Thanks in no small part to Keaau’s Keian Kanetani, some of Hilo coach Tony De Sa’s worst fears were realized in Friday’s BIIF Division I baseball semifinals. ADVERTISING Thanks in no small part to Keaau’s Keian Kanetani, some of Hilo
Thanks in no small part to Keaau’s Keian Kanetani, some of Hilo coach Tony De Sa’s worst fears were realized in Friday’s BIIF Division I baseball semifinals.
The Vikings suffered their typical first-inning jitters and came out sluggish against a determined senior pitcher, but none of it mattered because of Joey Jarneski.
Hilo and Waiakea are still on a collision course, though Hilo had to sweat out a 2-1 victory at Wong Stadium in its Game 1, using a one-hitter from Jarneski and scratching across runs in the fourth and fifth to survive.
The Warriors, who beat Kealakehe 10-0 on Friday, and the Vikings (10-3) were expected to cruise through the semifinals. But after losing twice to Hilo (10-3) by a combined 33-0 runs during the regular season, the Cougars (4-9) got a strong start from Kanetani.
“We were having trouble during the week, even with getting practices in because of the rain,” De Sa said. “I had a feeling this kind of game was going to happen, and it did happen. (Keian) pitched a good game.”
Jarneski, the junior right-handed ace, struck out nine and walked just two, throwing 109 pitches and retiring his last seven batters.
The game wasn’t a work of beauty – each team committed three errors – but it was played in a crisp 82 minutes.
Kanetani was one out from taking a 1-1 game to the sixth, but Stone Miyao reached on an error, moved to second on Noah Higa-Gonsalves’ single and scored when Jarneski’s ground ball to short was misplayed.
Game 2 is 1 p.m. Saturday.
“In a game like this, if you can come out ahead and get some clutch at-bats and see some character in the kids, it’s a step in the right direction,” De Sa said.
In six innings, Kanetani allowed only three hits, one earned run and a walk, throwing 51 of his 80 pitches.
“He was efficient,” Keaau coach Herb Yasuhara said. “Usually, he throws a lot of useless pitches.”
Kanetani also had a hand in Keaau’s only run. Anson Kauwe walked to lead off the game, stole second and scored when Kanetani singled to center and reached second on an error.
De Sa has seen the Vikings get off to slow starts all season long.
“We have to stop that,” he said.
Hilo’s Micah Bello tied the game in the fourth with a single to score Josiah Factora, who reached on a walk.
Yasuhara said Friday’s game was the first time all season that Keaau had its full roster.
“Joey is the best pitcher they’ve got,” he said. “If we battle and put the ball in play (Saturday), we can sneak one out.”
Keaau 100 000 0 – 1 1 3
Hilo 000 110 x – 2 3 3
Waiakea 10, Kealakehe 0: David Nakamura struck out seven in a two-hitter, and Taylor Mondina highlighted a eight-run third inning with an RBI triple as the Warriors earned a TKO victory in their semifinal series opener at home.
Trayden Tamiya was 2 for 3 with three RBIs and Jaron Kawaguchi was 2 for 3 and drove in two for top-seeded Waiakea (12-1), which has outscored the Waveriders 41-2 in three games this season and goes for the sweep at 1 p.m. Saturday.
Pulama Louis lasted 2 2/3 innings for the Waverider (2-11), yielding six hits, eight runs – two earned – with three walks and a strikeout.
Nakamura walked just one and hit an RBI double in the third.
Kealakehe 000 00 – 0 2 3
Waiakea 008 11 – 10 9 0
