Baseball postseason kicks off with BIIF games commencing
BIIF Baseball Playoffs Kick Off In Style!
It's been an electric start to the Big Island Interscholastic Federation (BIIF) baseball playoffs with Game 1s under way on both sides of the island, and things only heat up today as Series continue. Keep your eyes peeled on the paper all week for the latest and greatest updates!
KSH Tops Kona in Thriller
Kamehameha-Hawaii (KSH) snatched victory from the jaws of defeat with a walk-off in the 8th inning against Kona. Iokepa Martines was walked, crossing the plate to secure a 5-4 win and take a 1-0 series lead in the BIIF DI semifinals at Kea'au.
Both teams ended the game with 7 hits on the board. The Warriors were led by Keagan Pacheco and Kamaka Ili, who posted 2 hits apiece, while teammates Braden Gomes, Noah Palea, and Shiloh Santos each added a hit to the mix.
The trio of Santos, Gomez, and Palea shared the mound, limiting Kona to 7 hits while tallying 9 strikeouts. Palea was named the game's winning pitcher, and Santos has been a standout for KSH this season, leading in innings pitched (24.2) and wins (4) - not bad, eh?
Kona's young guns tried their best, with Armenio Blanco recording a game-high 3 hits, including a double. Teammates Aycen Blanco, Kolt Baptista, and Tate Garana each chipped in with a hit. Kahiau Rivera took the long haul on the mound for Kona, allowing 7 hits and 5 runs while striking out 1.
Despite the loss, Kona fell below .500 at 5-6, while KSH remains unbeaten, sporting a 10-0-1 record. The defending champions have been intimidating opposition this season, outscoring teams 92-15. Game 2 of the series goes down today in Kealakekua.
Pahoa Grinds Down HPA in Low-Scoring Affair
Pahoa kicked off their BIIF DII semifinals with a hard-fought 3-1 win over Hawaii Preparatory Academy (HPA) at home.
This was a tight battle with limited contact at the plate, but George Kocher and Cash Cohen led the Daggers with a hit each. The team successfully logged 3 hits and committed 2 errors in the contest.
Brayden Conda was named the winning pitcher, allowing just 2 hits and no runs while striking out 6 across 5.3 innings of work. Tripp Kahsen also took to the mound.
Ka Makani managed a respectable 2 hits, secured by Kahana and Nishiki Iwai. The duo split time on the mound for HPA, giving up 3 earned runs while striking out 6.
Game 2 of their series will be played in Waimea today.
Honoka'a Edges Out Kohala in DII Semifinals Opener
Honoka'a started their DII semifinal series with an impressive 4-2 win over Kohala on the Hamakua Coast. The Dragons lead the series 1-0 in a best of 3, looking mighty sharp!
Out of Honoka'a 6 hits, Jayden Salazr and Kiakahi Lindsey set the pace with 2 hits each. Josyah Napoleon-Umeda and Isaac Derego added a hit apiece.
Salazar also took the mound and put on a dominating performance, pitching 7.0 scoreless innings while allowing 3 hits and 2 runs, along with an impressive 12 strikeouts. Salazar leads the team in wins with 6.
The Cowboys countered with Isaac Salvador-Libron and Wyatt Rabang each hitting a double, while K. Reyes added another hit to the mix.
The Dragons stand tall at 11-2, while the Cowboys sank to 1-10-1. Game 2 goes down today in Kapa'au.
Waiakea Routs Hilo in DI Island Semifinals Opener
Waiakea secured an impressive 11-1 win in Game 1 of the DI island semifinals against local rivals Hilo at the University of Hawaii-Hilo. This marked Waiakea's first overall win against the Vikings this season after a 0-2 record in the regular season.
The game was called after 5 innings due to the run rule, but unfortunately, detailed stats were not available before deadline.
Game 2 of the series between these two fierce competitors goes down at the same site today. Now that's a matchup you won't want to miss!
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Baseball playoffs continue to ignite excitement as KSH extends their winning streak against Kona, advancing to a 2-0 series lead in the BIIF DI semifinals. Meanwhile, the DII semifinals continue with Pahoa, Honoka'a, and Waiakea showcasing impressive performances in their respective matches. Don't miss out on these sports-filled encounters, subscribe for live updates!
