Windward Softball Teams All Vying For Post-season Play
As the OIA DI and DII softball tournaments begin today (April 23), much is on the line for Castle, Kailua, Kahuku and DII Kalaheo as they look to secure berths in the state tournaments. A preview of team prospects is below.
Castle High School
Season record: 5-6 (entering last weekend)
Key wins: Over Roosevelt 12-1 March 15, over Kahuku 8-6 March 20, over Kaimuki 17-1 April 3
What to watch – Knights at a glance: Following a 3-1 start, the team dropped four of its next six contests as it prepared to face Kailua and Kaiser April 17 and 19 to close out its slate. Castle already had clinched one of the East’s six playoff berths heading into those games. Its offense has come around, as the team tallied 27 runs in its last three games.
Kailua High School
Season record: 5-5 (entering last weekend)
Key wins: Over Castle 7-6 March 22, over Roosevelt 13-3 April 7, over Kaimuki 16-0 March 31
What to watch – Surfriders at a glance: It’s been an up-and-down 2014 for Kailua, which hadn’t won two straight nor lost two straight through its first 10 encounters. Games with Castle April 17 and Kahuku April 19 were a chance to improve seeding for the playoffs. Offense has been its strength to date, as its 75 runs scored rated third best in the Red East heading into the weekend.
Kahuku High School
Season record: 4-6 (entering last weekend)
Key wins: Over Kailua 7-6 March 26, over Kaimuki 16-4 April 10, over Castle 11-8 April 12
What to watch – Red Raiders at a glance: Back-to-back wins over Kaimuki and Castle were huge boosts for Kahuku, which held a two-game lead over Roosevelt for the last Red
East playoff spot. Generating offense is key as it begins the post-season. Entering last weekend, Kahuku owned a 4-1 record when scoring at least four runs, though it went 0-5 when scoring less than three runs.
Kalaheo High School
Season record: 5-6 (entering last weekend)
Key wins: Over Farrington 11-10 March 20, over Kalani 9-8 March 13, over Radford 15-5 April 5
What to watch – Mustangs at a glance: While Kalaheo entered the weekend a game below .500, it will compete in the White tournament this post-season. Its 5-6 mark tied it with McKinley for the best record among East teams in the DII tourney. The Mustangs must finish in the top four to earn a berth.
jackster.1969@yahoo.com
