HILO — The Waiakea High School varsity baseball team won its final regular season home game 7-0 over Hawaii Preparatory Academy on Saturday afternoon.
The game got off to a slow start, with neither team scoring in the first inning. Kaleb Sato started on the mound for the Warriors and notched two strikeouts in the top first, surrendering one hit.
Arel Urbanoza pitched for HPA and walked two batters while allowing no hits in the bottom first. Shortstop Hudson Mangold saw plenty of action during the frame — passing to first baseman Alex Goodman for a groundout, tagging out a runner shy of third and catching a lineout.
After shutting out Ka Makani in the top second, Waiakea scored one run in the bottom frame. Ivor Brooks walked, reached third as the following batter grounded out, then was batted in by Michael Mitsuda’s single. Mitsuda and Sato were stranded as a flyout ended the inning.
The Warriors kept the pressure on HPA in the top third, outing Ka Makani in three at-bat’s. Sato struck out the leadoff looking, then a pop out and a flyout sent HPA onto the field without having touched base.
In the bottom frame, Waiakea scored three runs to obtain a 4-0 lead. Joshua Ward singled on a ground ball to left outfield, then made it to third on passed balls while Clemson Julian walked. Isaiah Justo singled to bat Ward in, then Brooks singled on a line drive to center field — clearing the bases. Brooks stole second and got to third as Toren Segovia sacrifice bunted, but was stranded after a flyout to first base.
Both teams went scoreless in the fourth inning. Sato recorded a dynamic top fifth, striking out the first two batters — but surrendering three straight walks. With the bases loaded, Sato notched his seventh strikeout to end the frame.
Two more runs in the bottom fifth put Ka Makani in a considerable rut. Julian and Brooks each singled. Two flyouts put them at risk of being stranded, but doubled to send them both home. Outfielder Miron Amanai dove to catch a lineout and end Waiakea’s run.
Daycen Leite relieved Sato from the mound in the sixth inning to close out the game. Facing eight batters, he notched three strikeouts while surrendering a hit and a walk.
Waiakea put up an unearned run in the bottom sixth. Julian rounded first and reached second on an error, then made it to third and crossed the plate on two passed balls.
Brooks led Waiakea in the box — batting two-for-two with a walk and a hit-by-pitch to score two runs and bat two in. Julian trailed, going one-for-two with a walk and reaching base on an error to score three runs.
Designated hitter Griff Hemerick led HPA at the plate, going two-for-two and reaching first on an error.
The Warriors will have a week off after this victory, and will play their final regular season test at Kamehameha Schools – Hawaii on Saturday at 3 p.m. The first rounds of the BIIF Championships will begin next week. Waiakea will likely enter playoffs in the No. 2 seed, its only Division I loss being to Hilo High School.
Today at 3 p.m., Ka Makani will host the Vikings — then will cap off its regular season with two non-division outings this week, at Keaau High School on Wednesday and against Kealakehe High School for its senior game on Saturday.