KEALAKEHE — Waiakea softball had a successful business trip to the Kona Coast.
On Wednesday afternoon at Kealakehe High School, the visiting Lady Warriors trounced the Lady Waveriders 13-3 in a rematch of last season’s Big Island Interscholastic Federation (BIIF) Division I championship series, in which Kealakehe won two games to one.
In the outing, Waiakea posted 13 hits to the Lady ‘Riders’ two. The Lady Warriors also only committed one error, while Kealakehe had six.
Junior Meghan Spencer was the game’s winning pitcher for Waiakea — throwing for 4.0 innings while allowing one hit, three runs and striking out six. Senior teammate Kaitlyn Miura closed the game in the circle for the Lady Warriors, striking out two in the final inning.
Senior third baseman Enea Luther finished with a game-high three hits, including a two-run home run to center field in the top of the third inning. The moonshot started a Lady Warrior offensive avalanche, as Waiakea scored four runs apiece in the third, fourth and fifth inning.
Miura also added three hits at the plate herself, including a double. Spencer, senior shortstop Lexi Santiago, junior second baseman Keani Kaneshiro, senior first baseman Tehani Chinen, junior catcher Kaelyn Sewake, senior designated hitter Jayda Kaimi, right fielder R. Dekoning, right fielder R. Henry and left fielder T. Soi logged one hit each for Waiakea. It was the second straight matchup that the Lady Warriors notched at least nine hits.
Emalia Emmsley led the Lady ‘Riders in the circle, pitching all 5.0 innings while allowing 13 runs and striking out four. Emmsley also led her teammates at the plate — logging the team’s only two hits, including a double.
Waiakea, moving to 2-1 in the young season, next takes the diamond at 3 p.m. Saturday against Konawaena in Hilo town. Kealakehe will next host Kea‘au at 1 p.m. Saturday in Kona town.
Waiakea 19, Kealakehe 0
Prior to the softball team handling business in the late afternoon, Waiakea baseball did the same thing to Kealakehe — routing the hosting Waveriders 19-3 to earn the run rule and its second win of the season. The winning Warriors improved to 2-1, while Kealakehe remained winless at 0-3.
Waiakea secured 10 hits to the ‘Riders’ one. Junior Jerrell Alston led the Warriors with two hits, while junior Jesse Inouye, senior Ivor Brooks, senior Clemson Julian, senior Boston Kobayashi, junior Iverson Ballo, sophomore Tycen Baruela and junior Hurley Soong added one hit each.
Sophomore ace Logan Doran was the game’s winning pitcher for Waiakea, throwing for 3.0 innings and allowing one hit while striking out two actoss 39 pitches. Junior teammate Micah Polloi closed out the final two innings for the Warriors, striking out one while allowing no hits in 26 pitches.
Rome Joaquin was the ‘Riders only player that recorded a base hit. Kealakehe went through five pitchers across the afternoon, trying to find an answer for Waiakea’s hot batting. Elijah Sunderman, Nainoa Hummel, Judah Warfield, Bec Castillo and Noah Bitcher all saw time on the mound for the ‘Riders. Sunderman was given the loss after giving up nine runs in the first two innings.
Now winners of two straight, the Warriors will look to keep collecting wins with their next opponent in Konawaena — slated to face off at 1 p.m. Saturday at Waiakea High School. Kealakehe will try to get its first victory of 2025 with a 1 p.m. Saturday matchup against Kea‘au at home.
Kohala 29, Kea‘au 9
Kohala softball had a blistering start to its season, to say the least.
The Cowgirls opened their 2025 calendar with a 29-9 beatdown of Ka‘u in three innings during Wednesday’s matchup in Kapa‘au. It was additionally the Lady Trojans’ opener.
The majority of the damage came in the first inning, when Kohala scored an impressive 22 runs. The Cowgirls notched 12 hits to Ka‘u’s one, while also keeping a sharp eye at the plate being walked 16 times. Ka‘u was only walked six times.
Kalia Marquez was the black and gold’s game-winning pitcher — allowing no hits and runs. Zanaiyah Murai and Raine Cazimero additionally saw time in the circle, combining to allow nine runs while striking out four.
Kohala shortstop Kailani Valenzuela-Conte led the way with three hits, including five RBI and two home runs. Murai also smacked a homer of her own, adding two hits. First baseman Faith Alejandro-Cazimero and third baseman Maile Karratti added two hits apiece, while left fielder Mahea Pang, catcher Saydee Kawai and center fielder Sydnie Marquez had one each.
The Cowgirls, now 1-0, will next travel to the Hamakua Coast to face Honoka‘a at 1 p.m. Saturday on the Lady Dragons’ diamond. The Lady Trojans’ (0-1) next matchup is to be determined.
Kohala 5, Ka‘u 4
After dropping its season opener to Hawaii Preparatory Academy earlier in the month, Kohala baseball got back on track to win its first game of the year — beating Ka‘u 5-4 in Kapa‘au.
The paper could not obtain a box score from this game by deadline.
The Cowboys will have a double-header against Honoka‘a this weekend, with its first matchup being at 11 a.m. Saturday in Honoka‘a town. The Trojans’ next test is to be determined.
