Plenty At Stake In Surfriders-Rough Riders Baseball Game
As the OIA baseball season draws to a close this week, the outcome of every game can affect the playoff picture, and no matchup looms larger than Wednesday’s battle between Kailua and Roosevelt. A preview of that contest, as well as the other Windward games, is below – all of them at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday (April 16).
Roosevelt at Kailua
With an 8-2 mark heading into last weekend, the Surfriders are closing in on a Red East crown if they can take care of business in this game with Roosevelt, as well as Saturday’s finale with
Kaiser. After defeating Kalaheo last Wednesday, the team had an entire week off to prepare for these two. The break also means Kailua will have a fully rested pitching staff. In yielding 26 runs through its first 10 games, it already had established itself as the best defensive team in the Red East. Offensively, only Kalani has scored more runs to date. Roosevelt was a game back of Kailua in the standings, heading into their game with Castle over the weekend. Roosevelt won the first game versus Kailua, 1-0, March 21.
Kaiser at Kalaheo
Kalaheo has hung tough in most games despite entering the weekend still winless in league play. The Mustangs, though all but eliminated from contention for the Red East’s last playoff berth, still can play the role of the spoiler, however, since Kaiser finds itself battling for a favorable seeding at the OIA tournament. For its part, Kaiser has been playing some of its best baseball of the spring, as it took a three-game win streak into last weekend’s showdown with rival Kalani. Wins over two of the league’s best teams, Roosevelt and Moanalua, were included in that streak. Kaiser won the first game against Kalaheo, 6-2, March 22.
Waianae at Kahuku, at Hauula Playground
Despite their record, the Red Raiders have rallied big time this season, as they once were in danger of cancelling its Red East season because of not fielding enough players. They’ve managed to stay competitive through the uncertainty, dropping a pair of games by just one run, while losing another by two runs. Most recently, Kahuku had one of its best offensive efforts, generating seven runs in an 8-7 loss to Waialua last week. Waianae needs a win here, meanwhile, to keep pace with Radford in the race for the OIA White title, as both teams stood at 8-1 entering last weekend. Also at stake for the Seariders is a first-round bye for the White tournament. Waianae won the first game with Kahuku, 14-1, last month.
Castle versus Moanalua at Hans L’Orange Park
With a sweep of the season series against neighboring Kalaheo, the Knights all but clinched the last spot for the OIA tournament, heading into last weekend’s Roosevelt game. The schedule remains demanding for Castle, however, as it closes out its league slate against a good Kalani team Saturday. The Knights enjoyed a week layoff prior to the Roosevelt game over the weekend, giving them a rested unit for the season’s stretch run. At 6-3 through its first nine games, Moanalua was very much in the race for a Red East title, as it tied with Roosevelt for second entering last weekend. Moanalua won the first game with Castle, 9-3, March 22.
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