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Senior softball teams light up the scoreboard

HANAPEPE — The Kaua‘i Senior Softball League reached the half-way point of the first round with another great weekend of high scoring games.

The standings weren’t affected much with the results of the full slate of competition. The seniors played seven games total, with four on the west side and three on the east side of the island.

The sun shined out west at the Pat Baniaga Softball Stadium in Hanapepe, and the event was packed with tents and tailgates for four high-powered challenging matchups on the diamond.

Kawaihau’s hitting barrage outlasts Da Kruzers

Da Kruzers and Kawaihau crossed the island to open the games with the early morning contest.

Duane Girard and Da Kruzers played well, and Henry Hee turned Kawaihau into a dangerous run-scoring opponent. Both sides lived up to the hype and went into overdrive in scoring. A windy morning they made for double-digit hits and double-digit scores. Da Kruzers hit the double-digit mark for the third game in a row and crossed the plate the most times in a single match manufacturing 17 runs.

Kawaihau is well-suited for a slug out and answered the challenge with hard-hitting in every inning. Kawaihau hammered their way to a long run mark for the season and ran away with a 25-17 marathon win.

Bartek’s overhaul A’s, remain in second-place

The Bartek’s played Aloha Kia Lihu‘e A’s with a lot on the line going into the second game, with each team holding just one loss records knotted in second place with a 4-1 history.

The two veteran clubs put up a classic encounter in a full-length battle. The Bartek’s had the home-field advantage both in playing on their home surface and assigned home team for the game. The A’s put up a good fight knocking in ten runs but fell short to Barteks hitting and speed on the bases. Bartek’s remains in the second place hunt behind a close 14-10 victory.

West Kaua‘i pound the Aces

The third game pitted West Kaua‘i against Kuku’s Aces, with both teams looking for a first win of the year.

Al Magno’s West Kaua‘i team jumped out to a lead and enjoyed one of their best days at the plate. Kuku got the Aces run-scoring machine in gear and circled the bases for seven runs. West Kaua‘i pulled away and picked up the victory flag with a 14-7 conquest.

Gents dominate Hillsiders

The Hanama‘ulu Hillsiders had a big task on their hands when faced off with the league-leading Keonimana Gents to bring the games to a close. The veteran Hanama‘ulu squad mounted a challenge but struggled to gain momentum. The Gents crushed the competition on their way through the first half dozen games improving each week. The offense ran wild every inning with non-stop hitting to build an impressive 25-1 win. The victory improved the Gents record to 6-0 midway through the first round of league play.

Across the island, the Gardens at the Wailua Houselots Softball Park were wide open with no outfield fencing for the three games. That made it interesting for the fielders on a windy morning. It also made for some lopsided scoring.

Rebels outhit Steel

In the daybreak contest, Solid Steel took on the Ohana Motors Rebels. The Rebels opened up a lead in the second and third innings and shut down the potent Solid Steel lineup. The Rebels retired nine consecutive hitters in the middle innings to set up an early ending and scored five more runs in the top of the sixth to put the visiting Ohana Motors up by more than the required 12-run lead. The Rebels led 15-1. The Steel mounted a late, bottom of the sixth inning, rally with two runs and the bases loaded. Back-to-back fly ball cut the short rally ending the game with the Rebels picking up its fifth win of the season behind a 15-3 victory.

Ohana shines in victory over East Kaua‘i Legends

Ohana squared off with the East Kaua‘i Legends in the mid-morning match. Norman Holt’s Legends gave Ohana all they could handle in a great game that found no shortage of offense. The wide-open field created hitting lanes throughout, and both teams took advantage. Ohana put their stamp on the game early with long drives and savvy base running. East Kaua‘i stayed close but could not narrow the gap over the seven-inning contest. Ohana shut down the late rally attempt and posted a 14-7 triumph.

Rookies dominate Islanders

The Rookies went up against the Islanders in the triple-header finale. Alan Horikawa has the Rookies hitting laser beams and steaming their way through the competition. The Rookies went to work in the first inning and didn’t let up. The Islanders had one of their best games of the season, showing life and knocking in nine runs to hold off a knock out a score. The Rookies manufactured 20 runs for the second week in a row to finish with their sixth victory of the season, winning 20-9.

On Deck

The Rookies and Keonimana Gents remain tied at the top of the league behind 6-0 records.

The Bartek’s and the Ohana Motors Rebels are a game back with 5-1 records. Aloha Kia Lihu‘e A’s and Kawaihau follow with a record of 4-2 with both Ohana and Solid Steel tied at 3-3. Da Kruzers stood alone at 2-4 while the 1-5 ranks grow with the addition of West Kaua‘i to the East Kaua‘i Legends and the Hanama‘ulu Hillsiders. The Kuku’s Aces remain in search of their first win.

The Senior League brings the schedule of games to the east side with four contests on tap in Hanama‘ulu and three games in Kapa‘a. The Ohana Motors Rebels will open the games at the Bryan J. Baptiste Sports Complex with the Hanama‘ulu Hillsiders. There will be a fierce battle when Ohana and Solid Steel meet up in the second game.

The morning wraps up with the Aloha Kia Lihu‘e A’s mixing it up with the East Kaua‘i Legends.

The Peter Rayno Softball Park will be busy with four games beginning with Kuku’s Aces coming into town to face Barteks. The second contest has the Islanders squared off with West Kaua‘i. The second half of the games feature the league’s top two teams in action. The Keonimana Gents will be up against Da Kruzers in the third game. Kawaihau will face the Rookies in the series finale.
Source: The Garden Island

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