BIIF baseball: Konawaena beats Honokaa on road to earn home edge

Kolu Alani shut down the Dragons offense for six innings and the Konawaena Wildcats escaped their road game against Honokaa with a 3-2 victory on Tuesday.

“It was a very close game and a very good game,” Konawaena head coach Adam Tabieros said. “It was a battle by both pitchers.”

The victory means the Wildcats (9-4) won’t have to face the Dragons (7-6) again on the road this season. Konawaena clinched the No. 2 seed in the BIIF Division II semifinals series and will host Honokaa, starting April 15.

Alani was efficient on the hill, throwing only 76 pitches over 6-1/3 innings. Konawaena entered the final inning with a 3-0 advantage, but then the Dragons rallied.

Caden Perreira singled to lead off the bottom of the seventh and Jonathan Charbonneau walked. Kieren Lo grounded out to the pitcher, advancing both runners. Ocean Nobriga followed with a single, which brought home two runs.

The Nobriga singled ended the night for Alani. He was replaced by closer Stevie Texeira, who allowed a single to Kelvin Faulk but then forced back-to-back popouts with the tying run in scoring position to pick up the save.

Alani earned the win. He allowed five hits in 6-1/3 innings while walking two and striking out one.

The Konawaena offense did its damage in the top of the third inning, pushing all three runs across the plate. Alani was also the offensive leader, going 3-for-3 with three singles and and two RBIs.

“On the mound, Alani stepped up big for us and trusted his defense,” Tabieros said. “At the plate he helped himself out with some clutch hitting.”

Boaz Ayers and AJ Alred followed Alani offensively with a pair of 2-for-3 performances at the plate. They both scored a run.

Ayers led off the top of the third with a single to left and Allred followed with a bunt single down the third base line. A throwing error by the Honokaa pitcher allowed Ayers to score on the play and moved Allred to second.

Andrew Udac beat out another bunt and stole second. Tyler Kitaoka walked to load the bases for Alani, who singled to left, bringing home Allred and Udac.

The loss was a tough one for Charbonneau , the Dragons’ pitcher. He spread out nine over seven innings, striking out eight and walking two.

All five Honokaa hits were spread out to different batters.

Kamehameha 11, Pahoa 1: Daylen Calicdan batted 3 for 3 with four RBIs while Justyce Ishii and Brandyn Lee-Lehano combined on a one-hitter in a five-inning TKO game.

Ishii pitched three scoreless innings for the win and whiffed three. Lee-Lehano allowed an unearned run on a hit and walk and struck out four.

Jaisten Cabatbat and Baron Victorino each went 2 for 2 for Kamehameha (11-1), which already has locked up an automatic berth the HHSAA Division II tournament as the regular-season champion.

Julian Beimler pitched four innings in the loss. Kelton Conarton also pitched for the Daggers (0-12).

Pahoa 000 10 — 1 1 1

Kamehameha 125 03 — 11 12 2

Hawaii Prep 7, Kohala 5: Finn Richmond’s two-run double in the sixth inning in Kapaau catapulted Ka Makani in front as HPA locked down the final postseason spot in Division II.

HPA (6-7) and Kamehameha will meet in the BIIF semifinals for the second year in a row.

Jonah Hurney pitched 3-1/3 spotless innings with three strikeouts in relief of Richmond, earning the victory when HPA scored four times in the sixth with the help of four walks and a hit batter.

Chance Pang was lifted after he hit Hurney to load the bases, and Austin Racoma relieved and walked in two runs before Richmond ripped a hard double to left.

The Cowboys (3-10) led 5-2 after scoring four runs in the fifth, getting two-run double from Jayven Amanonce, who scored on Tate Fernandez’s sacrifice fly.

Braden Kojima was 2 for 2 with two RBIs, including a run-scoring double for HPA, and Hurney collected two hits and scored twice.

HPA 200 004 1 – 7 8 1

Kohala 001 400 0 – 5 8 0