KEA‘AU — Pahoa High School’s varisty baseball team fell 4-0 to Kamehameha Schools – Hawai‘i on Wednesday evening.
The game saw the Daggers perform on defense, but struggle to keep up with the Warriors’ hard-hitting offense.
In the top first, Pahoa’s Tripp Kahsen got on first due to an infield error. He advanced to second as the next batter was put out by a pass from third-baseman Braden Gomes to first-baseman Noah Palea. Kahsen was left on base following a strikeout by KSH pitcher Dylan Hanson and a flyout.
Leadoff Liwai Correa singled, Shane Sale-Silva struck out the two-hole and then Correa reached third during an outfield error and scored on a wild pitch. Dominic Christensen singled, but was tagged out at short of third as catcher Max Potter passed to third-baseman Brayden Conda-Tolle. Hanson singled, reached second on a passed ball and scored when Palea doubled.
Another strikeout by Hanson and a pair of flyouts to Palea downed the Daggers in the top second. In the bottom frame, Pahoa also outed the Warriors in three batters. Sale-Silva recovered a grounder and threw to Donovan Lynch at first for a putout, fanned a batter then the third batter lined out to Jayden Majamay-Sumiki in the outfield.
Designated hitter George Kocher singled to lead off the top third. Following a putout at first assisted by Hanson — Kahsen singled but was caught stealing second for the second out. Another Hanson strikeout left Kocher on third.
Sale-Silva notched two more strikeouts in the bottom of the inning, and caught Christensen trying to steal second after walking him.
The Daggers suffered a quick top fourth, with a putout at first and two flyouts. In the bottom frame, Palea doubled again and stole third. Cross Pola hit an infield grounder to bat in Palea, but was put out at first. Two flyouts to the outfield left Braden Gomes on third.
Down 3-0 in the fifth inning, Pahoa got left on base again. After the leadoff was put out at first, Majamay-Sumiki walked and stole second — but was stranded there following an infield flyout and a strikeout. Three strikeouts by Sale-Silva prevented the Warriors from increasing their lead in the bottom fifth.
After another shutout in the top sixth, KSH scored its final run in the bottom of the inning. Palea walked and advanced to third — then with two outs on the board, reached the plate on a wild pitch. Sale-Silva ended the frame with a strikeout.
Keyan Kanahele took the mound for the Warriors in the top seventh and fanned the leadoff. Landon Haili singled, but was left on first as a flyout and a putout at first ended the game.
Palea led KSH in the box — going two for two with a walk, two runs and a RBI — both of his hits being doubles.
Kahsen went two-for-three to lead Pahoa.
Sale-Silva took the loss on the mound — striking out ten, walking five and allowing three earned runs on five hits.
Hanson earned the win – fanning four, walking two and allowing two hits.
At 1 p.m. tomorrow, the Daggers will look to redeem themselves during a road test at Kealakehe High School.
On Thursday afternoon, the Warriors will face their toughest opponent of the season thus far — the undefeated Hilo High School Vikings.
