Medeiros K’s 14 in Narrow Waiakea Victory

Waiakea High School senior Kodi Medeiros did not disappoint under Wong Stadium’s bright lights and in front of many major league baseball scouts.

Medeiros struck out 14 batters Friday night and worked out of several tough jams as Waiakea edged Hilo 2-1 to take command of the Big Island Interscholastic Federation Division I standings.

Medeiros’ stellar night didn’t come without some occasional trouble. In the first inning, the left-handed hurler walked lead-off batter Isaiah Banasan in a seven pitch at-bat. Four pitches later, Micah Kaaukai doubled over the head of Waiakea third baseman Taylor Mondina, who was playing in at his position.

Scouts don’t just want to see velocity and mechanics, though. They want to see how someone works under pressure, and Medeiros answered the call, striking out Jodd Carter, Jalen Carvalho, and Noah Serrao to leave both baserunners stranded.

Hilo (5-2-1) did get to Medeiros in the third. After Banasan and Kaaukai struck out, Carter reached with a single and immediately stole second base. A few pitches later, Carvalho singled through the middle to bring in Carter, giving the Vikings an early 1-0 lead.

Carvalho, who opposed Medeiros on the bump, was the steadier pitcher. He retired seven straight hitters in the middle innings and did his part to hold the lead until the defense let him down in the fifth. Matt Camacho reached base with a single and moved over to second base on a sacrifice bunt with two out. Gehrig Oshiro walked to extend the inning.

Tyler Aburramen followed with a ground ball toward shortstop Kaaukai, who struggled to field it before watching it go by him into center field. Carter then took a bad angle playing the ball in center field, allowing the ball to get behind everyone. Both runners scored on Kaaukai’s error to put Waiakea ahead 2-1.

Hilo loaded the bases against Medeiros in the sixth inning. Carvalho singled with one out, while Serrao and Joey Jarneski were hit with pitches. Medeiros then hit Noah Higa-Gonsalves with an 0-2 pitch, but home plate umpire Bob Simmons ruled that the hitter swung around before getting hit, ruling the play a strikeout. That drew the ire of Hilo coach Tony DeSa, who had a lengthy argument with both umpires on the field before being pulled away by one of his assistants.

It was the second time that call was made in the game. A few innings prior, the same call initially went Waiakea’s way as well, but was overturned after a conversation by the umpires. After an argument by Waiakea coach Jensen Sato, the call was reversed back, erasing a potential Hilo baserunner.

Medeiros had 98 pitches going into the seventh inning, and Sato decided to let him finish the game. The Pepperdine commit didn’t let his coach down, getting a 1-2-3 inning to wrap up the game.in just under two hours.

Medeiros threw 115 pitches in the victory, allowing one run on five hits. He hit three batters and walked another. At the plate, he went 1-for-2 with a single and an intentional walk.

Carvalho, a right-handed dual sport athlete, was the hard luck loser for Hilo. Both of the runs he allowed were unearned. He went the distance for the Vikings, allowing five hits while striking out six. He also walked three hitters and hit another in a 104 pitch effort. He also was the only player to pair hits for Hilo, going 2-for-3 with an RBI.

Waiakea’s record now sits at 7-1 on the season. Thanks to the victory against Hilo and the Vikings’ tie against Kamehameha-Hawai`i last week, the Warriors hold the inside track to securing the league’s regular season championship, which also secures a spot in the Wally Yonamine Foundation / Hawai`i High School Athletic Association Division I Baseball Championships on Oahu.

Hilo 001 000 0 – 1 5 2

Waiakea 000 020 x – 2 5 0