Kauai won the 2014 State AJA Baseball Championship by defeating Oahu 6 to 5 on April 5 – 6 at Kauai’s Vidinha Stadium. Kauai, represented by the Hanapepe Rivermen with players from other Kauai teams, won its first State Championship since 1982 and its 5th overall (1948, 1963, 1971 & 1982) behind the complete game pitching of Mike Cardenas, who held Oahu to 5 runs on 8 hits while striking out 3 and the play of the Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player Kauai’s Brandon Hew, who won the Batting Title and Most RBI Awards. Oahu was represented by Waipahu with players from other Oahu teams. Hawaii was represented by the Keaukaha Warriors and Maui by Daimyo.
Kauai, who trailed Oahu 3 to 0 in the early innings, took the lead with 5 unanswered runs in the middle innings, then watched as Oahu rallied to tie the score at 5 in the 8th inning and threatened to take the lead before two diving catches by catcher Hew ended the rally. Kauai scored the eventual winning run in the bottom of the 8th inning on a ground ball dribbler by Kauai shortstop Mason Lorenzo. Oahu’s potential rally in the 9th inning was cut short by Kauai’s fine defensive plays, who turned a ground ball into a double play and a foul pop fly along the third base fence into the final out to turn Kauai into winners. Kauai was led by Micah Furtado, Keith Nonaka and Kainoa Santos, who paired hits and Wendell Nonaka with 2 RBI. Oahu shortstop Landon Nakata had a homerun, double and 3 RBI, Kip Masuda homered, Alika Kuraoka & Shaun Kiriu paired hits.
In the consolation game, Maui defeated Hawaii Island 14 to 9. Chase Corniel paired hits for Maui. Shannon Camero had 3 hits for Hawaii Island along with 2 hits from Alton Penrose.
Kauai earlier advanced to the Championship game by pounding out 18 hits to rout Maui 18 to 4 on Saturday. Kauai pitcher Jason Nakata pitched a complete game, holding hard hitting Maui to 4 runs while scattering 10 hits. Kauai was led by Brandon Hew with 4 hits and 4 RBI, Kainoa Santos with 3 hits while Micah Furtado, Mason Lorenzo, Jake Oketani, & Keith Nonaka paired hits. Joey Tam Ho, Jason Miyahira & Lance Migita paired hits for Maui.
Oahu earlier advanced to the Championship game by defeating Hawaii Island 2 to 0 on Saturday behind a 1 hit masterpiece by Shaun Kiriu, who faced the minimum 27 batters in a 9 inning complete game shutout. Oahu was led by Keenan Sue and Alika Kuraoka with 2 hits.
Governor Neal Abercrombie threw out the ceremonial first pitch at the Opening Ceremony and presented a special message to honor the 79th annual Hawaii State AJA Baseball Tournament and 100 years of AJA baseball in Hawaii.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Oahu 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 5 8 3
Kauai 0 0 0 0 1 2 2 1 X 6 11 1
Boxscore
Oahu AB H R RBI
Derek Costigan cf 4 0 1 0
Landon Nakata ss 3 2 2 3
Keenan Sue 2b 4 0 0 0
Reese Kato 2b-b8 0 0 0 0
Zach Kometani dh 3 0 0 0
Alika Kuraoka 1b 3 2 0 1
Kip Masuda c 2 1 1 1
Moku Paiva 3b 2 1 0 0
Colby Ho 3b-t7 2 0 0 0
Steve Koki rf 3 0 0 0
Kaipo Paiva rf-b7 0 0 0 0
Ricky Tahara ph-t9 0 0 0 0
Shaun Kiriu lf 3 2 1 0
Nelson Inabata ph-t9 1 0 0 0
Daven Hermosura p
Sean Milan p-b8
Kauai AB H R RBI
Micah Furtado 2b 4 2 1 0
Mason Lorenzo ss 4 0 0 1
Jake Oketani rf 5 1 1 1
Brandon Hew c 5 1 1 0
Keith Nonaka lf 4 2 0 1
Ikaika Pezario lf-t8 0 0 0 0
Kainoa Santos 3b 4 2 1 0
Travis Shigeta 1b 4 1 0 1
Wendell Nonaka dh 3 1 0 2
Davin Yamase pr-b6 0 0 0 0
Scott Yamase ph b8 1 1 1 0
Justin Ganaden cf 3 0 1 0
Mike Cardinas p
HR-Nakata (Oahu), Masuda (Oahu). Double-Nakata (Oahu), Nonaka (Kauai).
IP ER R H SO BB/HP
Daven Hermosura 7 4 5 10 4 2
Sean Milan (L) 1 0 1 1 1 1
Mike Cardinez (W) 9 3 5 8 3 2
