KEALAKEKUA — Konawaena head coach Adam Tabieros had a smirk on his face before the start of the baseball game between his Wildcats and visiting Waiakea on Saturday.
He knew the secret that is not so secret about the undefeated Warriors: Their hitters have struggled against with slower pitching.
With that in mind Tabieros sent out Riki Furuto. The freshman hurler had his moments, keeping Waiakea off-balance for the most part, but a two-home run, six-RBI day by the Warriors’ No. 2 hitter, Kalai Rosario, allowed Waiakea to pick up the win anyways.
The Warriors rode a six-run second inning on the way to a 14-3 victory and a 7-0 league record. No team has even come close to beating Waiakea, with the smallest run differential being six in an 8-2 victory over Hilo in the season opener.
“We are establishing a consistent, relentless style of play with good defense, good pitching and good hitting,” first-year head coach Eric Kurosawa said. “You are going to have to beat us. We will not beat ourselves.”
Rosario finished the day with three hits, and his play drew an intentional walk late in the game, one that allowed Waiakea’s No. 3 hitter, Safea Mauai, to double in a pair of runs in the top of the seventh inning.
Rosario credits his work with the new head coach as the reason for his performance against the Wildcats.
“Other teams know we have a hard time with slower pitching so they challenge us, but today was a good chance for us to show them we can stay back and drive the ball against anyone,” Rosario said. “Coach Eric has been working with me on staying back and I was able to do my job today, which is drive in runs.”
Rosario, along with Mauai and leadoff hitter Stone Miyao make a tough 1-2-3 punch at the top of the Warriors’ lineup and they did their damage on Saturday, combining for five hits, 10 RBIs and five runs.
On the hill, Waiakea threw lefty Khaden Victorino, who picked up the win after going 4 2/3 innings. He allowed two runs off five hits, while striking out three and walking one.
Ty Honda entered in relief and threw the final 2 1/3 innings, allowing one run of two hits. He struck out two and walked one.
“Khaden struggled a little but he had our bats and the defense behind him,” Kurosawa said. “Both he and Ty threw strikes and came through for us.”
After allowing six runs to Waiakea in the second inning, Furuto settled down, allowing no runs through the next three innings, before allowing three runs in the sixth. The Wildcats pitcher took the loss, allowing nine runs — eight earned — off six hits. He struck out one but struggled with his command, walking five.
Elisha Martin entered in relief, but struggled with his command, walking three, while only picking up two outs. He allowed the second home run to Rosario, and five runs total. Drew Basque got the final out in the top of the seventh.
On offense, Konawaena’s Jake Basque, Tevin Canda and Bronson Rivera finished with two hits each.
Next up for the Warriors is another meeting with Hilo on Tuesday. The most anticipated game on the schedule is a match with undefeated Kamehameha on April 6.
“We are super excited to play them,” Rosario said of Kamehameha. “It is going to be a good game and good competition.”
The Wildcats (5-3) have a game at Honokaa on Tuesday. They will try to get back on track after having a three-game win streak snapped by Waiakea.
Hilo 8, Keaau 1: Titus Sato and Jantzden Kahee each pitched three scoreless innings, Maui Ahuna hit a two-run double and Ocean Gabonia hit a pair of run-scoring singles as the Vikings picked up a road win.
Ryan Cabreira also doubled in a run as Hilo (5-2) scored three times in each of the first two innings and finished with 11 hits, two apiece by Cabreira and Kue Martin.
Sato allowed one hit and a walk with two strikeouts, while Kahee fanned four with two hits allowed and a walk.
Dante Medeiros took the loss for the Cougars (1-6), walking five with a strikeout. He was charged with seven runs, five earned, before Ricky Rapoza tosses three innings.
Hits by Micah Freeman and Martin to start the third led to a run for Hilo, and Kahiau Vincent made it 8-0 in the fifth with a hit to center that scored Jayger Ganigan, who had reached on a single.
With two outs in the seventh, Ed Oguma plated Keaau’s run with a hit off Hekili Robello.