking one in a complete game, five-inning shutout.
“Kolu stepped up and competed within the strike zone,” Taberios said. “He had a good average of pitches per inning and he kept the fielders in the game. He did what he wanted to do and made the hitters chase him.”
Sophomore Phillip Grace led the offense with a two-run blast that sailed over the left-center field fence in the bottom of the second inning, setting the tone for the game and putting Konawaena up, 6-0.
Phillip Grace went 2 for 3 as did Shelton Grace. Tyler Kitaoka singled and a doubledm Kelsey Katayama had a single and two walks from the leadoff spo and Skye Suzuki doubled and a walk.
“Phillip is a very disciplined hitter and he sat back on a lot of pitches,” Taberios said.
Defense was the main difference between the Wildcats and the Daggers. Konawaena did not commit an error Pahoa made five.
Alani ran into a little trouble in the top of the fifth inning while trying to close out the run-rule shortened game. He hit Justin Castro and Bill Sabaratnam came in to pinch run. Dyson Gacutan followed with a double to left to put runners on second and third with one out. Alani struck out the next batter and forced a fly out to center to end the game.
Phillip Grace went 2 for 3, as did Shelton Grace. Kitaoka went 2 for 3 with a single and a double. Kelsey Katayama had a single and two walks from the leadoff spot. Suzuki doubled and a walked.
Pahoa 000 00 —0 2 5
Konawaena 334 0 —10 11 0