The start was inauspicious. Kealakehe made four throwing errors in the early innings and fell behind by five runs. ADVERTISING The start was inauspicious. Kealakehe made four throwing errors in the early innings and fell behind by five runs. But
The start was inauspicious. Kealakehe made four throwing errors in the early innings and fell behind by five runs.
But if there’s one thing coach Josh Hansen has learned this season about the Waveriders, it’s that they know how to grind away. They didn’t stop Wednesday until they had secured home-field advantage in the Big Island Interscholastic Federation Division I baseball playoffs.
Markus Degrate hit a go-ahead RBI double in Kapaau to fuel a five-run rally in the seventh inning, and the Waveriders spoiled Kohala’s hopes of staying home for the postseason with a 11-9 victory.
“There is so much fight in them,” Hansen said. “They basically play until the last out no matter what.”
As the No. 2 seed, Kealakehe (6-2) will host Keaau (6-3) on April 17 in a doubleheader to begin a best-of-three semifinal series.
The Waveriders, who have never been to the HHSAA tournament, also did Konawaena a huge favor. The Cowboys (3-5) need to beat Kamehameha on Saturday in Kapaau to earn home field against the Wildcats (3-5-1) in the Division II semifinals.
“Another tough one,” Kohala coach Pono Nakamura said.
Kealakehe has grown accustomed to being on the right side of tight victories. During a five-game winning streak, four have been nail-biters. That’s a far cry from last year, when the Waveriders finished the season on a seven-game slide.
“Last year, we would have problems finishing games,” Hansen said, “but this year our bats 1-9 are a lot more solid.”
That was on display in the seventh as the Waveriders sent 11 batters to the plate. Hunter Cuaresma led off with a single and Pulama Lewis drove in a run with a hit. Bryton Lewi’s fielder’s choice tied the game.
Degrate finished with three hits and three RBIs and Makana Kalaua had two hits and drove in three runs. Kalaua pitched 1 2/3 innings of relief to get the win, and Keoki Meyers worked around a hit in the seventh to get the save.
Pohaku Dela Cruz started for Kealakehe but was victimized by shoddy defense.
Steven Medeiros smacked a two-run double for the Cowboys in the first inning and Truce Yangson hit an RBI double in the third as Kohala went ahead 8-3. Wily Perez finished with two hits and two RBIs.
Anson Badua-Fernandez, the third of four Kohala pitchers, took the loss.
The Waveriders finish the regular season at home Saturday against Hilo.
“I’ve never beaten them,” said Hansen, who is in his third year. “That’s a goal, and I like our chances if we can keep on playing like we have been.”
Kealakehe 111 300 5 – 11 13 5
Kohala 314 001 0 – 9 8 4
Hawaii Prep 6, Honokaa 3: Cyrus Inglis finished 4 for 4 with three RBIs and pitched a complete game in Waimea as Ka Makani kept its postseason hopes alive by eliminating the Dragons from contention in Division II.
Inglis hit a run-scoring triple that put HPA ahead 3-2 in the fifth inning, and Jonah Hurney tacked on a two-run single in the sixth.
HPA (2-6) heads to Pahoa (1-6) to finish in the regular season Saturday with a chance to clinch the fourth seed in the playoffs.
Inglis struck out five and walked two. DJ Sekiya was 2 for 4.
Kamaehu Richards was 3 for 4 for Honokaa (1-7-1), and he took the loss, allowing four runs in four innings of relief. Kilipaki Akau batted 2 for 4.
Honokaa 011 001 0 – 3 9 1
HPA 101 022 x – 6 10 1
Waiakea at Pahoa: The game was postponed by rain and will be made up at 3 p.m. Thursday.
