Kamehameha-Hawaii Falls in Division II Semifinal

A nightmare fourth inning erased a slim Kamehameha-Hawaii lead, and pushed Waimea High School to a 9-4 win over the Warriors in the semifinals of the Wally Yonamine Foundation / Hawaii High School Athletic Association Division II State Baseball Tournament.

Kamehameha-Hawaii trailed by a run at the outset, after Brock Ephan smacked an RBI single to center field. But, the Warriors would answer by taking the lead in the bottom of the frame. Bronson Pulgados stroked a two-run single to right field to give Kamehameha-Hawaii its first lead of the game.

The Big Island Interscholastic Federation Champions added to their lead in the bottom of the second inning when Keanu Dudoit-Isa drove in a run on a double, giving them a 3-1 lead. Waimea answered right back, however, in the top of the third inning. Ephan struck again with another RBI single getting the Menehune within one run.

The game broke open in the fourth inning when Waimea scored six runs, aided by several Kamehameha-Hawaii errors, to open up an 8-3 lead. In that inning, Kamehameha-Hawaii pitcher Kupono Correa was taken out of the game. After the game, Waimea’s coach said that Correa left the game because of an injury. Nainoa Hart entered the game and took the loss as the game broke loose.

Waimea added another run in the fifth inning when Mikeo Rita scored on a walk to give the Menehune a 9-3 lead. The Warriors attempted to put together a rally in the seventh and final inning when Bronson Pulgados drove in another run in the bottom of the seventh inning, but could not get any closer.

Kamehameha-Hawaii will finish their season Friday at 8:30 a.m. at Les Murakami Stadium when they play in the Division II third place game, while Waimea will compete for the Division II championship at 4:00 p.m., also at Murakami Stadium.

Waimea 101 610 0 – 9 8 2

Kamehameha-Hawaii 210 000 1 – 4 8 6